Oh The Wisdom And Love Of God In His Providence!

I think it was Charles Spurgeon who said that when you can't understand what God is doing in your life - when you can't understand what His hand is doing, trust His heart.

This is a great story Spurgeon told about the great wisdom and love found in God through His unsearchable providence:

There is a famous story of providence in Bradwardine to this purpose. A certain hermit that was much tempted, & was utterly unsatisfied concerning the providence of God, resolved to journey from place to place till he met with some who could satisfy him. An angel in the shape of a man joined himself with him as he was journeying, telling him that he was sent from God to satisfy him in his doubts of providence. The first night they lodged at the house of a very holy man, & they spent their time in discourses of heaven, & praises of God, & were entertained with a great deal of freedom & joy. In the morning, when they departed, the angel stole a great cup of gold from the man. The next night they came to the house of another holy man, who made them very welcome, & exceedingly rejoiced in their society & discourse; the angel, notwithstanding, at his departure killed the man’s baby infant in the cradle, which was his only son, he having been for many years before childless, &, therefore, was a very fond father of this child. The third night they came to another house, where they had like free entertainment as before. The master of the family had a steward whom he highly prized, & told them how happy he accounted himself in having such a faithful servant. Next morning he sent his steward with them part of their way, to direct them therein. As they were going over the bridge the angel flung the steward into the river & drowned him. The last night they came to a very wicked man's house, where they had very untoward entertainment, yet the angel, next morning, gave him the cup of gold. All this being done, the angel asked the hermit whether he understood those things? He answered, his doubts of providence were increased, not resolved, for he could not understand why he should deal so hardly with those holy men, who received them with so much love & joy, & yet give such a gift to that wicked man who used them so unworthily. The angel said, I will now expound these things unto you. The first house where we came, the master of it was a holy man; yet, [delighting] in that cup of godl every morning, it being too large, it did somewhat unfit him for holy duties, though not so much that others or himself did perceive it; so I took it away, since it is better for him to lose the cup of gold than his temperance. The master of the family where we lay the second night was a man given much to prayer & meditation, & spent much time in holy duties, & was very [generous] to the poor all the time he was childless; but as soon as he had a son he grew so fond of it, & spent so much time in playing with it, that he exceedingly neglected his former holy exercise, & gave but little to the poor, thinking he could never lay up enough for his child; therefore I have taken the infant to heaven, & left him to serve God better upon earth. The steward whom I did drown had plotted to kill his master the night following; & as to that wicked man to whom I gave the cup of gold, he was to have nothing in the other world, I therefore gave him something in this, which, notwithstanding, will prove a snare to him, for he will be more intemperate; & "let him that is filthy be filthy still." The truth of this story I affirm not, but the moral is very good, for it shows that God is an indulgent Father to the saints when he most afflicts them; & that when he sets the wicked on high he sets them also in slippery places, & their prosperity is their ruin. (Pr 1:32) (The Treasury Of David, Vol. 2, Psalm 73:17; pages 262-263 in Hendrickson Publishers version)

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:33-36

God And The Gospel

To learn more about the great and true Triune God, the God-Man, Jesus Christ, His cross, and His glorious Gospel message and everlasting Kingship, please watch American Gospel: Christ Alone. You can watch the full documentary here and here for free!