by Georgia Stewart

Created on: November 16, 2009   Last Updated: November 18, 2009

The concepts of free will and divine providence seem to be somewhat of an oxymoron. Yet some of the religions that hold beliefs in God assume that both concepts are valid. This raises a problem because if God governs history and all of our destinies then how can our choices make a difference?

It depends on how we perceive divine providence. It could be assumed that the sacred mind of God is responsible for every event, in which case free will would be non-existent.

On the other hand divine providence could be seen as more of a form of guidance that we can choose to follow or to ignore. The idea that God's spirit is within us urging us to choose the way that is right and beneficial to us and to others fits perfectly with the concept of free will.

Some of the early church fathers, especially Augustine viewed God as patriarchal, stern and all powerful in the lives of humans. Their interpretation of the Bible led them to this way of thinking. God is in all aspects of the Israelites lives, rewarding and punishing them according to their deeds. God is ultimately in control of all historical and personal events and people can follow his way, or else!

History has shown that God isn't, in fact, that domineering. Otherwise surely the God who was recorded to have defended the Jews and gave them victory over their much larger and exceedingly powerful enemies would have struck Hitler down even for the first thought of what he planned to do to the chosen people, the Jews? Is God not unchanging?

Perhaps divine providence for the struggling Israelites fighting for survival in the Old Testament and those in concentration camps centuries later was the inner strength to fight, have courage, hope and persevere in the face of adversity? Divine providence for us all could be the wisdom to choose the right path and to be strong due to being aware of the guidance that's silent and unseen but is there if we seek it.

God might be seen less as patriarchal in an overbearing sense, and more as fatherly or motherly. In the Psalms God takes the writer under his wings. Parents guide their children but good ones don't make their choices for them. I'm sure that the Jews in the concentration camps drew strength and courage from their faith in God even though the majority of them weren't rescued.

God is a guiding light that doesn't blind us or force us into it but gently and lovingly draws us closer to it. After all would a God of love take prisoners? Yet what about when things occur that are out of our control, regardless of any choices we may have made?

Doors open and doors close, sometimes unexpectedly and they can be welcome or unwelcome. Our free will comes into it because we choose how to deal with the opportunities or challenges. Perhaps divine providence sometimes plays a part in opening and closing the doors but doesn't dictate our reactions or all of the outcomes?

Picture a ship at sea with you steering. The wind is the driving force and you learn to perceive it keenly. You go with its flow and it takes you where you wish to go. When a sailor understands the winds he can glide through the calm or stormy seas because he's in harmony with the elements. This is one concept of divine providence; we steer but God can help us to our destinations.

To conclude: In order to comprehend the concept of free will we must first examine divine providence and decide of what it consists. Does God control our every thought and action, each event that occurs to us? I think not, rather that God is the spirit within us that guides us in order that we can put our free will into practise wisely. Ultimately though we have the free will to be as wise or as foolish as we wish!

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