Bible Question: Nothing happens without the Lord's knowledge or His allowing it happen. Job for example...God was aware of the things that the devil was doing to him for God gave permission except for the life of Job. It's just hard to accept that God "orchestrates" everything that happens in this world, as the Brother stated Tuesday night. If that was entirely right, where does this leave the devil and his angels? The Bible speaks of the devil walking to and fro seeking whom he can devour, he's the accuser, father of lies, etc...No temptation comes to man more than he can bear without there being a way to escape. To me, it sounds like God has a permissive will and not that he entirely "orchestrates" everything that goes on in this world. If He does, it would seem that it would interfere with man's "free will" Just my thoughts...is an interesting discussion and surely, we'll understand it all when this life is over. |
Bible Answer: Hi, eagle eyes! I think that part of the problem is that we take everything to extremes... when we do so we make the Word of God seem lopsided... i.e.: There are those who read the Bible and claim that Jesus cannot be God because Yahweh said, in the Old Testament, that there is only one God. Others look to the verse where Jesus Christ stated that not even the Son of man knew "the hour or the day..."--clearly this, to them, is evidence enough that Jesus cannot be God. Others, still, claim that since God cannot be tempted and Jesus was tempted then it must be that Jesus is not God... What do they miss? They miss Jesus stating that He and the Father are One; that He is the Son of God; that He is the Alpha and the Omega, that He is the Beginning and the End; that He is the Resurrection and the Life; that He is the Good Shepherd... then there are the Father's own words: "Your throne, God, is for ever and ever;" And Thomas' confession: "My Lord and my God!" I could go on with the list... Everything is in God's hands (for He lets the sun shine on both the just and the unjust; He allows the rain to fall on both the good and the bad--paraphrased!)... Does that translate into everyone in the world being puppets whose strings are pulled by God at His whim? God causes all things to happen for the good of those He loves: Jesus died on the cross: the Just for the unjust; the Righteous for the unrighteous... Satan sets death onto the world, God sets Life onto the world--for all to benefit, all who believe and obey that is! When Yahweh said "choose life..." He was offering a choice with a built-in safety... When Jesus said "if you abide in me..." He was offering us that same choice with that same built-in safety: "be holy for I am Holy." We are called to perfection; but, God does not use tricks or strings to control our decisions. As Paul said: 'For me everthing is permissible'; maybe, but not everthing does good. True, for me everything is permissible, but I am determined not to be dominated by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12) Is Paul saying that because he is living by Grace he can do anything he desires... No! He is saying that in God we are free to choose anything that we want to do or have... But he quickly counters that not everything does good--anything that keeps us from being one with Chirst is not good for our spiritual wellbeing! Though God does not want anybody to die, He will not force-feed us Salvation: But the rest of the human race, who escaped death by these plagues, refused either to abandon their own handiwork or to stop worshipping devils, the idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood that can neither see nor hear nor move. Nor did they give up their murdering, or witchcraft, or fornicating or stealing. (Revelation 9:20-21) but though people were scorched by the fierce heat of it, they cursed the name of God who had the power to cause such plagues, and they would not repent and glorify him. (Revelations 16:9) Surely, God has our best interest at heart (Romans 10:28), but He allows us freedom to choose Him over everything else (John 1:12-13 and Romans 10:16). God Bless! Angel |