The Open Universe
So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that He had done in creation. Genesis 2:3 ESV
He had done in creation – When God created the universe, was everything in it fixed? When God formed the whole creation, did He establish all the pathways that it would travel in order to reach its intended end? In other words, are all the events in the universe already established because they were in the mind of God at the beginning?
If these questions sound too philosophical to be of interest to you, perhaps one of the implications won’t be. If you answered “Yes” to any of the above, then you implied that all your choices and all the choices of anyone who has ever lived (or ever will live) were already fixed at the moment of creation. If God foreknew what we would all do, then how can we say we have a “free” choice? And if we don’t have a free choice, then how can God hold us responsible? Oh, yes. If you don’t like these implications, then does that mean that God didn’t know what was going to happen?
Genesis 2:3 presents us with an unusual word that suggests perhaps everything is fixed at creation. The problem is that we don’t see this unusual word in translation because it has been altered to fix our grammar and syntax. The word is the verb ‘asah. The verb itself isn’t unusual at all. In fact, it’s used over a thousand times in Scripture. What’s unusual about ‘asah in this verse is that it is the infinitive form. Literally, it doesn’t say, “He had done in creation.” The ESV alters the text to read this way. It literally says, “God rested from all his work which God created to make.” The ESV adds “in creation” and changes the infinitive (to do, to make) into a past tense (had done). There seems to be no justification for this except theological, not linguistic. Zornberg reveals an insight lost in the altered translation. “To ‘make’ the world is the charge that God left man with at the end of the original creation process, when ‘God ceased from all the work of Creation that he had done.’”[1] Zornberg points out that this same infinitive construction is used in God’s question to Havvah and to the serpent. They are asked about what they have made, what world they have formed. The implication is that the world is shaped by the choices we make. It is not fixed in eternity. God creates the world open to forming. All the possibilities are there. But Man forms this open world through choices by restricting the possibilities to actualities. Man makes the world as it is from all the worlds that could have been. God creates a universe of many doors. Men choose to open some and close others. The world changes. “As by one man, sin entered into the world” is the equivalent of saying, “Adam opened one of the doors and everything changed.”
You are going to open some doors today. The ones you open will change the shape of the universe. Your choice will alter everything from this point forward. If you find the weight of your choice too much to bear, then you know why no man can live without grace.
Topical Index: choice, la’asot, to do, to make, Genesis 2:3
It is a bit scary to think that God turned over to man the job of continuing the creation process. It seems that it has been a botched job! Without grace there is no hope at all. I will live with that since it seems I have little choice about my responsibilities.
When God created the universe, was everything in it fixed? When God formed the whole creation, did He establish all the pathways that it would travel in order to reach its intended end?
Probably not in the sense that we’ve been taught, but He DID make the rules.
So….. the answer ( 🙂 ) is yes and no!
Robert,
I believe that He made (and activated) the Laws of the Universe. Then He gave us the instructions as to how to work and live within them to continue the Creation in an orderly manner. Anything else leads to chaos, and it seems that often we have chosen that (maybe by not choosing).
I agree, the question that remains is what is the “result” of those laws as they pertain to human activities?
In other words, if disobedience is “self destructive”, ie: it destroys itself along with those involved with it and capable of practising it, what’s the end result of that “law”?
It’s the same with obedience (it has a result). They’re both “choices” and the consequences are dictated by God Himself.
Of course this doesn’t address the issue of grace along with many other factors but it is a fundamental concept. If we don’t grasp it we don’t understand how God can say He is purely holy and yet take credit for creating evil.
As God’s children glorify Him in opening and closing these doors, creation is freed! It’s waiting on tippy tippy toes of expectation for that! 🙂
WHAT ARE YOU TYPING ABOUT??? DON’T GET IT???
Hi Jan, see Romans 8:19-20.
“It’s waiting on tippy tippy toes of expectation for that!” IT WAS/IS THIS THAT I DIDN’T QUITE UNDERSTAND – NEVER HEARD THIS PHRASE BEFORE TODAY…
I LIKE TO READ MORE THAN JUST THE THE 2 SCRIPTURES IN ROMANS 8 TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING SAID OR TYPED… BEING PREGNANT WITH PROMISE IS WHAT I HEAR… ♥
ROMANS 8:18-25
18-21 That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.
