How doth God execute his decrees?

Which Bible passages support this answer?

The Westminster Assembly attached these Scripture proofs to answer 8. Read them together and ask what each one shows about the answer.

1. Psalm 148:8

   O fire and hail, snow and clouds, O stormy wind that carries out his orders, (NET)

2. Isaiah 40:26

   Look up at the sky! Who created all these heavenly lights? He is the one who leads out their ranks; he calls them all by name. Because of his absolute power and awesome strength, not one of them is missing. (NET)

3. Daniel 4:35

   All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he wishes with the army of heaven and with those who inhabit the earth. No one slaps his hand and says to him, “What have you done?” (NET)

4. Acts 4:24-28

   ²⁴When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “Master of all, you who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them, ²⁵who said by the Holy Spirit through your servant David our forefather, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot foolish things? ²⁶The kings of the earth stood together, and the rulers assembled together,against the Lord and against his Christ.’ ²⁷“For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, ²⁸to do as much as your power and your plan had decided beforehand would happen. (NET)

5. Revelation 4:11

   “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, since you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created!” (NET)

What does this answer mean?

God carries out his eternal plan in two ways: creation and providence. Creation is his making of all things, and providence is his ongoing care and rule over what he made. The next questions explain each one. Together they show that God both began the world and still governs it.

What can we ask our children?

1. What are the two ways God carries out his plan?
2. What did God do in creation?
3. What is God doing in the world today?