5/15/26

Today, we will examine scripture that provides historical context. In it, we can see a sovereign God who knows everything and has power over everything but allows mankind to have free will. Mankind is therefore responsible for his own actions.

Baasha was the King of Israel, he was evil and led the people away from God. Therefore God sent word through a prophet that Baasha would end up just like Jeroboam whose family was all killed leaving no descendants.

Just as God had said would happen, a servant of Baasha's son named Zimri, killed all the members of the family leaving no descendants. Zimri then became king.

What the Lord proclaimed happened. Baasha and his family all died because of their sin!

Now, it would appear that Zimri doing this, was the will of God, and therefore he would not suffer for doing this. However, this is a misunderstanding of scripture. It was not God's will for Baasha to be killed. It was instead the consequences of sin. God allowed it to happen, because of the consequences of man's sin within his free will.

We see this in what happens to Zimri. He is surrounded by the people and knowing he will die he burns the house down around him. He kills himself. Listen to what the Lord says about why this happened . 1 Kings 16:19 NASB95 because of his sins which he sinned, doing evil in the sight of the LORD, walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, making Israel sin.

Notice that although the Lord said it would happen, according to His knowledge. Even though the Lord allowed it all to happen according to His power. Even though the Lord declared it. Zimri was responsible for what he had done because it was done in his free will. He made the choice. He did the action, and he did it all on his own with the freedom that God had given him.

Many people struggle with this but it is really rather simple and is seen from creation.

God did not desire Adam and Eve to sin. He didn't will or desire them to sin. He didn't set them up to sin. However, in His omniscience, He knew that in their free will they would. This doesn't mean He caused it. They made the decision freely.

God allowed free will, so that man could love God.

Love that is not freely given, is not actually love.

Someone once said, Love loses its validity the moment it becomes an obligation or a forced compliance.

God gave free will so that man could love God.

Yes God is sovereign but in His sovereignty, He allows man free will.

Therefore just like Baasha and Zimri you are responsible for your sin.

However, you can also experience God's true love and give true love back.

Jesus freely gave His life (Love) so you can be with God in Love.

It truly is this simple.

God elected, chose and predestined everybody in LOVE to be conformed to the image of Christ who is love, and love in its nature must be free.

Will you, freely choose love? Will you freely choose Christ?

It does require faith but God gave everybody a measure of that!

Love Bro. Scott