22-25 All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.
26-28 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
I love what Skip is talking about here, “The implication is that the world is shaped by the choices we make. It is not fixed in eternity. God creates the world open to forming. All the possibilities are there. But Man forms this open world through choices by restricting the possibilities to actualities. Man makes the world as it is from all the worlds that could have been. God creates a universe of many doors. Men choose to open some and close others. The world changes.” It is both sobering and exciting. It’s something the children of God are walking out even now.
Wow, this is powerful. This understanding is why I am where I am today. I truly believe this view, that you have stated so well. Each action we take moves us nearer to, or further from The Creator’s ideal for humans. And also, nearer to Life, or nearer to Death, as the Laws of the Universe (placed here by The Creator) do not abate (except by His command).
FREE WILL is a sacred component in human beings. Any desire and/or attempt to circumvent another’s FREE WILL is a desire to ‘kill’ them as a human. We tell ourselves it is ‘for their own good, safety, or salvation,’ but is is really to dispell our own fear. Our challenge is to live the Truth we see and know, so that the Love of God will be seen in our lives.
Oh, when God said “amen!” (let it be so!). Creation was (and continues to be) a miracle! Far beyond the understanding of Job and also beyond the capacity of my child-mind. It is imperative for me to simply say, “God did that!.” ~ The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament reveals His craftsmanship ~ (Psalm 19.1,2) God is the ultimate Artist! – No doubt in this man’s tiny mind. From seeds to stars, He does all things well! (and another amen! lol!)
Love is a choice. ⃪ Choose well, for our choices (all of them) contain consequences. Good choices-good consequences, bad choices- bad consequences- this is the Law of the Harvest. We will reap what we sow. It is built into the fabric of the universe,- what “goes around, comes around..”- We (all) will reap what we have sown.
Even Adam, in a perfect paradise was able to choose. He remembered the instructions of His Creator “don’t eat the fruit,” but willingly, knowingly, purposefully choose to believe the serpent’s words and sin (disobedience) entered into what once was a perfect world.
In a perfect world, one we have never lived in (yet!)- no one sins. This “perfect” world is a sinless world. Are you able to imagine a world with no sin? Neither can I, but wouldn’t it be nice?
This “sinless world” does exist today, but it isn’t this one, for this world, the world we now live in is “tainted.” ‘Taint what it used to be- and seems to be (be careful now! -for appearances can be deceiving!) -gettin’ worse every day!
There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
-Hold us who wait before Thee
Near to the heart of God.
There was another miracle- far greater than Creation! This is the miracle of Calvary! Friend, we gain far more “in Christ” than we ever lost in Adam!
Who are we “in Christ?” (Christian, fasten your pew-belt!)
YOU ARE
You are Christ’s brother (sister) Hebrews 2:10-12
You are able – Philippians 4:13
You are His witness – Acts 1:8
You are His workmanship – Ephesians 2:10
You are not of this world – John 17:14-16
You are His worshipper – Psalm 95:6
You are worthy – Revelation 3:4
You are yielded to God – Romans 6:13
You are yoked with Jesus – Matthew 11:29
You are heaven bound, guaranteed. – I Peter 1: 4
You are abounding in grace – 2 Corinthians 9:8
You are abounding in hope – Romans 15:4, 13
You are Abraham’s offspring – Galatians 3:29
You are abundant – John 10:10
You have abundant life- 1 John 4:9
You have access – Ephesians 2:18
You are adequate – 2 Corinthians 3:5
You are adopted – Ephesians 1:5
You are alive – Ephesians 2:4-5
You are an ambassador for Christ – 2 Corinthians 5:20
You are anointed – 1 John 2:20
You are anxious for nothing – Philippians 4:6
You are the apple of His eye – Zechariah 2:8
You are appointed by God – John 15:16
You are the aroma of Christ – 2 Corinthians 2:15
