"But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."
-- Exodus 3:11-12
Last night at Unplugged the topic of the supremacy of God's will came up for discussion. We all agreed that the will of the Lord is the greatest and most wonderful, but debate arose over the effectiveness of the will of God. "Can we prohibit the will of God from being accomplished?" The answer to such a question is not as simple as it may first appear.
Last night at Unplugged the topic of the supremacy of God's will came up for discussion. We all agreed that the will of the Lord is the greatest and most wonderful, but debate arose over the effectiveness of the will of God. "Can we prohibit the will of God from being accomplished?" The answer to such a question is not as simple as it may first appear.
Traditionally, the answer "Yes" is given for such a question. Human beings have free will, thus we do not what God commands, instead we operate against His will. As a result, tragic results are unleashed, which cannot be attributed to the fault of God. Therefore, humans beings can prohibit the will of God from being accomplished.
On the flip side, however, there are those who affirm over all the sovereignty of God. They would answer "No" to the above question, seeing that as Lord over the universe cannot be hindered in any way shape of form. Nothing is equal or greater than the Lord, since He alone is above all things, including the will of man. To suggest otherwise, is to suggest that God is in someway limited, and, therefore, not sovereign.
So who makes the better case? Those who suggest that man's behavior is greater than the will of God, or those who ascribe complete responsibility to the Lord? The correct answer lies in both/and, not either/or.
The bible clearly teaches that the will of God is a vast and superior notion. The Word declares that the ways of the Lord cannot be comprehended or perceived by the simple minds of man, nor we attempt to try to (Isaiah 40:13 and Job 38-39). However, at other points of Scripture the Lord declares His will while also commending those who seek after such (Deut 30:6 and Rom. 12:2). Is this a paradox or a contradiction?
It is neither. The full counsel of Scripture declares that there is both the revealed will of the Lord, as well as the unspoken will of God. The first is that which the Lord grants to man through His prophets and revelations so that man may know the redemption and standards of God. This is the will of the Lord that can be broken.
However, His unrevealed will is that which under girds all of creation. It is this perfect and supreme will that man cannot fathom, prevent, or hinder. It is the supreme power of God that enables Him to use the sins of the world for His glory and exultation. It is this glorious truth that enables Him to use wretched, wicked, defunct sinners like you, me, and Moses for His glory!
So, get up, get out there, and serve Jesus! Repent of your sins, cast off your old self, and strive to fulfill the revealed will of God according to His good and sovereign purpose.
