1689 Baptist Confession of Faith – Chapter 5 – Divine Providence Paragraph 5 – God’s Providential Ways with His People – in this paragraph we see: 1st – SOMETHING OF OUR GOD – everything that happens to us must be seen through the biblical reality of who our God is… ‘most wise, righteous, and gracious’ – Romans 8:18,28 2nd – GOD’S WAYS WITH HIS PEOPLE – God sometimes leaves His people ‘for a season’ in vulnerable situations – 1 Peter 1:3-7 3rd – GOD’S PURPOSES FOR HIS PEOPLE – WHY does God permit His people to be tried and tempted—and become more vulnerable to sin? In order to: (1) Chastise Them For Their Former Sins – Hebrews 12:3-11… 2 Chronicles 32:24-26, 30-31… (2) To Humble Them For The Hidden Corruptions of Their Hearts – so that we might experience the true sinfulness that’s still in our hearts – Jeremiah 17:9-10… Mark 14:27-31> Luke 22:31-34… (3) To Cause Them To More Completely Depend Upon Him – 2 Cor 12:7-10… Rom 4:19-21 (4) To Make Them More Watchful Against Sin – Matthew 26:41 … 1 Peter 5:8-9