Q&A
July 20, 2010 by Brian Smith
If God knows everything and knew everything even before he created it…..then he had to of known that Adam and Eve would eat from the tree, so then why did he tell them not to if he knew they were going to anyway. Or even better yet, if he could create us to be whatever he wanted us to be, then why did he create us to be rebellious in nature or to be so easily blinded?
I don’t’ have any answers, but am more than happy to share my “thought process” as I think about this question (I actually think about it quite a bit. In addition I often wonder why God made us with just two arms, no ability to fly, one heart but two kidneys, one tongue but two ears, the ability to see only part of the light spectrum, ability to only hear certain ranges of sound, minds that have limited capacity, the ability to taste certain things, etc etc etc. Also, why is the natural world we live in the way it is? Grass is green, the sky is blue, etc. etc.) God could have done things so differently if He wanted to. But, he did it the way He did. Hmmmmmm. Anyway ……
When I think about this question, I will consider this:
1. Wow, God went through with it even though he knew before hand that we would reject Him. What love! (Romans 5:8, I John 4:7-11)
2. In my human mind, I try to think of “doing it a better way” so that humans would not have sinned and we could have avoided the whole “fallen nature” thing. However, every thought experiment I try comes to the same conclusion. My ideas are no good. My ideas would not have worked. They would be contrary to God’s nature of perfect love, perfect holiness, etc. God’s way is the perfect, only way. It just doesn’t work any other way. God is God. He knows what He’s doing. Plus, my mind is limited by time and finite capacity. I can hardly wait to know fully what the mystery is (I Corinthians 13: 8-13).
3. This then brings me to consider that God is the potter and I am the clay (Isaiah 29: 13-16). As Pastor Ben often says, “I am thankful that God provides a way.” I humbly thank God that He is in control and created us in the first place and wants relationship with us. What love God shows to us. It is overwhelming. How can I respond in any other way than to thank Him, trust in Him, and live love to the fullest to have relationship with Him and love others.
Pastor Ben’s recent sermon that focused on Romans 9:14-29 would be a good reference:
Also, the book of Job is great for perspective … especially chapters 38 through 42.
God is good. His mercy endures forever.
Well, those are my thoughts. I look forward to other’s comments.
Jon
What an awesome question to ponder. I sum it up as He is Sovereign. There are times that we think we know what is best, He reminds us that our ways are not His ways and that goes for his timing. If we practice patience, we will see that his timing is always right on time. My Bible study group is studying the Book of Ephesians and I love Ephesians 1:3-11. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed by the unconditional love He so freely gives.
It was disobedience that brought sin and death into the world. I like what my Study Bible says about Genesis 2:17 – God wanted human beings to love Him freely but gave them the ability to resist Him. Without the opportunity of choosing to love Him, their devotion would have been robotlike. Devotion is real only when unfaithfulness is possible.
You are correct that He is the potter and we are the clay.It is important that we stay centered on the wheel but it is the comfort in knowing when we start sliding, both His hands are there to bring us back to the center of all that He is. All praise and glory to our Creator!!