God is always in control

Job 27-29

 

As we wrestle with the potentially permanent consequences of a certain family member's rebellious decisions, we must simply believe that God is always in control.  In some supernatural way that we can not understand, He affords each individual the opportunity to demonstrate some measure of freewill, and He can rightly and justly determine the extent to which He intervenes in that individual's life to steer him/her away from his/her choice.

 

I am reminded of Romans 8:28-30:

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.  

A passage from Job 28 also reaffirms the LORD's position of sovereignty:

23 God understands the way to [wisdom] 

       and he alone knows where it dwells,  

24 for he views the ends of the earth

       and sees everything under the heavens.

25 When he established the force of the wind

       and measured out the waters, 

26 when he made a decree for the rain

       and a path for the thunderstorm, 

27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;

       he confirmed it and tested it. 

28 And he said to man,

       'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,

       and to shun evil is understanding.' "

It is amazing that an infinite, all-powerful, and all-knowing Deity would create an environment where His finite, weak, ignorant, creations are given the opportunity to dynamically interact with Him.  So, as we wrestle with what may or may not occur (this afternoon), we must continue to trust that the LORD knows what He's doing.  He is capable to send an angel or do something miraculous, but if He doesn't, He is no-less sovereign, and He is no-less caring.  He will have His way.  He knows best.

 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise you because you know what you are doing.  I praise you because you are so creative that you allow us to interact with you.  Lord, I pray that I will hear you and obey you.  Lord, I pray that you will have your way with our family member.  We thank you for loving us so much that you sent your Son to die on the cross for our sins.  We know that you are ultimately in control, and we want to submit our lives to your direction.  We know that you will glorify yourself, and we pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.