You are not ashamed – 2 Timothy 1:12
You are assured of reward – 1 Corinthians 15:58
You are assured of success – Proverbs 16:3
You have authority over the devil – Luke 9:1
You are baptized into Christ – 1 Corinthians 12:15
You are delightful to God – Psalm 149:4
You are becoming a mature person – Ephesians 4:13
You are becoming conformed to Christ – Romans 8:29
You are a believer – Romans 10:9
You belong to God – John 17:9
You are betrothed – Hosea 2:19-20
You are blameless – 1 Corinthians 1:8
You are blessed – Ephesians 1:3
You are blood bought – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
You are bold – Proverbs 28:1
You are a bondservant – Psalm 116:16
You are born of God – 1 John 5:18
You are born again – 1 Peter 1:23
You are bought with a price – 1 Corinthians 6:20
You are a branch of the True Vine – John 15:5
You are His bride – Isaiah 54:5
You are His brother – Hebrews 2:11
You are brought near – Ephesians 2:13
You are built up – 1 Peter 2:5
You are buried with Christ – Romans 6:4
You are called – 1 Peter 5:10
You are calm – Philippians 4:6
You are cared for – 1 Peter 5:7
You are carried – Exodus 19:4
You are changed – 1 Samuel 10:6
You are a child of God – John 1:12
You are cherished – Ephesians 5:29
You are chosen – 1 Peter 2:9
You are circumcised spiritually – Colossians 2:1
You are a citizen of heaven – Philippians 3:20
You are clay in the potter’s hand – Jeremiah 18:6
You are clean – Ezekiel 36:25; John 15:3
You are cleansed – 1 John 1:7,9
You are clothed with Christ – Galatians 3:27
You are a co-heir with Christ – Romans 8:17
You are comforted – Jeremiah 31:13
You are complete in Christ – Colossians 2:10
You are confident – 1 John 4:17
You are confident of answers to prayer – 1 John 5:14-15
You are confident He will finish me – Philippians 1:6
You are confident He will never leave me – Hebrews 13:5- 6
You are a conqueror – Romans 8:37
You are content – Philippians 4:11
You are content with weakness – 2 Corinthians 12:10
You are continually with God – Psalm 73:23
You are controlled by the love of Christ – 2 Corinthians 12:10
You are courageous – 1 Chronicles 28:20
You are created in Christ for good works – Ephesians 2:10
You are created in His image – Genesis 1:27
You are crucified with Him – Galatians 2:20
You are dead in Christ – Romans 6:4
You are dead to sin – Romans 6:11
You are a delight – Psalm 147:11
You are delighted in – Isaiah 42:1
You are delivered – Psalm 107:6
You are desired – Psalm 45:11
You are determined – Philippians 4:13
You are a disciple – John 8:31-32
You are disciplined – Hebrews 12:5-11
You are drawing near with confidence – Hebrews 4:16
You are empowered to obey – Philippians 2:13
You are encouraged – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
You are enlightened – Ephesians 1:18
You are enriched in everything – 1 Corinthians 1:5
You are equipped – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
You are established Deuteronomy 28:9
You have eternal life – John 3:36
You are an evangelist Matthew 28:18-20
You have every good thing – Philemon 6
You are exalted at His right hand – Acts 2:34-35
You are faithful – Revelation 17:14
You are family – Psalm 68:5
You are far from oppression – Isaiah 54:14
You are favored – Job 10:12
You are a fellow citizen with the saints – Ephesians 2:19
You are a fellow worker – Colossians 4:11
You are filled – Acts 2:4
You are filled to the fullness of God – Colossians 2:9- 10
You are filled with the fruit of righteousness – Philippians 1:11
You are filled with the fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23
You are filled with the knowledge of His will – Colossians 1:9
You are filled with joy – John 17:13
You are a finished product -in progress – Philippians 1:6
You are a first fruit – Romans 8:23
You are forgiven – Ephesians 1:7
You are formed in the womb by God – Jeremiah 1:5 I was lost, but now am found – Luke 19:10
You are a fragrance – 1 Corinthians 1:15-16
You are free – John 8:36
You are freely given all things – Romans 8:32
You are gifted – Romans 12:6
You are given His magnificent promises – 2 Peter 1:3-4
You are given His Holy Spirit – 2 Corinthians 1:22
You are glorified with Him – 2 Thessalonians 2:14
You are God’s child – John 1:12
