Reflections on September 11, 2001 to 2011

Heidelberg Catechism

Q & A 27

Q. What do you understand by the
providence of God?

A. Providence is the almighty and
ever present power of God^1 by
which he upholds, as with his
hand, heaven and earth and all
creatures,^2 and so rules them
that leaf and blade, rain and
drought, fruitful and lean
years, food and drink, health
and sickness, prosperity and
poverty—^3 all things, in fact,
come to us not by chance^4 but
from his fatherly hand.^5

^1 Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 17:24-28
^2 Heb. 1:3
^3 Jer. 5:24; Acts 14:15-17; John 9:3;
Prov. 22:2
^4 Prov. 16:33
^5 Matt. 10:29

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 11 What are God's works of
providence?
A. God's works of providence are his
most holy, wise and powerful
preserving and governing all his
creatures, and all their actions.

Psalm 145:17, Psalm 104:24,
Hebrews 1:3, Nehemiah 9:6,
Ephesians 1:19-22, Psalm 36:6,
Proverbs 16:33, Matthew 10:30