FREE CHOICE
VERSUS
PREDESTINATION
Assemblies and Christians will split and war over several issues, including choice. Do humans have free choice in salvation, or does God choose to save some and to damn others? What do the Scriptures declare?
Armenius lived many centuries ago, and seemed to propose that man has absolute choice. Calvin lived a few centuries ago, and seemed to declare that man’s choice was not involved in Salvation. Others have taken various positions, most just letting the pastor tell them what to think. Some say it isn’t important. I say that it is very important to understand the Biblical God, His plan and character.
I will use Scriptures with Scriptures, offering proofs. Screen them carefully. You will be held responsible for what you should know.
The Concept of Choice
If the true issue in ‘choice vs. predestination’ is “Who is responsible?” Choice is always accompanied by responsibility. The chooser is responsible for the choice. Where there is no choice, there is no responsibility.
The Command
Genesis 2:10 And Yehovah Elohim commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Commands are frequently given in the Scriptures, and always come with consequences. When Yehovah’s commands are kept, the consequences are good, and when they are not kept, the consequences are not good. A command seems to imply choice: to obey or not obey. Not all commands are choices, however. When Yehovah’s prophet called down fire from heaven, the fire had no choice. When Yehovah said, “Light: be!” the light was, and no choice was given. Commands do not automatically imply choices, but always carry consequences.
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Section 1: Choices Individuals Can make
Folks Can Choose What Doesn’t Please Yehovah
Isaiah 65:11 But ye are they that forsake Yehovah, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
Folks Can Choose Things That Please Yehovah
Isaiah 56:4 For thus saith Yehovah unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose those [things which] please me, and take hold of my covenant: even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
Folks Can Turn Others’ Hearts From God To Idols
1 Kings 11:1 But King Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, [and] Hittites, of the nations which Yehovah said unto the children of Israel, “Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with Yehovah his God… (verse 9) And Yehovah was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from Yehovah God of Israel, Who had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: be he kept not that which Yehovah commanded.
Solomon and the women are responsible for this evil. Did Yehovah ‘predestine’ Solomon to become an idolater, then anger at him for it? Does Yehovah do violence against His own righteousness?
Folks Can Prepare Their Own Hearts To Seek Yehovah
2 Chronicles 12:14 And [Rehoboam] did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek Yehovah.
Whose is responsible to prepare a heart to seek Yehovah? Previous topics showed that
- Yehovah must supply the heart in order for anyone to know Spiritual things,
- He puts things into the heart, and
- He performs heart transplants.
This person is responsible for preparing his own heart. Doesn’t Yehovah prepare the heart?
2 Chronicles 30:18 For a multitude of the people, many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “The good Yehovah pardon every one [who] prepareth his heart to seek God, Yehovah God of his fathers, though not according to the purification of the sanctuary.” And Yehovah hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
Some prepared their own hearts to seek God. Anyone truly preparing to seek Yehovah will succeed.
Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of Yehovah, and to do, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
The Heart Can Turn Away; One Can Choose Life
Deuteronomy 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day: it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, “Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?” Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, “Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?” But the word is extremely near unto thee: in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it! See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil, in that I command thee this day to love Yehovah thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and Yehovah thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. And if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish: ye shall not prolong the days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou mayest love Yehovah thy God, that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which Yehovah sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
This passage presents choices and commands. They often accompany each other.
Some Choose (Or Reject) the Fear of Yehovah
Proverbs 1:28 Then shall they call upon me [feminine Wisdom is talking], but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Yehovah: they would none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.
Folks Sometimes Know That Others Are Chosen By Yehovah
Acts 22:14 And [Ananias, a devout man according to the law,] said, “The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of His mouth.”
Some Folks Know They Are Chosen By God
2 Samuel 6:21 And David said unto Michal, [It was] before Yehovah, Who chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of Yehovah, over Israel: therefore will I play before Yehovah.
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Section 2: Choices Groups or Locations Can make
The Bible curiously gives personality to locations. A most important location is Mount Zion. Mount Zion speaks in a number of texts, and readers who take the Bible literally can find one text where this is blatant:
Isaiah 49:14 But Zion said, Yehovah hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
Texts that we have found referring to locations will therefore be classified as such. The reader can consider choice for a human in light of choice for a location, and can conclude in any way desired.
