John Frame, The Doctrine of God:
God prevents fallen men from doing all the wrong they could do. He places a mark on Cain, so that others will not take his life (Gen. 4;15). He confuses the languages of men during the building of the tower of Babel, lest “nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them” (Gen. 11:6). He prevents Abimilech, the king of Gerar, from sexual sin with Abraham’s wife, Sarah (Gen. 20:6). He restrains Egypt’s oppression of Israel by sending plagues on Egypt and delivering his people (Ex. 1-15). He prevents King Sennacherib of Assyria from doing all the harm to Israel that he has planned (2 Kings 19:27-28). He protects his son Jesus from harm until his hour comes. He restrains “the secret power of lawlessness” (2 Thess. 2:7). These examples can be multiplied almost indefinitely. Common grace in this sense pervades biblical history and our own experience. Satan himself is on a leash: God allows him to go only so far, and no farther (see Job 1:12; 2:6). So God keeps widckedness under tight control. He allows it to advance only as far as will serve his purposes…
God always sets a limit to what sinners can do.
Words of Grace 