Abea
Tribe of Judah Social Media Manager
Not that I am going to pretend to know God and His mind, but I would like to point out a few things.
It seems here that the Lord had regret and was grieved. Therefore, He now moves to, for lack of a better term, Plan B.
Again, we see regret. In addition, we can see that Saul had made choices that took Him out of the plans God apparently had for him.
Here we see that people have free will and free choices. We see that God has several plans of actions that result based on those choices. It shows that God has simultaneous plans A, B, and C. And it shows that people can walk out of and back into the plans God has for them.
Really, the whole Bible starts with a story of people who were given a choice, who walked out of God's plan for them, and forced God to work a Plan B.
I guess my personal view is this, God isn't bound by time, yet He is bound by His own rules and laws. He has given man a free will, therefore, man can make choices. Because God is not bound by time, His is able to see the outcome of any of the infinite choices that man can make. Does He sit here every day waiting on my choice? I don't think so. But He does have plans for me and hopes for me. He has wants and desires for me. Yet time after time, I'm sure I've grieved him as I've chose a different path than the one He foresaw for me. Do I totally kill off those plans? I don't think so, I think He will present me another opportunity at some point unless I completely choose to walk away from Him and His ways.
I think when we look at Jonah, we can see that in action. I find it hard to believe that a man such as Jonah was meant to end up the way he did. It was a choice he made. Yet we see a man like David, who time and time again made bad choices, yet each time he returned to God.
We all have choices to make and God has plans to fulfill. His plans ... they WILL be fulfilled. Our choices ... they determine what part we play in those plans.
Some men (like Jonah and King Saul) take themselves off the potters table. Other men (like David and Saul/Paul) throw themselves back up on and said, "Let's try again God."
And I'll let the final word be from God ...
5The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually. 6And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved at heart. Gen 6:5-6
It seems here that the Lord had regret and was grieved. Therefore, He now moves to, for lack of a better term, Plan B.
10Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, 11I regret making Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not performed My commands. ... 1 Samuel 15
Again, we see regret. In addition, we can see that Saul had made choices that took Him out of the plans God apparently had for him.
4And the vessel that he was making from clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he made it over, reworking it into another vessel as it seemed good to the potter to make it. 5Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? says the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. 7At one time I will suddenly speak concerning a nation or kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it; 8And if [the people of] that nation concerning which I have spoken turn from their evil, I will relent and reverse My decision concerning the evil that I thought to do to them. 9At another time I will suddenly speak concerning a nation or kingdom, that I will build up and plant it; 10And if they do evil in My sight, obeying not My voice, then I will regret and reverse My decision concerning the good with which I said I would benefit them. Jeremiah 18
Here we see that people have free will and free choices. We see that God has several plans of actions that result based on those choices. It shows that God has simultaneous plans A, B, and C. And it shows that people can walk out of and back into the plans God has for them.
Really, the whole Bible starts with a story of people who were given a choice, who walked out of God's plan for them, and forced God to work a Plan B.
I guess my personal view is this, God isn't bound by time, yet He is bound by His own rules and laws. He has given man a free will, therefore, man can make choices. Because God is not bound by time, His is able to see the outcome of any of the infinite choices that man can make. Does He sit here every day waiting on my choice? I don't think so. But He does have plans for me and hopes for me. He has wants and desires for me. Yet time after time, I'm sure I've grieved him as I've chose a different path than the one He foresaw for me. Do I totally kill off those plans? I don't think so, I think He will present me another opportunity at some point unless I completely choose to walk away from Him and His ways.
I think when we look at Jonah, we can see that in action. I find it hard to believe that a man such as Jonah was meant to end up the way he did. It was a choice he made. Yet we see a man like David, who time and time again made bad choices, yet each time he returned to God.
We all have choices to make and God has plans to fulfill. His plans ... they WILL be fulfilled. Our choices ... they determine what part we play in those plans.
Some men (like Jonah and King Saul) take themselves off the potters table. Other men (like David and Saul/Paul) throw themselves back up on and said, "Let's try again God."
And I'll let the final word be from God ...
4And the vessel that he was making from clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he made it over, reworking it into another vessel as it seemed good to the potter to make it. 5Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? says the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.