God’s will is always done on earth as it is in heaven, even when unintended ways of accomplishing His purposes are implemented by the human agent. In fact, there are in most instances, several paths to achieving the same end, and therefore, the issue of import for each of us is that we be aligned with the right side of His will. In addition, a person’s choice, and disobedience are often incorporated into God’s plans, in bringing His purposes to pass, and thus, His will is accomplished, whether we choose to obey, or not. This sobering thought was expressed by Christ Himself, when He uttered what is referred to as The Lord’s prayer, and there’s a reason for this. Let’s read:
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For instance, in the parable of the wheat and tares, the servants were gravely concerned for the welfare of the wheat, and as they saw the tares multiplying among them, they were driven by sheer concern to ask whether they should go and uproot them, since
that seemed like the logically correct thing to do. But to their amazement, The Lord of the harvest said let them both grow together, for as far as God was concerned, the tares do not pose an existential threat to the wheat.
Thus, the servant of the Lord makes an interesting commentary on the vastly superior intelligence of the God whom we serve, and how the machinations of men, and the wiles of satan, are all incorporated into His bigger plan, to get His will done any which way. This sobering fact should cause all to tremble and fear before The Living God, who not only knows exactly what we are going to do, but also knows the thought processes which produce the actions, long before they are even implemented. Let’s read:
[PK. pp 500] In the annals of human history, the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as if dependent on the will and prowess of man; the shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, above, behind, and through all the play and counter-play of human interest, and power, and passions, the agencies of the All-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will.
Several examples given in the scriptures bear this out. For instance, God’s will was that Jesus would come to this earth, and die for sinners at the exact moment; but in His own time and way, He would have laid our sins upon Christ, and He would have died of a broken heart for you, and me. It was not necessary for Judas to betray Christ, and it wasn’t necessary for Peter to cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant, nor was it necessary for Pilate to do the unthinkable.
In God’s own time and way Jesus would have died anyway, without any interference, or disobedience on the part of the human agents, but since they all chose to do what they did, without being forced to do so, God not only permitted them, but catered for their future disobedience in His planning. In fact the disobedience on the part of the human agents was incorporated into the prophecies concerning Christ, without anyone ever being forced to do what they did. Let’s read:
Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
John 13:18 I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
Zechariah 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
13 And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was priced at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.
Matthew 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value.
The same thing has occurred in very many instances where, as in the case of Judas, one’s disobedience is incorporated into God’s plan, and prophecy, even if God pleads with the person not to fulfill that which was prophesied concerning them. No one is bound in an iron destiny because of prophecy, for we are given the freedom of choice, and may persist in the path of disobedience, or we can repent, and do the right thing. It’s all up to us in a large measure, and God does not intervene to force the stubborn will.
When an explicit prophecy concerning Nineveh was given, the king, and his people repented on hearing the preaching of Jonah, and the prophecy of coming destruction was entirely reversed. The choices, and the destiny is ours. Again, when God predicted that a stubborn pharaoh would refuse to do the right thing, God did not harden pharaoh’s heart, He just did not prevent him from being very stubborn, but rather incorporated pharaoh’s disobedience into His larger plan to deliver His people.
Every Hebrew would have left Egypt on the very same night as predicted, even if pharaoh chose to be obedient, because God’s will is accomplished, if we choose to obey, or if we choose otherwise; it matters not. We can choose to obey God, and be saved when Christ comes, or we may choose to walk contrary to His laws, and be lost when Christ comes; but one thing is certain, at the appointed time, Christ will come, even if we do not believe. Christ’s coming is not dependent on whether we believe. We do not have to believe! Let’s read:
Exodus 9:13 And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
17 As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?
18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
20 He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
21 And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field.
And so said so done, as pharaoh prolonged his own stubbornness, and as plague after plague fell upon Egypt, it seemed as if God’s purposes were being delayed through pharaoh’s disobedience, and some of the Hebrews may have thought that God’s will was being thwarted, and put on hold. But the Bible tells us that in the fullness of time, on the exact day God had previously appointed, all the Hebrews left Egypt with great substance, according to the good will of God. Let’s read:
Genesis 15:12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
Exodus 12: 35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment.
36 And they spoiled the Egyptians.
51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.
