Saturday, June 23, 2012

Bible Truth #387 - Jeremiah 29:10-11

10  For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Could the Israelites return to their land of their own? The Lord said after 70 years HE would perform His good word toward them and cause them to return to the Promised Land. So it matters not if they wanted to return earlier, or if they didn’t want to return after 70 years. The Lord was going to cause them to return after 70 years. Where is the free will here?

Not only does God work in the lives of each and every one of His children, He also moves the heart of kings and rulers (Proverbs 21:1) so it is no surprise that the Israelites would be set free by their captors because that is what God wants.

He continues and said that He knows the thoughts He has toward them, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give them an expected end. There is nothing the children of Israel could do that would change God’s plan (Isaiah 14:27).

All of this is carried forward to His church for God is immutable, unchangeable. He causes every event and circumstance, He works all things together for His good (Romans 8:28), and not only that, He works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will (Ephesians 1:11). There are some who may say, “But this event or that particular situation is evil! God has not caused that!” If you truly believe that then you don’t know God’s Word. We may think it is evil but it is all from God (Ecclesiastes 7:14, Lamentations 3:38, Isaiah 45:7). Was it not evil that Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers? God intended and caused that (Genesis 50:20). Was it not evil that Jesus Christ, the innocent Lamb of God, was scourged and crucified? God caused that too (Acts 2:23, Acts 4:28).

God has a plan for our lives, as well as every human being who ever lived. No one will go through their lives not fulfilling God’s purpose for them (Psalm 57:2, Psalm 138:8, Revelation 17:17). Even Judas was destined to do what he did (Psalm 41:9, John 13:18, Acts 2:23). God owns each and every human being who was ever born (Psalm 24:1, 2 Peter 2:1), and can have mercy and compassion upon whomever He wants (Romans 9:15). He has an expected end for each and every person because we were created for for His pleasure (Revelation 4:11). Free will? Sorry, that is simply a weakness of the flesh that many believers have not yet overcome.

We become children of God NOT by the [free] will of the flesh (John 1:13).

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.