February 7: 2 Chronicles 10:15

God Is at Work in the Events of History

God has His finger on the throttle of history. History is His Story.

Methodists have long been accused of ignoring or rejecting God’s sovereignty (that He is in control). That is not the case.

“God’s sovereignty means that He is absolutely free from creaturely restraints; that is, He is free to be who He is, the God who is holiness and love…. Wesleyans prefer to define God’s sovereignty according to His victorious involvement in the world.”

A Contemporary Wesleyan Theology, Volume 1, pp. 122-3. Carter, Charles W., General Editor. Francis Asbury Press, Grand Rapids, MI, 1983.

“So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the LORD might fulfill his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.” (2Ch 10:15, ESV)

This verse seems to offer insight into how God can bring about His will through the free choices of humans. It seems clear from the text that Rehoboam has freely chosen to follow the horrible advice of his young counselors, thus rejecting the counsel of the wise elders. However, God uses this as a means of fulfilling His word through His prophet. The text does not say that God caused Rehoboam to reject the counsel of the elders and adopt the counsel of the youths. God used these circumstances to accomplish His purpose.

For the turn of events was from God: God managed this whole series of events, but He did not make Rehoboam take this unwise and sinful action. God simply left Rehoboam alone and allowed him to make the critical errors his sinful heart wanted to make. (David Guzik)

Note also I Kings 11:14, 23; 12:24. Men may choose particular courses of action, but God is nevertheless working through their own choices. Compare Acts 2:23. In spite of the fact that God providentially allowed Jeroboam to become king, there was no divine anointing, and neither priest nor prophet took part in the coronation. (Henry Morris)

“It seemed to be altogether a piece of human folly and passion; but now we are suddenly brought into the presence of God, and told that beneath the plottings and plannings of man He was carrying out His eternal purpose… He makes the wrath of man to praise Him, and weaves the malignant work of Satan into his plans.” (Meyer)

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28, NAS95)

APPLICATION

We serve a God whose plans cannot be thwarted. He is so mighty and sovereign that His promises will be fulfilled. This should offer great encouragement, as we seek revival. But we also realize that He works in the affairs of mankind to accomplish those plans. He has ordained the means to revival, and He will keep His promise to send it, when we obey by humbling ourselves, praying, seeking His face and turning from our wicked ways. We can choose our own way, but it will be to our own destruction. He will prevail!