How sovereign is truly sovereign?
The great debate lies with the question of "how sovereign is God?"
1.) Is He so sovereign, that we do not have a choice in matters? That we can sit back, relax, and everything will happen because God is the puppet-master and we are the puppets? We can't choose because He has already chosen for us? This kind of sovereign to me does not describe God. This would describe God as only keeping His sovereignty if He controls every thought, every decision, and His creation had no choice....because should they have a choice, then they could not choose God, and not exalt Him as the sovereign He is, making God not sovereign.
2.) Or, is God so sovereign, SO sovereign, that He gives us a choice? That He already knows the choice we will make, but gives us the choice to make nonetheless? That despite our choice, He'll still be sovereign...that if we do not choose to exalt Him, He's still exalted?
I believe we have a choice. God didn't MAKE Rehoboam disregard the wise counsel of the elders and choose the foolish counsel of the young. Rehoboam clearly had the choice, but forsook the counsel of the old men (1 Kings 12:8). The Bible tells us that Rehoboam made that foolish decision. By the way...that decision happened to lead to events that were in the prophesied plan of God. Somehow, God used Rehoboam's decision in His plan.
I do think God also intervenes at times...He did with Pharaoh in hardening his heart, and stirred up adversaries against Solomon..
So God is sovereign enough to give us a choice, and also able at any moment to involve Himself in the situation?
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1 comment:
1) I Agree. In this case, God is not sovereign. He's just a puppet master. Someone doing something because someone else said to does not make anyone sovereign.
2) God is the ultimate Sovereign.
I agree that God intervenes at times. But I think that when He intervenes, it's not to make sure His plan will work out. He's not waiting on anyone and He doesn't have to intervene to prove His sovereignty. He's sovereign no matter what. If I CHOOSE to follow God, God is sovereign. If I CHOOSE not to follow God, God is sovereign.
Interesting Thoughts... and some people just completely miss the boat on this question.
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