God’s Sovereignty In Shaping The World

Proverbs 16:1–4
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An unexpected delay in New York providently kept a Christian from catching Flight 191 in Chicago, which crashed with all 254 aboard. At the same time this happened one of God’s great saints ran to make Flight 191—and made it!” His name was Edward E. Elliott, beloved pastor ... More

Sovereignty

These verses emphasize God’s role as sovereign king of the universe. We may make plans, but the answers are from God (v. 1). We think our ways are pure, but God weighs the motives of each of us (v. 2). It says that “the Lord weigheth the spirits.” That is why we need to be very careful as to whether we are getting our thoughts and directions from the Lord or from some man. We can never trust our thoughts. We may commit our works to the Lord, but God establishes the plans (v. 3).

God has made everything for His own purpose (v. 4). This verse has been used by some to support a false teaching known as “limited atonement." This teaching says that it is God’s will to only save certain people and it is also His will that other people be eternally lost in Hell. This is a terrible doctrine because God says that “He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (II Pet. 3:9).” The Scripture also teaches that He “will have all men to be saved, and come to a knowledge of the truth (I Tim. 2:4).”

It is true that man has a free will and can reject God’s Son as his only means to heaven. However, this does not make God the cause of man’s destruction. It is man himself who refuses to believe God’s Word, repent of his sin (Luke 13:3) and trust Christ as his Savior (John 1:12). You cannot say that God is the cause of any man going to Hell.

Application

Despite what I choose to do in life God has the final word. God is in control.

Proverbs 16:1-4 (English Standard Version)

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