You are God’s gift to Christ – John 17:24
You are gracious – Proverbs 22:11
You are granted grace in Christ Jesus – Romans 5:17,20
You are guarded by God – 2 Timothy 1:12
You are guarded by God’s peace – Philippians 4:7
You are guaranteed – Ephesians 1:13-14
You are guided – Psalm 48:14
You are guiltless – Romans 8:1
You are the head – Deuteronomy 28:13
You are healed – 1 Peter 2:24
You are healthy – Deuteronomy 7:15
You are an heir to eternal life – Titus 3:4-7
You are helped by Him – Isaiah 44:2
You are hidden with Christ in God – Colossians 3:1-4
You are His – Isaiah 43:1
You are God’s handiwork – Ephesians 2:10
You are holy – Ephesians 1:4
You are honored – 2 Timothy 2:21
You are humble -Philippians 2:24
You are the image of God – Genesis 1:27
You are an imitator of God – Ephesians 5:1
You are in Christ Jesus – 1 Corinthians 1:30
You are included – Ephesians 1:13
You are indestructible – John 6:51
You are indwelt by Christ Jesus – John 14:20
You are indwelt by His Spirit – Romans 8:11
You are inscribed on His palms – Isaiah 49:16
You are inseparable from His love – Romans 8:35
You are an instrument of righteousness – Romans 6:13
You are joyful – Philippians 4:4
You are a joy to the Lord Zephaniah 3:17
You are justified – Acts 13:39
You are kept – Isaiah 38:17
You are in a Kingdom of priests – Revelation 1:6
You are a king’s kid – Psalm 44:4
You are known – 2 Timothy 2:19
You lack no wisdom – James 1:5
You are lavished with riches of His grace – Ephesians 1:7-8
You are led in Christ’s triumph – 2 Corinthians 2:14
You are liberated – Romans 6:23
You have life and peace in the Spirit – Romans 8:6
You have light – John 8:12
You are a light in a dark place – Acts 13:47
You are life flowing through me – John 7:38
You are like a watered garden – Isaiah 58:11
You are a living stone in a spiritual house – 1 Peter 2:4-5
You are the Lord’s – Isaiah 44:5
You are loved – John 3:16
You are loved constantly, unconditionally – Isaiah 58:11
You are loyal – Psalm 86:2
You are made by Him – Psalm 100:3
You are a magnifier of God – Psalm 69:30
You are marked – Ephesians 1:13
You are a member of His body – Ephesians 5:30
You are mighty in God – Luke 10:19
You are the mind of Christ – 1 Corinthians 2:16
You are a minister – 2 Corinthians 3:6
You are a minister of reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
You are a mountain mover – Mark 11:22-23
You are named – Isaiah 43:1
You are near to God – Ephesians 2:13
You are never forsaken – Hebrews 13:5
You are new – Ephesians 4:24
You are a new creation – 2 Corinthians 5:17
You have new life – Romans 6:4
You are part of a new race – 1 Peter 2:9
You are not condemned – Romans 8:1
You are no longer a slave to sin – Romans 6:6
You have not been given a spirit of fear – 1 Timothy 1:7
You are obedient – Isaiah 1:19
You have received mercy – Romans 9:23
You are obtained an inheritance – Ephesians 1:1
You are of God’s household – Ephesians 2:19
You are on the winning side – Colossians 2:15
You are one with Him – John 17:23-24
You are an overcomer – 1 John 5:4-5
You are pardoned – Jeremiah 33:8
You are a partaker of Christ – Hebrews 3:14
You are a partaker of the Holy Spirit – Hebrews 6:4
You are a partaker of grace – Philippians 1:7
You are a partaker of the promise in Christ – Ephesians 3:6
You have passed from death to life – John 5:24
You are patient – James 5:8
You have peace – Philippians 4:7
You are one of the people of God – 1 Peter 2:9
You are being perfected – 1 Peter 5:10
You are pleasing to God – Psalm 149:4
You are God’s own possession – Titus 2:14
You are possessor of all things – 1 Corinthians 3:21-23
You have the power of God behind me – Philippians 3:21
You have power – Acts 1:8
You have power over the devil – Luke 9:1
You are predestined – Ephesians 1:11
You are prepared beforehand for glory – Romans 9:23
You are prosperous – Psalm 1:3
You are protected – Psalm 91:14
You are provided for – Matthew 6:33
You are purchased – Revelation 5:9
You are purposeful – Psalm 138:8
You are qualified – Colossians 1:12
You are raised up with Christ – Ephesians 2:6
You are ransomed with Him – Isaiah 35:10
You are rare – Proverbs 20:15
You have received mercy – 1 Peter 2:10
You have received an unshakable Kingdom – Hebrews 12:28-29
