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Symbolic and Mythic Expression in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings
The Black Rider was Crawling Towards the Hobbits
12/21/2K6
"that Black Rider stopped just here and was actually crawling towards us when the song began"
-- Frodo, describing a close call with one of the Ringwraiths (Fellowship, p. 88)
Supernatural providence may find expression in the Ring passing from Bilbo to Frodo. However, Frodo inheriting the Ring is not in itself an expression of supernatural providence.
The first clear expression of supernatural providence, in The Lord of the Rings, is when the Black Rider is on the verge of discovering the Hobbits, and Elves come along.
Frodo had just sold his home at Bag End and is making his way with Sam and Pippin across country to Buckland, when they are overtaken a second time by a Black Rider.
The Rider has already dismounted and starts sniffing his way towards Frodo. At that moment, Elves come along, and the Rider retreats.
The arrival of the Elves could have been nothing more than a coincidence. After all, coincidences do occur in Middle-earth. Just because there's a coincidence doesn't mean it's providential.
What gives away the Elves coming along as something more than an accident is that the coincidence forms part of a larger pattern.
Hints are also later given that the encounter was not chance. However, it's the pattern that puts it beyond a shadow of doubt. Even without the hints.
The Elves have come along by design. Whose design, we are not told.
Frodo relayed what had happened to the others: "that Black Rider stopped just here and was actually crawling towards us when the song began" (Fellowship, p. 88).