GOD DOES WHAT HE PLEASES

By Curtis Pugh

            The Bible teaches that God created man. Some people think that God created something greater than Himself. Man is so powerful, they say, that God cannot do what He pleases: God cannot control what He created. This they call free will. No right thinking person denies that man has a will, but to say that man's will is stronger than God's will is contrary to the Bible and to logic. Yet that is exactly man's idea. They say that God cannot save a man unless that man is willing to let God save him. They say: “let God” meaning that God cannot do what He pleases: He cannot save whom He wants to save.

            The Bible teaches Divine sovereignty. God is all powerful. He is not controlled by anything outside of Himself. He is all powerful. He is all sufficient, lacking nothing. Isaiah 46:9-10 says, “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”

            This text says there is “none else:” no other god like the true God.  “...The former things of old” prove this. The tower of Babel, the flood, – in short, all the judgments of God upon sinful men prove that God is in control. The phrase “declaring the end from the beginning” has to do with not only the end time judgments, but also the people whom He chose from the beginning. Paul tells us “...he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him...” (Ephesians 1:4). God's choice of those who shall be “holy and without blame” is a part of God's “counsel” and His “pleasure” or will. It pleased Him to choose some to salvation.

            Man hates the thought of a sovereign God – the God of the Bible – the God who chooses – the God who does as He pleases. Man refuses to admit that God is in control of all things. This because “...the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be,” (Romans 8:7). Lost men, then, must be viewed as rebels against God. They love a god of their own manufacture, but hate the God of the Bible who says “I will do all my pleasure.” Man is on dangerous ground! James wrote, “...God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God...” (James 4:6-7). God is well able to resist the proud man. He has demonstrated throughout history His ability to successfully deal with His enemies. Of such men God says “...they willingly are ignorant of...” God's past acts (2 Peter 3:5). Such willingly ignorant rebels hate God and object to His sovereignty rather than submit themselves to Him.