TheosGuy

While I know the Bible teaches a strong view of God’s sovereignty over the affairs of His creation, I also see verses that tell us that our choices matter. This is one of those conundrums in theological studies. For it seems that these two things are at odds, but yet both are taught vigorously. Therefore, choices by man in the area of faith, obedience, prayer, etc. do matter. Here are a couple of my favorite verses that show that man’s choices do matter.

Eze 22:30-31 NKJV – “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord GOD.”

James 4:2 ESV – You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Now as much as man’s choices matter, they never thwart the purposes of God.

Dan 4:34-35 NKJV – And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?”

The sin of Nebuchadnezzar—including pride, murder, etc.—did not thwart God’s purposes being accomplished on earth, as testified by Nebuchadnezzar, after being judged and restored by the LORD.