Who's really in charge?

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Chronicles 19:1–21:30 
Romans 2:25–3:8 
Psalm 11:1-7 
Proverbs 19:10-12

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:


Psalm 11:4 (CSB) "The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord - his throne is in heaven. His eyes watch; his gaze examines everyone."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In our Bible reading this morning, we were once again made aware that there is so much about our God that we cannot understand. His ways are so much higher than our own. Because of this and more, we will be in joyful, captive amazement for all eternity and never grow tired or bored of worshiping our God.

Specifically, we were confronted with a biblical truth that is a topic of debate among Christians and has been for centuries. It is the fact that God is free to do as He pleases while at the same time allowing mankind to do as we please. And yet, He is able to work out His perfect will without going to “Plan B.”

How He accomplishes this is something I could only make feeble attempts to explain. I feel like a kindergarten student trying to explain a college calculus equation. I can do my best to understand it but I am left in amazement at the complexity of it and my God. But, my lack of understanding in no way delegitimizes the truth.

In our Bible reading today, we read of a story that shows the complexity of this issue... 

King David numbered the people of Israel and got in trouble by God for doing so. Apparently, he was relying upon his military might instead of relying upon the Lord.

We may raise the question: “Who was responsible for David’s action of numbering the people?” The Bible states that there were three who were responsible: 

David (1 Chronicles 21:17)
Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1) 
God (2 Samuel 24:1)

Did God determine that David would number the people? Yes. 

Did David make his decision to number the people of his own free will without any divine coercion? Yes. 

Did Satan accomplish his own desires by getting David to number the people? Yes. 

All of these are true.

So, does the Bible teach that God exercises divine control over His creation and makes sovereign choices that have eternal ramifications? Are words like "predestination", "election," and other such words in Scripture? Absolutely!

Yet, is mankind free to exercise their free will and make choices that have eternal ramifications? Does the Bible really teach that "whosoever will may come."? Absolutely!

The Bible teaches both. So, believe them both.

A church father once said: "Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." (Saint Augustine).

There may be some great truth in that statement!