The Divine Respect for Human Choice

-

Verses:2 Chronicles 1:11-12

"And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of them that hate thee, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee; neither shall there any after thee have the like."

The interaction between God and Solomon reveals a profound mystery regarding the nature of the Creator and the gift of free will. Although God is omniscient and holds the entirety of time in His hand, He approaches us with a startling freshness, dealing with us in the absolute "now." When Solomon asked for wisdom, God did not withhold His blessing based on the failures that would come later in Solomon's life. Instead, He responded to the sincerity of the moment. This is the beauty of how God honors the agency He gave us; He chooses to interact with us based on the current state of our hearts rather than treating us as fixed points on a map of destiny. Much like a loving parent who refuses to "peep" into a child’s private room—not because they lack the authority, but because they respect the child's personhood—God grants us a sacred space of privacy and choice. He looks upon us with a deliberate "aloofness" that is actually a form of deep respect, allowing our decisions to be truly ours.

This divine restraint is perhaps most visible in the way God forgives. His omnipotence is so great that it includes the power to "forget" and to intentionally not "know" our past once it has been washed away. When He looks at us, He does not see a tally of future mistakes or past transgressions; He sees a fresh opportunity for fellowship. Each dealing He has with us is perfect, complete, and untainted by the shadow of what might happen tomorrow. This reality should change how we view our daily service to Him. Every opportunity we have to serve is met with high expectation from God’s side, as if the canvas is entirely blank and waiting for our unique stroke of faith. By understanding the fullness of the present, we can live more meaningfully, knowing that we are not being judged by a future God has already "spoiled," but are being loved by a Father who treasures our free will in this very second.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we stand in awe of the dignity You have afforded us through the gift of free will. Thank You for being a God who respects our boundaries and meets us with a fresh heart every morning. We marvel that You, who know the end from the beginning, choose to love us in the present moment without prejudice or reservation. Teach us to value this "now" as much as You do. Help us to serve You with the same sincerity Solomon once showed, and let us rest in the peace of Your holy forgetfulness regarding our sins. May we honor the freedom You have given us by choosing You over and over again, trusting that Your dealings with us are always perfect, always new, and always full of hope. Amen.

Popular posts from this blog

Leaving a Righteous Legacy

-
Verses:2 Kings 21:17 "Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh—all that he did, and the sin that he committed—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?" History remembers King Manasseh not for greatness, but for his grievous sins. The biblical record does not gloss over his failures; instead, it objectively documents his wrongs, ensuring that his legacy remains tarnished. No prosperity or earthly achievement could erase the stain of his disobedience. His name became synonymous with rebellion against God, a cautionary tale for generations to come.   Yet, this sobering truth carries a profound lesson for us: our choices today shape the legacy we leave behind. Righteousness, unlike sin, creates a blessed, enduring influence. It is not about following mystical or supernatural ideas, but about consciously striving to do what is right in God’s eyes—fulfilling His demands in our daily lives. Even when doubt, past failures, or spiritual lethargy weigh us d...
Read more

When Superstition Overcame Faith

-
Verse:2 Kings 3:27 "Then he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel, and they departed from him and returned to their own land." The alliance of Israel, Judah, and Edom had marched against Moab, confident in their impending victory. God was with them, ensuring their success. Yet, in a desperate act, the king of Moab did the unthinkable—he sacrificed his own son on the city wall. Instead of pressing forward in faith, Israel retreated in fear. Why? Because superstition, deeply rooted in their hearts, deceived them.   Though they were God’s people, Israel had never fully abandoned the pagan influences around them. Even their kings—Jehoram of Israel, Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom—were not wholly devoted to the Lord. When they saw the horrific sacrifice, they were overcome not by divine judgment but by their own lingering belief in the power of such rituals. They assu...
Read more

The Weight of Anointing and the Danger of Impatience

-
Verses:2 Kings 2:23-24  "Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, 'Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!' So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths." This shocking incident in Elisha’s life carries a profound lesson—not just about the consequences of mocking God’s anointed, but about the responsibility that comes with spiritual power. The Hebrew text clarifies that these were not mere children but *ne’arim*—young men old enough to know better. Their mockery was not innocent; it was a deliberate, scornful challenge to God’s authority represented in His prophet. Yet, the tragedy that followed forces us to examine the role Elisha played in it.   The young men’s sin was grave. Mocking a man of God—especially for something as trivial as his appear...
Read more