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Response
Does everything occur for a purpose? The concise response is “yes”; because God is supreme, there are no arbitrary, uncontrolled occurrences. God’s intentions may be concealed from us, but we can be confident that every incident has a rationale behind it.
There was a purpose for the blindness of the man in John 9, even though the disciples misunderstood the purpose (John 9:1-3). There was a purpose for Joseph’s mistreatment, even though his brothers’ intent in their actions was very different from God’s intent in permitting it «But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. », (Genesis 50:20). There was a purpose for Jesus’ death—the authorities in Jerusalem had their reasons, based on evil intent, and God had His, based on righteousness. God’s sovereignty extends even to the lowliest of creatures: “Not one [sparrow] falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will” «Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. », (Matthew 10:29, NET).
Several factors help us understand that everything happens for a purpose: the law of cause and effect, the doctrine of original sin, and the providence of God. All these demonstrate that everything does happen for a reason, not merely by chance or by random luck.
First, there is the natural law of cause and effect, also known as the law of sowing and reaping. Paul says, “Do nDo not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8). This implies that with every action we take or word we speak, whether good or evil, there are specific inevitable consequences that ensue (Colossians 3:23-25). One might inquire, “Why am I in jail? Is there a purpose for this?” and the response could be, “Because you robbed your neighbor’s house and were apprehended.” That’s cause and effect.
Everything we do is either an investment in the flesh or an investment in the Spirit. We will harvest whatever we have planted, and we will reap in proportion to our planting. “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” «But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. », (2 Corinthians 9:6). The believer who walks in the Spirit and “sows” in the Spirit is destined to reap a spiritual harvest. If their sowing has been generous, the harvest will be bountiful, if not in this life, certainly in the life to come. Conversely, those who “sow” to the flesh will reap a life without the full blessings of God, both in this life and the life to come (Jeremiah 18:10;2 Peter 2:10-12).
The reason behind some occurrences can often be traced back to the original sin in the Garden of Eden. The Bible is explicit that the world is under a curse «And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;».D thee, saying, “Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;”, (Genesis 3:17), which has resulted in infirmities, diseases, natural disasters, and death. All these things, although under God’s ultimate control, are sometimes used by Satan to inflict misery upon people (see Job 1-2; Luke 9:37-42; 13:16). Someone may ask, “Why did I contract this illness? Is there a reason for it?” and the answer may be one or more of the following: 1) “Because you live in a fallen world, and we are all subject to illness”; 2) “Because God is testing you and strengthening your faith”; or 3) “Because, in love, God is disciplining you according to Hebrews 12:7–13 and 1 Corinthians 11:29–30.”
Then we have what is called the providence of God. The doctrine of providence holds that God quietly and invisibly works through the natural world to manage events. God, in His providence, works out His purposes through natural processes in the physical and social universe. Every effect can be traced back to a natural cause, and there is no hint of the miraculous. The best that man can do to explain the reason why things happen in the course of natural events is to point to “coincidence.”
Believers proclaim that God arranges the coincidences. The unbeliever derides such ideas because he believes natural causes can fully explain each event without reference to God. Yet followers of Christ are wholly assured of this profound truth: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” «And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. », (Romans
The book of Esther illustrates divine providence in action. From the removal of Vashti to the rise of Esther, the scheme of the assassins, the arrogance of Haman, the bravery of Mordecai, the king’s sleeplessness, the bloodthirstiness of Zeresh, and the reading of the decree—every event in the book unfolds like well-coordinated gears in a machine, leading to the rescue of God’s people. Even though God is not explicitly mentioned in Esther, His providential hand, working through “coincidences,” is evident.
God is constantly active in the lives of His people, and in His kindness, He will bring them to a favorable conclusion (see Philippians 1:6). The occurrences that shape our lives are not mere results of chance or natural forces. They are orchestrated by God and are designed for our benefit. Often, we may not perceive God’s subtle guidance or protection as events transpire in our lives. However, upon reflecting on past experiences, we can discern His involvement more clearly, even amidst tragic moments.