These examples, amongst many, lead us to the core of our study, for the same thing took place with the children of Isaac, and Rebekah, Jacob and Esau, of whom it was prophesied that the younger was to have preeminence over the older son. Esau wasn’t bound in an iron destiny, nor was he deprived the freedom of choice. It was because of his own bad decision that the birthright was given to Jacob. And Jacob himself cannot be let off the hook, for it was not necessary for him, or his mother to practice any fraud, in order to fulfill God’s word. In His own time and way, God would have given him the birthright. Let’s read:
Genesis 27:1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:
3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;
4 And make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
7 Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death.
8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.
9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savory meat for thy father, such as he loveth.
10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.
11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold,
Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.
12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.
13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.
14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savory meat, such as his father loved.
15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son.
16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck.
17 And she gave the savory meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
18 And he came unto his father, and said, My
father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?
19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me.
21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.
22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.
24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.
25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank.
26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed:
28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine.
29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce
gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 And he also had made savory meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.
32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and
brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.
36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for
he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
A very interesting commentary is written by the servant of The Lord about this incident, for Isaac had steadfastly purposed in his heart, that under all circumstances, Esau was going to get the birthright. God did not force the will of Rebekah, Jacob, Esau or Isaac, but He let them choose whatsoever they wanted to do, and in the process, His will gets done. God’s will is done in heaven and on earth, whether we agree, or whether we disagree, but any which way, through obedience, or disobedience His will is going to be accomplished with 100% certainty. Let’s read:
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 178>179] Isaac made known to his sons these privileges and conditions, and plainly stated that Esau, as the eldest, was the one entitled to the birthright. But Esau had no love for devotion, no inclination to a religious life. The requirements that accompanied the spiritual birthright were an unwelcome and even hateful restraint to him. The law of God, which was the condition of the divine covenant with Abraham, was regarded by Esau as a yoke of bondage.
Bent on self-indulgence, he desired nothing so much as liberty to do as he pleased. To him power and riches, feasting and reveling, were happiness. He gloried in the unrestrained freedom of his wild, roving life. Rebekah remembered the words of the angel, and she read with clearer insight than did her husband the character of their sons. She was convinced that the heritage of divine promise was intended for Jacob.
She repeated to Isaac the angel's words; but the father's affections were centered upon the elder son, and he was unshaken in his purpose. “Thus, Esau despised his birthright.” In disposing of it he felt a sense of relief. Now his way was unobstructed he could do as he liked. Years passed on, until Isaac, old, blind, and expecting soon to die, determined no longer to delay the bestowal of the blessing upon his elder son. But knowing the opposition of Rebekah and Jacob, he decided to perform the solemn ceremony in secret.
And thus, it was, that with all the fraud, deception, lying, impersonation, with all the cooking, and the seasoning used, put together with the perfume and Isaac’s stubbornness, some way, somehow, God’s will gets done at the end of the day. Many of our number are gravely concerned about the events of this past week, and the culmination that is to take place in Sweden on 10/31/2017. We are referring to the apparent end of Protestantism, as supervised by pope Francis, in collaboration with the Lutheran church and other denominations, and evangelicals.
On October 31/2017, the very date that Luther had nailed his 95 Theses to the now infamous door of the church at Wittenberg, Catholics and Lutherans will declare an official end to all protests, and will, from here on out, seek to completely bridge the gap that has divided Christianity for so many years. But just as it was with Jacob, if we were to ask God if that is His preferred will, He will say no, but His will is going to be done any which way, for He does, and can incorporate disobedience or obedience into His greater plan.
In fact, the ceremony that is to take place on the 10/31, 2017 will backfire, just as it did with Rebekah and Jacob, for it will clear the way for the greatest exodus from Catholicism, and other denominations into the Seventh-Day Adventist church, since it will become the only protestant church remaining on the planet. Sadly though, the ceremony in Sweden will also trigger a mass exodus from S.D.A churches into the mainstream brand of Christianity, just as the servant of the Lord has predicted. This will take some time, but it will certainly occur. Let’s read:
[C.E.T pp 228] In vision I saw two armies in terrible conflict. One army was led by banners bearing the world's insignia; the other was led by the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. Standard after standard was left to trail in the dust, as company after company from the Lord's army joined the foe, and tribe after tribe from the ranks of the enemy united with the commandment-keeping people of God. An angel flying in the midst of heaven put the standard of Emmanuel into many hands, while a mighty general cried with a loud voice: “Come into line. Let those who are loyal to the commandments of God and the testimony of Christ now take their position”…..
