There are a few things that I want to get to in this post, so I will jump right in.
Does God Cause People to Sin?
In my sermon on Genesis 20, a question came to me about God’s sovereignty over human sin. I stated that God works with, in, and through human sin to accomplish His purposes. I placed a high view of God’s sovereignty and made it clear that even though Abraham sinned, God’s purposes were not thwarted, and God used Abraham’s sin to accomplish His purposes. From this, you can see where the question at the top of this section would come from.
My answer is this: it is clear from the Bible that God does not cause anyone to sin, nor does He tempt them to sin (James 1:13). It is also evident from the Bible that we sin when we’re pulled away by our sinful desires (James 1:14). The answer to the question is clear: God does not cause people to sin.
However, God works alongside human actions to accomplish His perfect purposes. This is concurrence. We cannot miss this. There is no greater picture of this than Jesus’ death. God did not cause the Jews or the Romans to sin. But, it was the will of the Lord to crush His Son (Isaiah 53:10). God worked alongside people’s sinful decisions to accomplish His greatest glory.
Listen to Sarah?
We had a dilemma this past Sunday when we studied Genesis 21:1-15, and the Lord told Abraham to listen to Sarah’s desires to send Hagar and Ishmael away. The last time the phrase “listened to the voice of Sarai” was used was in Genesis 16…and that didn’t turn out so well (Ishmael was born).
But what makes this phrase even more interesting is when God cursed Adam for his sin in the Garden of Eden, notice what God started with in Genesis 3:17: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife.” Hmmm…
Now, before all the married men read this and say, “I knew it. She has no idea what she’s talking about!” we should pay attention to the moments when God told Abraham to listen to Sarah. It was a moment when Abraham was willing to put the promise of grace that Isaac represented at risk. Sarah’s counsel at that moment was in line with God’s will. Eve’s and later Sarai’s voices about Hagar were not. So, when our wives speak to us about the will of God…we better listen.
God Had Compassion on Israel’s Enemies?
If you know the history of Ishmael’s people, you will know that they are some of Israel’s greatest enemies. So, why did God have compassion on Ishmael, whose people became violent enemies of Isaac’s people? Why did God allow them & even formulate them?
Here are several musings about that:
- Enemies are part of the Bible’s story and are used by God to discipline His people when necessary.
- Enemies are part of God’s plan to help His people stay dependent on Him.
- When you read Israel’s story in the OT, you see this.
- When Israel remembered the Lord and was thankful for His care for them, God allowed them to have victory over their enemies and peace on their borders.
- But when they rebelled against the Lord, were ungrateful and arrogant, God gave them over to their enemies, and they were taken from their borders.
- Enemies are part of God’s plan to keep His people dependent on Him.
- In the NT, our adversaries are our daily struggles with sin and our archenemy, Satan. The apostle Paul discussed this in 2 Cor. 12 (7-9). The Lord gave him a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan, who harassed him…notice, to keep him from being conceited. He asked the Lord to deliver him, and God told him no. But notice the ‘why.’ Because God’s power is perfected in weakness.
- One of the ways that God keeps us humble and dependent on Him is through
Looking Ahead
This Sunday, we will look at Genesis 21:22-34. In this passage, we will see that God wants his people to be peacemakers.
From the Cheap Seats
- Mike MacDonald continues to fill up his staff with good, young, creative coaches.
- That was a fun Super Bowl. I did wonder…why would they ask a Broncos legend (John Elway) to deliver the Lombardi trophy to the Chiefs, who are a big rival to the Broncos. Weird.
- 6-0…Arsenal is rolling.
- Can you hear it?? Pitchers and catchers are reporting. What marvelous words!
To watch or listen to the sermon described in this post, please click here.
Have a great week! Christ is King!
In Christ,
Dave York