You are reconciled to God – Romans 5:10
You are redeemed – Galatians 3:13
You are refined – Isaiah 48:10
You are reigning with Him – Romans 5:17
You are rejoicing – Romans 5:2-3
You are renewed – 2 Corinthians 4:16
You are His representative – Matthew 5:16
You are rescued – Colossians 1:13
You have rest provided – Matthew 11:28-30
You are rewarded by God – Isaiah 49:4
You are rich – 2 Corinthians 8:9
You are righteous – Ephesians 4:22
You are rooted and built up in Him – Colossians 2:7
You are royalty – Romans 5:17; 8:16-17
You are a royal priesthood – 1 Peter 2:9
You are safe – Psalm 4:8
You are a saint of God – Psalm 34:9
You are the salt of the earth – Matthew 5:13
You are sanctified – 1 Corinthians 6:11
You are satisfied – Jeremiah 31:14
You are saved – Ephesians 2:8
You are sealed by God with His Holy Spirit – Ephesians 1:13
You are seated with Him – Ephesians 2:6
You are secure – Deuteronomy 33:12
You are sent – John 20:21
You are set free – John 8:31-32,36
You are sharing Christ’s inheritance – Romans 8:17
You are sharing His glory – John 17:22,24
You are His sheep – Psalm 23:1
You are sheltered – Psalm 91:1
You are shielded – Psalm 91:4
You are a slave to righteousness – Romans 6:18
You are His soldier – 2 Timothy 2:3-4
You are a son of God – Romans 8:14
You are stable – Isaiah 33:6
You are standing in His grace – Romans 5:2
You are standing firm in Christ – 2 Corinthians 1:21
You have my steps established by the Lord – Psalm 37:23
You are strengthened in Him – Ephesians 3:16
You are strong in the Lord – 1 Corinthians 1:8
You are amply supplied – Philippians 4:18
You are sustained from birth – Psalm 71:6
You are a temple – 1 Corinthians 3:16
You are thought about – Psalm 139:17-18
You are transferred into His Kingdom – Colossians 1:13
You are transformed – 2 Corinthians 3:18
You are treasured – Psalm 83:3
You are triumphant – 2 Corinthians 2:14
You are unafraid – Isaiah 44:2; 51:12
You are understood – Ephesians 1:8
You are united with Christ – Romans 6:5
You are upheld – Psalm 37:17
You are upright – Psalm 7:10
You are unblemished – Colossians 1:22
You have understanding – 2 Timothy 2:72
You are useful for His glory – Isaiah 43:7
You are valuable – Luke 12:24
You live in victory – 1 Corinthians 15:57
You are walking in His light – 1 John 1:7
You are a warrior – 2 Corinthians 10:4
You are washed – Titus 3:5
You are watching for His return – Luke 12:37
You are weak, then
You are strong – 2 Corinthians 12:10
You are in a wealthy place – Psalm 66:12
You are welcome – Luke 11:9
You are being made whole – Mark 5:34
You can put on the whole armor of God – Ephesians 6:11
You are wise – Proverbs 2:6
No one can fulfill you like Jesus.
Rejoice in the work He is doing in your life. ~ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him ~ Philippians 2.13)
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
wow Carl, your list is amazing 🙂
Traditionally there have been three choices to this issue:
1. Fatalism: All is fixed. Nothing you can do to change what will be, que sera, sera. Islam is the modern proponent of this view.
2. Deism: The Enlightenment alternative to fatalism, which implies God created everything, then left it to run on its own devices. He sits back as an onlooker to the events of the world. Having started the clock running, he no longer needs to interfere with it.
3. The third alternative accepts the eternal decrees and man’s free will at the same time, recognizing there is a huge qualitative difference between God, the uncreated being, and mankind, created in the image of God, not a duplicate of him.
The choice of either one of these contains its own logical problems. Fatalism is rejected because it does not fit with the notion of choice. Deism is a problem since it seems to be content with God’s transcendence but has little to say about his immanence, without which prayer does not seem an overly useful activity since God has no intention of interfering in what’s going on in his world. The third choice seems to offer a self-contradictory set of circumstances.
But logic is not the issue here, because all the answers contain a logic problem of one kind or another. The choice becomes which set of problems are you willing to accept.
