Did God prescribe America's current Recession?

This post is part of my year long study of Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion.  To facilitate this course of study, I am following along with Princeton Theological Seminary's  "A Year with the Institutes", which also includes an audio reading of the text.

Calvin's Institutes of Religion: 1:17:1-14

This scene, to the left, is being played out all over America.  For that matter, this particular recession is so profound, that it reaches the utmost ends of the earth.

We are currently standing amidst unprecedented financial chaos.  Fully 50% of American's wealth has been removed from their life savings, previously thought imperishable financial institutions, in remarkable numbers, are collapsing all around us.  

Unemployment stands at historic levels, and a great fear has gripped the pocketbooks of America's families, threatening to send our whole economy into collapse. 

To add coal to the fire, our government is responding with trillions of dollars in debt, hoping to spend their way, with money that doesn't exist, out of this stupefying mess.

Well....isn't THAT special!

So here's the question of all questions:  Did God prescribe this mess? 

Does God involve himself in the affairs of man, or does he just sit above and watch?  When we think of God's providence, does that sometimes mean a holy spanking?  Is it possible that God would spank a whole nation?

Calvin continues, in his "Institutes of the Christian Religion", to discuss God's providence.  It will likely serve us well to consider these matters, in the face of our current calamities.

Let's refresh our memories, of a few of Calvin's key statements, in defining God's providence:

"The world, created by God, is still cherished and protected by him.  Each, and all of its parts, are still governed by his providence."

"At the outset, then, let my readers grasp that providence means not that by which God idly observes from heaven what takes place on earth, but that by which, as keeper of the keys, he governs all events. Thus it pertains no less to his hands than to his eyes."

Each, and all of the world's parts are governed by God's providence.  Each, and all!  That means that God's hand is in this mess.  We also know that all is done to glorify God.  Therefore, this mess will, in some fashion, certainly beyond our present comprehension, glorify God!

Do you believe that?

I am reminded of Joseph, sold by his brothers into slavery.  What must he have been thinking as his brothers threw him down into the pit?  What must he have been thinking as he was bound, and dragged off to Egypt, to live out his life as a slave?

Remarkably, this is Joseph's statement to his brothers, as they tremble before him in fear of his retribution:

Genesis 45:8 -  "So it was not you who sent me here, but God."

Genesis 50:20 -  "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good..."

Did you catch that?  God sold Joseph into slavery, to bring about the preservation of his people.

Therefore, is it not proper to conclude that God also has sold our nation, into recession, to bring about some purpose that we cannot now see?

Here this from Calvin:

"But we must so cherish moderation that we do not try to make God render account to us, but so reverence his secret judgments as to consider his will the truly just cause of all things. When dense clouds darken the sky, and a violent tempest arises, because a gloomy mist is cast over our eyes, thunder strikes our ears and all our senses are benumbed with fright, everything seems to us to be confused and mixed up; but all the while a constant quiet and serenity ever remain in heaven. So must we infer that, while the disturbances in the world deprive us of judgment, God out of the pure light of his justice and wisdom tempers and directs these very movements in the best-conceived order to a right end. And surely on this point it is sheer folly that many dare with greater license to call God's works to account, and to examine his secret plans, and to pass as rash a sentence on matters unknown as they would on the deeds of mortal men. For what is more absurd than to use this moderation toward our equals, that we prefer to suspend judgment rather than be charged with rashness; yet haughtily revile the hidden judgments of God, which we ought to hold in reverence?"

In the middle of chapter 17, Calvin puts forth a "holy meditation on Divine Providence", with 15 points for us to consider:

1. All events happen by the ordination of God.
2. All things contribute to the advantage of the godly.
3. The hearts of men, and all of their endeavors, are in the hand of God.
4. Providence watches for the safety of the righteous.
5. God has a special care of his elect.
6. God, in various ways, curbs and defeats the enemies of the Church.
7. He overrules all creatures, even Satan himself, for the good of his people.
8. He trains the godly to patience and moderation.
9. He shakes off their lethargy, and urges them to repentance.
10. The right use of inferior causes is explained.
11. When the godly become negligent or imprudent, in the discharge of duty, Providence reminds them of their fault.
12. It condemns the iniquities of the wicked.
13. It produces a right consideration of the future, rendering the servants of God prudent, diligent, and active.
14. It causes them to resign themselves to the wisdom and omnipotence of God, and, at the same time, makes the diligent in their calling.
15. Though human life is beset with innumerable evils, the righteous, trusting to Divine Providence, feel perfectly secure.

Calvin's conclusion:

"But when once the light of Divine Providence has illumined the believer’s soul, he is relieved and set free, not only from the extreme fear and anxiety which formerly oppressed him, but from all care. For as he justly shudders at the idea of chance, so he can confidently commit himself to God. This, I say, is his comfort, that his heavenly Father so embraces all things under his power—so governs them at will by his nod—so regulates them by his wisdom, that nothing takes place save according to his appointment; that received into his favour, and entrusted to the care of his angels neither fire, nor water, nor sword, can do him harm, except in so far as God their master is pleased to permit."

There have been a great many days, in the past years, where I have not been "relieved and set free".

I don't know about you, but I am going to seek the Holy Spirit's wisdom, and ask that these understandings be burned into my very cells.

Has this particular post been a help to you?  I really do hunger after your comments, and interaction, with this study!