How God Works in the World

How God Works in the World
God's Will	What God wants done—He works through…
Esther	ê Natural Order	ê Miracles	ê Providence
God's Action	ê God set into action through Creation a normal working of His universe. He also revealed His expectations of people through His Word and people's consciences.	ê God breaks into the natural order to respond to the expressed needs of people.	ê God overrules the natural order to accomplish an act that people may or may not have requested.
Examples from Esther	ê God gave Esther natural beauty.	ê God allowed Esther to speak to the king.	ê God allowed Mordecai to overhear a plot.
	é Esther planned a way to save her people.	é The people prayed and fasted.	é Mordecai trusted God to accomplish what was impossible in human terms.
People's Will	What people want done—we either…
	é Plan	é Pray	é Trust and Obey
Action We Can Take	é Can make plans based on the order and dependability of God's creation. Know and obey his words.	é Can ask God to intervene in certain affairs while realizing that our knowledge and perspective are limited.	é Can trust that God is in control even when circumstances seem to indicate that he is not.
	or…
Mistakes We Can Make	ê Disobey	ê Demand	ê Despair
	ê Can violate the natural order, disobey God's commands.	ê Can assume that we understand what is needed and expect God to agree and answer our prayers that way.	ê Can assume God doesn't answer prayer or respond to our needs and live as though there is nothing but the natural order.