Quiz: On God, the Creator and Provider

Only God possesses self-existent being. The world, by contrast, is not self-existent. It exists by participation in the uncreated divine energies. God is not only the Creator but also the Governor and Provider of the world. As the Fathers asked: how could He who in His infinite goodness created the world fail to care for His creatures? As Providence, God manifests care for His creation. This care consists in preserving creatures and guiding their existence. Divine Providence, according to Church teaching, is divided into general Providence (over the whole world) and particular Providence (over each individual creature). Without God’s Providence, no harmonious order could exist in the world. Were the Lord to withdraw His almighty hand from governance even for a moment, the world would instantly cease to exist. Though God’s Providence encompasses all creation, the freedom of rational beings remains intact. While God directs such beings toward good, He does not revoke their freedom — hence the possibility of its abuse and the emergence of evil. Some people may have a question how the doctrine of Providence aligns with Scripture’s words: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works which He had done” (Gen. 2:2). We answer in the words of Blessed Augustine: “… the statement that God rested from all His works means He ceased creating new kinds of creatures — not that He ceased to sustain and govern those already made. Thus, it is equally true that He rested on the seventh day and that He ‘works until now’ (Jn. 5:17).” Ba the way, Scripture itself confirms this, specifying that God rested from "all His works which He had created and made" (Gen. 2:3) — implying ongoing governance of what exists.