NPR news, by Sylvia Poggioli.
Pope Francis arrived in Sweden on Monday for services marking the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation that split Lutherans and Catholics. He arrived in the southern city of Malmo, and is scheduled to attend an event with leaders of the Lutheran World Federation on Monday afternoon. He will also lead a service at a Lutheran Cathedral in the city of Lund, and a Mass at the arena in Malmo on Tuesday.
Sweden is a secular, majority-Lutheran country. Some 72 million people belong to the Lutheran church worldwide, according to the Lutheran World Federation. The Vatican estimates about 1.2 billion people have been baptized in the Catholic church. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports that the trip is "in keeping with his efforts to reach out to other branches of Christianity — like the Russian Orthodox Church — and other faiths, including Islam and Judaism."
"It was the year 1517 when the German monk Martin Luther pinned his 95 Theses to the door of his Catholic church, denouncing the Catholic sale of indulgences — pardons for sins — and questioning papal authority. That led to his excommunication and the start of the Protestant Reformation. The animosity and resentments left by the Reformation only began to heal after the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, with the start of an ecumenical dialogue aimed at promoting Christian unity.
The Catholic Herald. Excerpts from Pope Francis’ Homily:
Here in Lund, at this prayer service, we wish to manifest our shared desire to remain one with Christ. This is also a moment to thank God for the efforts of our many brothers and sisters from different ecclesial communities who refused to be resigned to division, but instead kept alive the hope of reconciliation among all who believe in the one Lord.
As Catholics and Lutherans, we have undertaken a common journey of reconciliation. Now, in the context of the commemoration of the Reformation of 1517, we have a new opportunity to accept a common path, one that has taken shape over the past fifty years in the ecumenical dialogue between the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church. Nor can we be resigned to the division and distance that our separation has created between us. We have the opportunity to mend a critical moment of our history by moving beyond the controversies and disagreements that have often prevented us from understanding one another.
It is of tremendous importance what is to take place on early next week, because, with the official reunification of Catholicism and Protestantism, there will be only two categories remaining within the Christian body worldwide, mainstream Christianity, where any and everything goes, and Biblical Christianity, where the teachings, instructions, and laws God has given to the human family are honored and upheld.
With the mainstream brand of Christianity, where everything is included, comes gay marriage, and gay bishops, the natural immortality of the soul, Sunday sacredness, lawlessness, sprinkling, instead of Bible baptism by immersion, faith without works, the new world order, and the mark of the beast.
In contrast, Biblical Christianity espouses the sacred institution of marriage as given to us by God in Eden between one man, and his female wife, the validity of the Ten commandments, including the 4th, which states that the seventh day is the Sabbath, mortality of the soul, until resurrected by Jesus, a faith that is demonstrated by corresponding works the freedom to worship God, according to the dictates of one’s conscience, and the seal of God’s approval, placed invisibly in the forehead, where decisions are made.
In a nutshell, if a person isn’t in favor with the end of Protestantism, and if he/she desires to follow the biblical brand of Christianity, then such a person will become a Seventh-day Adventist, plain and simple, for very soon, it will be the only protestant church on the planet. Thus, in harmony with these great and momentous truths, we offer an open invitation to people of all faiths, including Catholics, once such persons are willing to subscribe to the biblical brand of Christianity. Two important passages of scripture, pointing to such a time as this must now be given. Let’s read:
Joel 3:13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: for their wickedness is great.
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people.
Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
There are some pretty, disturbing questions for us to consider, and maybe, we will get the answers in eternity:
[1] How is it, that against all odds, and contrary to what the most were predicting, and expecting, Donald Trump won the election?
[2] How is it, that for some reason, Trump and pope Francis couldn’t get along?
[3] How is it, that of all people, a prominent Seventh Day Adventist ends up on his cabinet?
While pondering the import of these questions, we will end with the first quote submitted in our study today. Let’s read:
[PK. pp 500] In the annals of human history, the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as if dependent on the will and prowess of man; the shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, above, behind, and through all the play and counter-play of human interest and power and passions, the agencies of the All-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word.
God bless!