A Short Note on Providence.

P. Ben [Aug. 10, 2017]
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The subject of Providence deals with some important aspects crucial to understanding prophecy in a finer detail. It is with respect to understanding prophetic thoughts that this short note is undertaken. 

Providence is not to be mistaken for civil government as the latter is a visible paraphernalia while the former is angelic in its agency execution. It is undoubtedly true that both of these spheres converge to produce the unfolding spectacle of divine thought and will in human history. 

First of all, Providence in scripture is conveyed in an explicit expression of imagery. At times literal and also figurative. 

The most important and cardinal thought as regards to Providence is it's two fold aspect of nature. One, being that of God's blessing and second, that of His judgment on the wicked and the survivability of His people in the face of evil (remnantalism). 

Coming to the first- that of blessing. This is conveyed by the imagery of the rainbow. The rainbow whether in Genesis, Ezekiel and the Apocalypse, certainly deals with the benevolent part of divine dealings in favour towards creation. It is prevention of evil (evil as manifestation of curse) rather than judgment upon the evil (wickedness). This part of providential undertaking is secured to prevent earth and creation to fall under the severity of divine wrath and retribution. 

Coming to the second, which is judgment and remnantalism. This is signified by the imagery of four faced cherubic faces (Ezekiel and the Apocalypse*) and the six winged seraphims (Isaiah). 

*In Revelation, it is a mix of both the cherubic and the seraphic (four faced and six winged).

Now, as said- it is judgment on the wicked (four faced cherubic providential administration) where God's wrath against the wicked takes up the characterizations of swiftness (eagle), shrewdness (man), stability (ox) and strength (lion). Not only this, but there is also the Seraphic six winged administration in Isaiah 6: which deals with remnantalism (burning/trials of the remnant of God in the midst of evil). 

Besides, the imagery of the four faced and the six winged- I would like to draw the attention of the reader to another imagery- that of the raven. The raven unlike the eagle (swiftness of judgment), deals with (I think undoubtedly) with remnant dealings of providential safety. Cherith (1 kings 17) means separation. It is the separation of the prophet (in figure, the prophetic community of the remnant of the latter times) from the larger apostasy of Ahab's national disobedience. And it was here, in separation that the ravens ministered- the providential safekeeping of the remnant during the tribulation. 

The raven (providential safekeeping of the remnant) also appears pronounced in connection with the ark of Noah, which I would deal elsewhere. 

But, attention should be drawn to the levitical uncleanness of the birds-either the eagle or the raven. The uncleanness of animals is a reference to the gentiles (Acts 11- the vision of Peter). In case of the eagle, it is the providential government of God undertaken to judge by means of Gentile powers (as with Israel by Babylon- Ezekiel 1: 'out of the north').
In case of the raven, it is the providential government of God undertaken to secure His people's deliverance by means of a gentile power (as with the remnant of Israel by Cyrus).

Lastly, I would like to add a word on the difference between the civil and the providential besides the difference mentioned at the beginning of this article.

The civil government as in Genesis 9 and Romans 13 is about subduing the wickedness at the individual level by the power vested in the government. Whereas, the providential government is about  subduing the wickedness at the governmental level by using another government. 

In our general parlance, we tend to view local acts as footprints of Providence such as Moses being discovered by Pharoah's' daughter, the death of Abimelech by the throw of handmill, a bird falling to the ground and so on. This is correct but my note is with regards to prophecy and general thought unfoldment of divine counsels.

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