That's what New York Governor David Paterson called the landing of the USAirways jet that crashed into the Hudson River between Manhattan and New Jersey yesterday. It seems that the emergency landing was caused by a massive flock of birds (big enough to be seen on radar) crashed into the jet less than one minute after take-off, killing both engines. Thankfully, all 155 people on board survived. The pilot of the plane, Chesley B. Sullenburger III, is being hailed a hero for his deft landing of the plane in the frigid waters of the Hudson.
Because I hadn't tuned into the news, I first heard about this incident early this morning while meeting with one of our church members. We had been discussing God's providence, as part of a theological book study we are undertaking, and my friend mentioned this jet crash as a good example of God's providence. As Wayne Grudem notes,
... The biblical doctrine [of God's providence] does not teach that events in creation are determined by chance (or randomness), nor are they determined by impersonal fate (or determinism), but by God, who is the personal yet infinitely powerful Creator and Lord.
- Systematic Theology, p. 315
One component of the doctrine of God's providence is concurrence, that "God cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do" (Systematic Theology, p. 317). This we see vividly demonstrated in the apparent cause of yesterday's crash, i.e., a flock of birds flying striking the jet. In teaching His disciples about God's providence, Jesus said, "Look at the birds of the air" (Matt. 6:26a). What can we learn about God's providence from birds? Jesus said, "Your heavenly Father feeds them" (Matt. 6:26b). Later He said that not one sparrow "will fall to the ground without your Father's will" (Matt. 10:29). Think about that! If not one sparrow can fall to the ground apart from God's will, then surely a whole flock of birds can't crash into a plane without His ordaining it!
But, wait. There's even more wonder at God's providence that can be drawn from yesterday's story. In reporting this incident during a news broadcast, here's what FOXNews' Shepard Smith had to say:
We are told that the water in the Hudson River is at exactly at 32 degrees. In fact, if you go north of the city ... a hundred city blocks, ... the river is closed to the ferries due to the ice in the water. And now we are led to believe that this very cold water ... is part of what allowed this thing to skid rather than tumble, and a tumble could have been catastrophic.
At the same time, near-freezing temperature of the water made it cold enough to keep the plane afloat as the passengers and flight crew made their way to safety. Job 37:10 declares, "The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen." Even what we consider to be "natural occurrences" in creation are, in the ultimate sense, caused by God.
We could go on to demonstrate many more examples of God's providence from this single incident. Yet the fact is, there are tokens of God's sovereignty over all creation every day at every moment, everywhere we turn our heads. What a great security this gives us as God's children, for "we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28). Even tragedies in life, for the believer, have a good and noble end. Therefore we can be strong and courageous, knowing that our all-powerful God is accomplishing His eternal purpose in the everyday incidents of life, whether big or small, whether ordinary or extraordinary. Rejoice in that. Take refuge in that. And urge others to do the same.