A Location Can Choose the Way of Truth
Psalm 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth.
A Location Can Choose Yehovah’s Precepts
Psalm 119:173 Thine hand shall help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
A Location Can Incline Its Heart To Continually Perform Yehovah’s Statutes
Psalm 119:112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes for ever [to] the end!
Yehovah was the one who inclined hearts to His testimonies. Who actually inclines the hearts?
A People Can Circumcise the Foreskin of Its Heart
Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Heart circumcision is required for Godliness. An uncircumcised heart devises sin.
Genesis 17:11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
Genesis 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
A Location Can Hide the Word in Its Heart
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Hiding the word in the heart is voluntary, and aids in sin prevention. Who is speaking? Won’t Yehovah Himself put His Spirit within the Israelis, writing the Torah on their heart?
A People Can Set Its Heart and Soul To Seek Yehovah
1 Chronicles 22:19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek Yehovah your God.
Israelis are Commanded To Choose Yehovah or False Gods
Joshua 24:14 “Now therefore fear Yehovah, and serve him in perfection and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the river, and in Egypt; and serve ye Yehovah. And if it seem evil unto you to serve Yehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that are on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yehovah.” And the people answered and said, “God forbid that we should forsake Yehovah, to serve other gods; for Yehovah our God, He [is the one] who brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery, and Who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and amongst all the people through whom we passed: and Yehovah drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: we will also serve Yehovah; for He is our God.” And Joshua said unto the people, “Ye cannot serve Yehovah: for He is an holy god: He is a jealous god. He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If ye forsake Yehovah, and serve strange gods, then He will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that He hath done you good.” And the people said unto Joshua, “No: but we will serve Yehovah.” And Joshua said unto the people, “Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you Yehovah, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” “Now therefore put away the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto Yehovah God of Israel.” And the people said unto Joshua, “Yehovah our God we will serve, and His voice will we obey.” (verse 31) And Israel served Yehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of Yehovah, that He had done for Israel.
The Israelis were given a choice with alternatives. Was Joshua the giver of the choice, or did he merely present the alternatives? From whence comes choice? If you think, “Choice comes from God,” then you are admitting that man chooses by Yehovah’s enabling. If you think, “There is no real choice, and all things are pre-determined,” all responsibility is removed since no one truly has the ability to respond, but must follow a predetermined course. Joshua then erroneously commanded them to choose because they couldn’t choose. Can you think of other options outside of these two mentioned?
Israelis Are Responsible To Choose Life/Good/Blessing Or Death/Evil/Cursing
Deuteronomy 30:15,19 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil…. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you: I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.
Yehovah gave the Israelis choice regarding death and life.
Isaiah 7:14,15 Therefore, the Lord Himself shall give to you a sign: behold the pregnant virgin; and she will bear a son, and will call His Name GodWithUs. Butter and honey shall he eat. To know Him, refuse the evil and choose the good!
Choice is being commanded!
The Brethren Must Certify Yehovah’s Choice of Them
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Messiah Jesus. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know, and be established in the present Truth!
Yehovah knows every person’s calling and election, but the Brethren are responsible to know their group calling and election (the text does not say callings and elections).
2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
The Israelis Chose New Gods
Judges 5:8 [The Israelis] chose new gods…
Who gave them that choice? Was it inherent? Is anything inherent?
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Section 3: What Yehovah Sometimes Does
Yehovah Sometimes Bows-Down the Heart
Psalm 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: therefore He bowed down their heart with labour; they fell down, and [there was] none to help. Then they cried unto Yehovah in their trouble: He saved them out of their distresses.
Yehovah depressed the mind of the Israelis. When they shouted to Him for help, He provided.
Yehovah Can ‘Incline’ a Heart To His Testimonies
Psalm 119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
When Yehovah inclines one’s heart to anything, He is bending it into that direction. Yehovah will give Israel the disposition to receive and keep what Yehovah has witnessed.