And the solution to that is which answer best fits the biblical data, not which answer fits the finite capacities of human logic.
Yes, indeed. And ultimately logic gives way to life. Which one can you LIVE with? Perhaps this is one reason why the Bible actually contains paradoxes.
Your explanation of paradoxes below is excellent. Perhaps they are also there to remind us of our limitations. Otherwise, if it were completely logical to us it just might occur to some of us that we are, after all, one with the divinity, equal in power and glory. And so you see:
One God — three persons
Necessity of works in justification — but they are, after all, not meritorious
YHVH’s sovereignty — yet genuine contingency and choice for mankind
It’s as you’ve explained the concept of time, seasons and sabbaths. God’s timings are there to remind us he’s in control. Paradoxes remind us similarly that we are not in control.
Paradoxes?
We only misunderstand things because of comparing God’s knowledge with our own.
God is Almighty, Omniscient, still on His throne, has made us more than conquerors.
Everlasting Love opens some doors and closes others. The doors are in His hand! (Rev. 3: 8) printed out below)
See here:
“Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” Matt. 24:22 (whoever opened it, GOD SHUT IT)
“I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords” Ezekiel 38: 4
“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Rev. 3:8
Do not focus on what is against you, remember the One who is with you. If you forget His power, you will be paralyzed by fear.
Psalm 57, David says that God “will fulfill his purpose for me,” — a confident conviction.
Because God is “Most High,” he has the power and authority to do whatever he desires. He will bring to fruition his plans for David. . . .and for us too. If we put our trust in the Lord, if we seek to honor him with our lives, then he will fulfill his purpose for each one of us.
Echo of Psalm 57:2 in Phil. 1: 6: “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
It may be that all paradoxes are resolved in God and for God, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t paradoxes for us. And since I don’t expect to have God’s insight or intelligence any time soon (or ever), I suspect that they will continue to be paradoxes. So, while I am convinced that the biblical text does reveal enough about the character and nature of God for me to trust Him in all things, I do not expect the Bible to resolve all the issues for me. In fact, I expect just the opposite since “trust” is counting Him faithful when I do NOT know all the answers. I hardly need to “trust” that 7+7=14. Biblical “certainty” is a matter of CHOOSING to rely on His word in spite of the unexplained and perhaps humanly unexplainable. And since I have no other revelation than the one He has given, and it contains paradoxes for me, I accept this as somehow also a revelation of who He is.
with that explanation, so do I!
Oops, that smiley with the shades like Patricks’ is supposed to be an 8, don’t know who opened to door for him to jump in there!
Dwelling on these verses, I remembered an illustration some of you may like. (some may have heard it)
It was first a sheet of new paper, then a child comes and begins to color with crayons. It isn’t going like they hope, no eraser for crayons, trying to correct choices makes a bigger and bigger mess, until finally the young artist draws crazy lines with such pressure that the crayons break and the child stomps off crying. Such an unpleasant attempt at making a pretty picture to give her father!
But in the silence behind her, the hand of a Master Artist picks up a permanent marker, and His strokes are fast and sure, He knows exactly what He has in mind….until on the paper now sits a picture of a vibrant parrot, the feather colors all falling in the correct places, even the darks are worked in to highlight the brightest hues.
And because He is a Master, and nothing is impossible to Him, He merely brushes His hand lightly across the page and the out of line marks dissolve as if they never were.
Now the picture presented to the Father is breathtaking! Yes, the child with free will made every single mark and chose every color and pressure used , but the Master knew where to draw the outline to make it fit. He didn’t created it all before she came in the room, but He did long ago create His permanent marker and had it ready for the day it was needed.
Interesting idea Skip- thank you for posting – will pick the brains of my Hebrew lecturer over this word – it is rather odd
weighing scripture with scripture:
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Rom 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
does not the Apostle Paul reach the end of this argument here in Romans 8 by essentially saying God will do as He pleases – – not only is He involved, but He directly predestines us – He is behind all affairs – now I don’t know why He chose to let Adam and Eve go all the way with their disobedioence and sent a sea creature to swallow Jonah and stop him in his tracks???
but He is directly involved – for His ultimate purposes and glory. seems far from the ‘Universe with many doors’ idea (although it is an attractive one) –