Which parts of Harper’s definition of ‘providence’ mean the most to you?
“‘The will of the Creator who is actively involved…’”
Now, return to Daniel’s proclamation of praise in 2:20-23. Note specific ways these verses express God’s sovereignty and providence.
“‘He removes kings and establishes kings’”
How does the sovereignty of God described in these four verses speak to you concerning any current world events?
”The Libyans who killed Gaddafi did so in God’s plan and timing.”
What do you see in common between Matthew 13: 12-13 and Daniel 2:21?
“Those who have receive more.”
Crudely put, we’ve got to use it or lose it. 
What does the obvious shift from third-person references (God as ‘He’) to second person (‘You’) and first person (‘me’) references mean to you?
“Daniel moves from formal, lofty praise to personal thanks and praise.”
He seemed almost unable to keep talking about God without talking to God.
I asked you a moment ago how the four verses speak to you regarding current world events. In light of Daniel’s shift in the psalm from the international scene to the personal scene, how do the four versus speak to you regarding current personal events?
“I feel I have let God speak through me in my memoirs to my parents. He has granted me wisdom and power. May my words touch them at a deep, heartfelt level.”
Reread Harper’s definition of ‘providence’ on page 40. How do God’s sovereignty and providence help you reframe your current circumstances or challenges? Be specific.
“I trust in His sovereignty, but I also know He never overrides free will – so ultimately the choice is theirs.”
How does God‘s willingness to give supernatural wisdom and power help you reframe your current circumstances or challenges even further?
“With His help, I’ll do all I can – as will Pastor Wally.”
You have given me “the words to write and to speak,”
You have made known to me what we asked of you,
You have “helped me make the best appeal I could.”
Dearest Rachel –
It’s interesting to note how this study starts off with an item from the headlines at the time you were working on this; it’s another reminder that it’s best to keep such discussion out of these letters (aside from being a means to mark one’s temporal place, I suppose). From what we’ve learned since then, it seems that certain agencies here in the States had a hand in Gaddafi’s death (although to be fair, that was pretty obvious in fairly short order thereafter). In any event, Libya’s fortunes do not seem to have improved by the man’s removal; quite the contrary, in fact. Things that seem good at one point do tend to lose their luster over time, and as the messy details slowly come to light.
Nevertheless, your point still stands that all that happens in the world – this rising up of “kings,” and their crashing down to earth (and under the earth) – are completely ordained by God. We may not – indeed, we most certainly DO not – understand the plan He has in mind for the world, but He is the Master, and we have to trust the Master plan.
Likewise, on your more personal level, there was a commitment of the results to God, even as you worked to put together a thesis to present to your parents, as well as enlisting the assistance of their pastor to join you in talking to them about their position with God. To be honest, I hadn’t remembered that you had gone to these lengths, but it may be because it wasn’t my mission to undertake, so you didn’t discuss it much with me. Then again, I might just as easily have been preoccupied with my own struggles – at work and so forth – so anything that you told me about your strategy might have been forgotten by me either then or over the intervening years. Nevertheless, this does seem perfectly in character with your determination to see to it that they were right with God before they had to meet Him face-to-face.
At the same time, you took the opportunity here to praise Him, like Daniel of old, for the effect that He would have in their hearts, even before you went downstate to discuss this matter with them. You understood that their decision wasn’t entirely in your hands; it was up to them to choose to come to Him. Even He would let them make their own choice in this matter, rather than force Himself on them.
It still seems so strange to me; your parents brought you to their church week after week, presumably with a certain hope that you would come to Him under their tutelage – which you did, of course. But at this point, when you questioned them about their faith, they resisted and took offense to your efforts. I’ve said before that I would understand embarrassment at your line of inquiry – “What kind of Christians are we if our own daughter can’t tell if we are?” – but to show outright refusal to answer your question until they (well, she; only your mom got to this point) reached their second childhood and could approach Him with the childlike faith He asks of us, well… that struck me as a strange reaction.
These are the choices we’re allowed to make, though.
I do wish I knew how things turned out, although perhaps it’s best otherwise; there isn’t anything to be done about it anymore. You know at this point, of course, along with the answers to so many questions that plagued us all while here. Maybe that’s why we’re expected to be praising Him so much when we get there; once we see the Master Plan, it will all make sense to us, and it will appear so much better than anything we could have imagined if we had been put in control of things.
But for now, I’ve got to muddle forward, and hope I’m on the right path. To that end, keep an eye on me, honey. Nudge me in the right direction (or have the Spirit do so) if you see the need, and wish me luck; I’m sure I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 