Yehovah Sometimes Directs Hearts Into the Love of God and the Patient Waiting For Messiah
2 Thessalonians 3:5 And Yehovah direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Messiah.
Yehovah Fills and Places Things into Hearts
Exodus 35:30 And Moses said unto the children of Israel, “See, Yehovah hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and He hath filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship… (verse 34) and he hath put in his heart that he may teach: he and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hast He filled with wisdom of heart…” (36:1) Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise-hearted man in whom Yehovah put wisdom and understanding, to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the Holy, according to all that Yehovah had commanded. And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart Yehovah had put wisdom: every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it.
Yehovah Forms the Unity of the Heart
Psalm 33:10 Yehovah looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of the Adam. From the place of His habitation, He looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He forms the unity of their heart, Who understands all their doings [Hebrew].
Yehovah will unify the enemies of Israel together to attack Israel, only to be destroyed in the process.
Yehovah Unites Hearts To Fear His Name
Psalm 86:11 Teach me thy way, Yehovah. I will walk in thy Truth. Unite my heart to fear Thy Name!
The Name Yehovah must be feared. Who is speaking in this Psalm? A divided heart is in a double-minded person, causing instability. A united heart has a single purpose and will. If Yehovah unites the mind, His fear and Salvation can then be given.
Yehovah Must Supply the Heart In Order for One to Know [Spiritual things]
Deuteronomy 29:4 [Hebrew] Yet Yehovah hath not given you an heart to know, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
Compare this with Hosea 4:6:
Hosea 4:6 My People are destroyed for lack of the knowledge, for thou hast rejected [contemned: to loath] knowledge. And I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me.
Yehovah must supply the heart with knowledge, but one may also reject knowledge.
Yehovah Must Supply the Heart to know Him
Jeremiah 24:7a And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am Yehovah.
Yehovah Teaches His Fearers in the Way He Chooses
Psalm 25:12 What man is he that feareth Yehovah? Him shall [Yehovah] teach in the way that he shall choose.
Yehovah chooses the way for His fearers.
Yehovah Sometimes Circumcises a Heart To Love Yehovah, To Live
Deuteronomy 30:6 And Yehovah thy God [speaking to Israel] will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love Yehovah thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy being, that thou mayest live.
This promise is preceded the following: (1) the blessing and the curse will come upon Israel; (2) Israel shall be driven among all nations, and there, shall cause these things to come to mind; (3) Israel will completely obey; (4) Yehovah will return Israel from all the nations to Israel.
Yehovah Sometimes Forms the Thoughts of the Heart, Establishes the Heart, And Gives a Heart of Peace to Keep Yehovah’s Commandments, Testimonies, and Statutes To Fulfill His Will
1 Chronicles 29:18 [Hebrew] Yehovah God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever: to form the thoughts of the heart of Thy People, and establish their heart unto Thee. And to Solomon my son, give a heart of peace to keep Thy commandments, Thy testimonies, and Thy statutes, and to do all: and to build the palace which I have established.
A heart of peace assumes peace with Yehovah. Yehovah will form the thoughts of His People Israel in the later part of the Tribulation and in the Millennium. He establishes hearts and enables anyone to keep His commandments, His testimonies and His statutes.
Yehovah Sometimes Gives a Wise and Understanding Heart
1 Kings 3:12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
Though Solomon had this heart, that did not guarantee its use. He later did unwisely as if he had little understanding. He broke the Law of Yehovah and multiplied wives to himself. His heart was led from God to his many wives’ idols.
Yehovah Sometimes Gives ‘Largeness of Heart’
1 Kings 4:20 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
‘Largeness of heart’ is literally wideness of mind (like in the expression ‘mind-expanding drugs’, but Yehovah’s gift doesn’t cause hallucinations and death). Solomon’s wisdom and understanding of nature was broad. He was broad-minded. (A broad-minded person in today’s understanding usually rejects Biblical truth.)
Yehovah Sometimes Puts His Fear into Hearts To Prevent Departing From Him
Jeremiah 32:40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
Yehovah Strengthens the Heart [singular] of Those Who Wait For Him
Psalm 31:20 Be strong, and He shall strengthen [another word] your heart, all ye that hope in Yehovah.
