God's Authority and Man's Choice - Genesis 25-26 and Matthew 8:1-17
God has the authority to do anything He decides to do. His authority is based on Him having all power and all knowledge. When He decides on a course of action, it is not an arbitrary choice, but it is based on His complete knowledge. When God created man, He had the authority to do it any way He wanted, and He chose to give man a free will to choose what he would do. This does not nullify God's authority, because God can still carry out His will, since He is so powerful and wise. He can make sure the right thing is done, even if people choose to do the wrong thing. We see this awesome truth in several ways in these chapters. I pray that we all will learn much about God's authority as we meditate on His Word.
Abraham came to the end of his life, and he was buried with his wife by both of his sons. God blessed Isaac in a special way that He did not bless Ishmael. God had the authority to do this. He acted based on His complete knowledge of the two men and the future. Isaac followed in his father's footsteps, not because God forced him, but because he chose to be faithful to God and the covenant. He lied like his father, but he also trusted God like His father. Then, when Isaac had twin sons, Rebekah inquired of God about the struggle going on in her before their birth. God told her that the older would serve the younger. God did not make that as an arbitrary decision. He knew the heart of Esau even before he was born. He knew that for a bowl of stew, he would sell his birthright to Jacob. He knew that Jacob would have trouble with deception, but that he would be faithful to God in the end. Therefore, God in His authority decided to work His plan through Jacob. That is how it works with us, too. God does not limit His authority, but He works it all out based on His perfect knowledge and power.
Matthew 8 gives additional teaching that will help us with this. Jesus healed many people, because He had the authority to do so. He always followed the Father, and He never did anything that He did not know was the will of the Father. Jesus put Himself under the authority of the Father even though He is equal to the Father. ( I Corinthians 11:3) This is the order set up by the Father. Then, Jesus meets the centurion, a Roman soldier. He asks for Jesus to heal his servant. When Jesus says that He will come to his home and heal him, the centurion has an unusual response. He says no; I am not worthy. Just say the word, and he will be healed. He told Jesus that he understood being "under" authority. If he gave a command, it would be carried out, and he knew that Jesus had the authority to do the same thing. Jesus greatly commended his faith. He knew that this man trusted whatever his superior said, and in this case he trusted what God would do. Are you a person "under" authority like this soldier? Are you living under the authority of God? God knows your heart. He knows if you understand authority or not. He knows if you will obey Him, even before He reveals His will. Therefore, He works out His plan based on His authority and His knowledge.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 27-28 and Matthew 8:18-34.
Abraham came to the end of his life, and he was buried with his wife by both of his sons. God blessed Isaac in a special way that He did not bless Ishmael. God had the authority to do this. He acted based on His complete knowledge of the two men and the future. Isaac followed in his father's footsteps, not because God forced him, but because he chose to be faithful to God and the covenant. He lied like his father, but he also trusted God like His father. Then, when Isaac had twin sons, Rebekah inquired of God about the struggle going on in her before their birth. God told her that the older would serve the younger. God did not make that as an arbitrary decision. He knew the heart of Esau even before he was born. He knew that for a bowl of stew, he would sell his birthright to Jacob. He knew that Jacob would have trouble with deception, but that he would be faithful to God in the end. Therefore, God in His authority decided to work His plan through Jacob. That is how it works with us, too. God does not limit His authority, but He works it all out based on His perfect knowledge and power.
Matthew 8 gives additional teaching that will help us with this. Jesus healed many people, because He had the authority to do so. He always followed the Father, and He never did anything that He did not know was the will of the Father. Jesus put Himself under the authority of the Father even though He is equal to the Father. ( I Corinthians 11:3) This is the order set up by the Father. Then, Jesus meets the centurion, a Roman soldier. He asks for Jesus to heal his servant. When Jesus says that He will come to his home and heal him, the centurion has an unusual response. He says no; I am not worthy. Just say the word, and he will be healed. He told Jesus that he understood being "under" authority. If he gave a command, it would be carried out, and he knew that Jesus had the authority to do the same thing. Jesus greatly commended his faith. He knew that this man trusted whatever his superior said, and in this case he trusted what God would do. Are you a person "under" authority like this soldier? Are you living under the authority of God? God knows your heart. He knows if you understand authority or not. He knows if you will obey Him, even before He reveals His will. Therefore, He works out His plan based on His authority and His knowledge.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 27-28 and Matthew 8:18-34.