One thing I find remarkable about God is the freedom of choice He grants to all people He has created. Some wonder if God is loving because of what He allows, but it is precisely by allowing He shows His love and grace. In this world overwhelmed with sin, hypocrisy, and hopelessness, it is the stark contrast of God's goodness which leads us to Him.
Remember the parable of the prodigal son? The son demanded his inheritance of his father, and his father complied without complaint. His father could have decided to "do what is best" for his son by denying his request, but in his generosity - knowing beforehand the poor decisions he would make with "his" money - the father gave the money and all rights to it to the son he loved. That is a picture of what God has done in giving us life. He gives life to people who will wrongly use it to hurt others and ruin themselves, but He freely gives life anyway. It might be, like the prodigal son, when we are at our lowest point we will come to our senses and seek Him out.
God does not force those He loves to do His will, though they be His own children. After the prophet Samuel's sons demonstrated they were not leadership material, the children of Israel demanded Samuel give them a king to rule over them. Samuel was rightly upset by this request, for they were glad to substitute to have a man to rule them instead of God. They wanted to be like all the other nations when God had made a covenant with them, delivered, provided, established, and fought for them. After Samuel prayed to God, 1 Samuel 8:7 says, "And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them." This is said by a God who has all power in heaven and in earth, who can annihilate His enemies in a moment, the One who discerns the hearts of men and could strike dead all who oppose Him.
People are chronically insecure. We can feel uneasy because someone does not share our opinion or does something we do not condone. God did not condone the request of His people, but He told Samuel to listen to everything they said - the same way God listened to everything His people had said. He told Samuel to first warn the people of the consequences of this foolish decision, but if they did not heed He would grant them their request. Do you have such confidence in God to refuse to force or manipulate others to do what you want? God's love does not force others to do anything in return, and keeps loving when others pay it no mind. How secure is God in His love and grace towards others! As a husband, parent and friend it is a massive challenge to trust God and love as He does no matter what, to listen to others even when God's Word is not heeded.
After Samuel warned the people of the negative consequences of their choice to have a king 1 Samuel 8:19-22 says, "Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the LORD. 22 So the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed their voice, and make them a king." And Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Every man go to his city." I am in awe that the God who has all power would submit to the poor choice of His people. Couldn't God cite His love for His people to refuse such a request? Men would, but not God. I praise God for such love, for who can know it? Our responsibility before God is to love others as He loves us, and let us not use love as an excuse to control.
Remember the parable of the prodigal son? The son demanded his inheritance of his father, and his father complied without complaint. His father could have decided to "do what is best" for his son by denying his request, but in his generosity - knowing beforehand the poor decisions he would make with "his" money - the father gave the money and all rights to it to the son he loved. That is a picture of what God has done in giving us life. He gives life to people who will wrongly use it to hurt others and ruin themselves, but He freely gives life anyway. It might be, like the prodigal son, when we are at our lowest point we will come to our senses and seek Him out.
God does not force those He loves to do His will, though they be His own children. After the prophet Samuel's sons demonstrated they were not leadership material, the children of Israel demanded Samuel give them a king to rule over them. Samuel was rightly upset by this request, for they were glad to substitute to have a man to rule them instead of God. They wanted to be like all the other nations when God had made a covenant with them, delivered, provided, established, and fought for them. After Samuel prayed to God, 1 Samuel 8:7 says, "And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them." This is said by a God who has all power in heaven and in earth, who can annihilate His enemies in a moment, the One who discerns the hearts of men and could strike dead all who oppose Him.
People are chronically insecure. We can feel uneasy because someone does not share our opinion or does something we do not condone. God did not condone the request of His people, but He told Samuel to listen to everything they said - the same way God listened to everything His people had said. He told Samuel to first warn the people of the consequences of this foolish decision, but if they did not heed He would grant them their request. Do you have such confidence in God to refuse to force or manipulate others to do what you want? God's love does not force others to do anything in return, and keeps loving when others pay it no mind. How secure is God in His love and grace towards others! As a husband, parent and friend it is a massive challenge to trust God and love as He does no matter what, to listen to others even when God's Word is not heeded.
After Samuel warned the people of the negative consequences of their choice to have a king 1 Samuel 8:19-22 says, "Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the LORD. 22 So the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed their voice, and make them a king." And Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Every man go to his city." I am in awe that the God who has all power would submit to the poor choice of His people. Couldn't God cite His love for His people to refuse such a request? Men would, but not God. I praise God for such love, for who can know it? Our responsibility before God is to love others as He loves us, and let us not use love as an excuse to control.
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