Yehovah Supplies the heart to Return to Him
Jeremiah 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am Yehovah. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
Yehovah gives the heart to know Him The Israelis will return to God with all their heart. Both willingly act.
Yehovah Sometimes Turns the Heart of People To Hate and To Deal Subtilly
Psalm 105:25 [Yehovah] turned their heart (the heart of the Egyptian enemies) to hate His People, to deal subtilly with His servants.
The text does not say why Yehovah did this; only that He did.
Yehovah Sometimes Performs Heart Transplants
1 Samuel 10:9b [Hebrew] And Elohim turned over to him another heart.
It does not say a New heart. This other heart did not cause him to walk Godly. Yehovah rejected him from being king due to a capital-punishment offense.
Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will given them an heart of flesh: that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
One added ingredient of the New Spirit enables anyone to walk Godly:
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I WILL call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field: that you shall receive no more reproach of famine among the gentiles. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that are not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. Not for your sakes do I [this]… (verse 36b) I Yehovah have spoken, and I will do! Thus saith the Lord Yehovah, I will yet [for] this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do [it] for them; I will increase them with men like a flock…
Yehovah states many I wills—yet Israel will inquire of Yehovah to do this.
Ezekiel 18:30 Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord Yehovah. Repent, and turn from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of the dead, saith the Lord Yehovah; wherefore turn and live ye!
They are commanded to make a new heart and spirit for themselves! How? Does repenting, turning, and casting away transgressions enable one to make for himself a new heart?
Ezekiel 18:27 [Hebrew] Again, when the wicked [man] turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive: and he saw, and he repented of all his transgressions that he committed: living, he shall live: he shall not die!
Is this man being his own salvation? Two are involved: Yehovah and the person.
Yehovah Sometimes Reverses the Heart of People
1 Kings 18:37 Hear me, Yehovah, hear me, that this people may know that Thou art Yehovah Elohim, and Thou hast turned their heart backward.
Does this indicate that Yehovah turned the people’s heart to Him or away from Him?
Yehovah Hardens Hearts
Along with softening hearts (removing a stony heart and replacing it with a heart of flesh), Yehovah hardens hearts (and spirits):
Deuteronomy 2:30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for Yehovah thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as this day.
Exodus 9:12 And Yehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh… (9:34b) He sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened.
Yehovah and Pharaoh cooperatively hardened Pharaoh’s heart. Pharaoh intentionally sinned in the face of Yehovah, hardening his own heart. Who is responsible? Yehovah does not prod anyone to sin:
James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted of God!” for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth for death.
Anyone aspiring truth, and willing to pay the price, has a soft heart. Who is responsible for this aspiration or for the deliberation to sin? Yehovah has equipped all with Spiritual equipment. Even individuals outside of normal intelligence ranges can still comprehend Spiritual truth because Yehovah is able to teach anyone.
Yehovah Smites Hearts with Confusion
Deuteronomy 28:28 Yehovah shall smite thee with… astonishment of heart.
Yehovah Sometimes Shuts Hearts To Keep Folks From Understanding
Isaiah 44:18 [The idol-makers] have not known nor understood: for [Yehovah] hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; their hearts that they cannot understand.
Why? If He gave them understanding, they could do much more evil. Yehovah’s gifts can be used in destructive ways in the hands of evildoers.
Yehovah Deceives the Intentionally Deceived
Ezekiel 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face [Yehovah is placing the responsibility of the act on them]: should I be inquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, “Thus saith the Lord Yehovah, Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet: I Yehovah will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols, that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.” Therefore say unto the house of Israel, “Thus saith the Lord Yehovah, Repent, and turn from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. For every one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me: I Yehovah will answer him by myself: and I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people: and ye shall know that I am Yehovah! And If the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I Yehovah have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel! And they shall bear their iniquity: the iniquity of the prophet shall be even as the iniquity of the inquirer.”
