The concept of God's providence refers to His divine guidance and care over the universe and the affairs of humanity. This providence is often manifested through overruling interpositions, where God intervenes in the natural order of events to accomplish His divine purposes. The Bible provides numerous examples of such interpositions, demonstrating God's sovereign control and His ability to direct the course of history according to His will.

Biblical Examples of Overruling Interpositions

1. Joseph's Rise to Power in Egypt: One of the most striking examples of God's providence is found in the account of Joseph. Sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph eventually rises to become the second most powerful man in Egypt. In Genesis 50:20 , Joseph acknowledges God's hand in his journey: "As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." This verse highlights God's ability to overrule human intentions for His greater purpose.

2. The Exodus: The deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt is another profound instance of divine interposition. Through a series of miraculous events, including the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, God intervenes to free His people from bondage. In Exodus 14:13-14 , Moses reassures the Israelites: "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

3. Esther and the Preservation of the Jews: The book of Esther provides a narrative of God's providential care through the actions of individuals. Although God's name is not explicitly mentioned, His overruling presence is evident as Esther becomes queen and is instrumental in thwarting Haman's plot to annihilate the Jewish people. Esther 4:14 captures the essence of divine purpose: "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

4. Daniel in the Lions' Den: Daniel's deliverance from the lions' den is a testament to God's protective providence. Despite the king's decree, Daniel remains faithful to God, and God intervenes to save him. Daniel 6:22 records Daniel's testimony: "My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."

5. The Birth of Jesus: The incarnation of Jesus Christ is the ultimate demonstration of God's providential interposition. Through the miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit, God intervenes in human history to bring about salvation. Matthew 1:22-23 states: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel' (which means, 'God with us')."

Theological Implications

The doctrine of God's providence and His overruling interpositions underscores the belief in a God who is actively involved in His creation. It affirms that God is not a distant or detached deity but one who is intimately concerned with the lives of His people. This belief provides comfort and assurance to believers, knowing that God is in control and that His purposes will ultimately prevail, regardless of human actions or circumstances.

Human Responsibility and Divine Sovereignty

While God's providence involves His sovereign control, it does not negate human responsibility. The Bible presents a dynamic relationship between divine sovereignty and human action. Believers are called to trust in God's providence while actively participating in His purposes. This interplay is evident in the lives of biblical figures who, despite facing challenges, remained faithful and obedient, trusting in God's overruling hand to guide and protect them.Genesis 45:5-7
Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
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Genesis 50:20
But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it to good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
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Exodus 14:4
And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honored on Pharaoh, and on all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.
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Numbers 22:12-18
And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people: for they are blessed.
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Numbers 23:1-30
And Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.
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Numbers 24:10-13
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
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Deuteronomy 2:30
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD your God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as appears this day.
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Deuteronomy 23:4,5
Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when you came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
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Joshua 11:20
For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.
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Judges 9:23,24
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
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1 Samuel 2:6-9
The LORD kills, and makes alive: he brings down to the grave, and brings up.
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2 Samuel 17:14
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil on Absalom.
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1 Kings 11:14-40
And the LORD stirred up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.
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1 Kings 12:15
Why the king listened not to the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
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1 Chronicles 5:26
And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, to this day.
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2 Chronicles 10:15
So the king listened not to the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
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2 Chronicles 36:22,23
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
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Ezra 1:1
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
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Ezra 5:5
But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
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Ezra 6:22
And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
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Nehemiah 6:16
And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was worked of our God.
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Esther 6:1-12
On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
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Esther 7:10
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
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Esther 9:1,25
Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)
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Job 5:12
He disappoints the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
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Psalm 17:13,14
Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is your sword:
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Psalm 33:10
The LORD brings the counsel of the heathen to nothing: he makes the devices of the people of none effect.
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Psalm 75:7
But God is the judge: he puts down one, and sets up another.
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Psalm 76:10
Surely the wrath of man shall praise you: the remainder of wrath shall you restrain.
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Psalm 105:17
He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
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Psalm 127:1,2
Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.
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Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
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Proverbs 14:19
The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
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Proverbs 16:7,33
When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
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Proverbs 19:21
There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
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Proverbs 21:1,18
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it wherever he will.
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Proverbs 28:8
He that by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
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Ecclesiastes 2:26
For God gives to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
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Ecclesiastes 3:1,10
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
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Isaiah 8:9,10
Associate yourselves, O you people, and you shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all you of far countries: gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces.
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Isaiah 10:5-7
O Assyrian, the rod of my anger, and the staff in their hand is my indignation.
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Isaiah 13:3-5
I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for my anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.
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Isaiah 41:2,4
Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.
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Isaiah 43:14
Thus said the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
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Isaiah 44:28
That said of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, You shall be built; and to the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.
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Isaiah 45:1-6,13
Thus said the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
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Isaiah 48:14,15
All you, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them has declared these things? The LORD has loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.
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Isaiah 54:16,17
Behold, I have created the smith that blows the coals in the fire, and that brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
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Jeremiah 51:20,21
You are my battle ax and weapons of war: for with you will I break in pieces the nations, and with you will I destroy kingdoms;
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Jeremiah 52:3
For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
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Ezekiel 21:26,27
Thus said the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.
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Ezekiel 29:19,20
Therefore thus said the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.
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Daniel 11:27
And both of these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.
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Acts 3:17,18
And now, brothers, I know that through ignorance you did it, as did also your rulers.
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Acts 5:38,39
And now I say to you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nothing:
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Acts 7:9,10
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
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Romans 1:10
Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come to you.
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Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
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1 Corinthians 4:19
But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
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1 Corinthians 16:7
For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
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Philippians 1:12,19
But I would you should understand, brothers, that the things which happened to me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel;
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Philemon 1:15
For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that you should receive him for ever;
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James 4:15
For that you ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
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Revelation 17:17
For God has put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
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Sozomen as Author.
... we have a series of divine interpositions to discover ... disposal of the lot being of
God, the Catholic ... as when he discusses the overruling Providence in Julian's ...
/.../sozomen/the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/part ii sozomen as author.htm

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