This text refers to a false prophet. A true prophet always prophesies truth. Yehovah is trapping the false prophet. The inquirer set up idols in his heart, and placed a stumblingblock of iniquity (guilt of sin) before his face. He separated himself from Yehovah. Whose fault is it? Yehovah blames the inquirer.
Yehovah’s I will statements show what Yehovah wills and does. No hope is offered to the false prophet, because he blasphemed the Holy Spirit. The inquirer may still repent:
Therefore, say unto the house of Israel, “Thus saith the Lord Yehovah, Repent, and turn from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.”
Yehovah Reads Hearts
1 Samuel 16:7b Man looketh on the outward appearance, but Yehovah looketh on the heart.
2 Kings 6:11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, “Will ye not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.”
Psalm 44:21b For God knoweth the secrets of the heart.
1 Kings 8:39b For Thou, Thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men.
2 Chronicles 6:30b For Thou [Yehovah] only knowest the hearts of the children of men.
Only Yehovah can read minds.
Yehovah Tests the Heart
1 Chronicles 29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness.
Trying is testing. Yehovah exposes the mind for the sake of its owner. Yehovah already knows.
Yehovah Sometimes Suspends Choice
Genesis 2:21 And Yehovah Elohim caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man…
Adam had no choice in this matter, but he was very pleased with this operation’s results. Yehovah often caused things to happen to people outside of their willing them. Many would choose to live forever on this earth if they could, but Yehovah will not allow this.
Yehovah Sometimes Does Not Suspend Choice
Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And Yehovah said unto Cain, “Where is Abel thy brother?” And he said, “I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?” And he said, “What hast thou done?”
Yehovah was not Cain’s accomplice. He did not help Cain in the murder plot. When Yehovah said, “What hast thou done,” He excluded Himself from participation. Cain admitted his guilt: “Mine iniquity is greater than can be forgiven” (Genesis 4:13, Hebrew).
Yehovah gave Cain the tools by which to do this act (he used his hands to slay his brother), but this does not tie Yehovah to the crime. Those same hands could have offered a sheep for the sacrifice for sin.
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Section 4: What Yehovah Chooses
God Sometimes Chooses Called Folks To Salvation and the Obtaining of Messiah’s Glory
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth unto which He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Messiah Jesus.
Yehovah Chooses Some Israelis For Obedience and the Sprinkling of Messiah’s Blood
1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Messiah Jesus, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect (according to the foreknowledge of God the Father) through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Messiah Jesus…
Yehovah’s election (choosing) is according to His foreknowledge (His knowing things in advance). All He chooses He first foreknows.
Yehovah Predestinates Those He Foreknew
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them (1) who love God, to them (2) who are the called according to purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them he also justified: and whom He justified, them he also glorified.
Yehovah foreknows who will turn to Him in faith unto Salvation. They are predestinated conformed to the image of His Son, showing Godliness and bearing fruit in righteousness. Man was created in the image of Yehovah, but fell. Messiah was made in the likeness of men, and lived perfectly. The foreknown of Yehovah will become in the image of Messiah, being patterned after Him. The we in the above text are Israelis.
Ephesians 1:5 …Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Messiah Jesus to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved… In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Messiah.
The us are again the Israelis. Paul switches back to the Ephesians in verse 13. Note the pronouns:
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Yehovah Sometimes Chooses Folks Before They Are Born
Romans 9:10b When Rebecca also had conceived by one: by our father Isaac; (for [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good nor evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth;) it was said unto her, “The elder shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Is there unrighteousness with God?
Rearranging the text for clarity, it reads:
When Rebecca also had conceived by one: by our father Isaac, it was said unto her, “The elder shall serve the younger.” For they were not yet born, neither having done any good nor evil: that the purpose of God according to election might stand: not of works, but of Him that calleth. As it is written, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Is there unrighteousness with God?
Yehovah told Rebecca that the elder would serve the younger, not that the elder would be hated. Yehovah hated Esau because of his acts and his despising Spiritual things. Yehovah’s will was that the elder would serve the younger, so Yehovah chose who would be the elder and who would be the younger.
Yehovah Chooses To Raise Certain People Up To Show His Attributes
Romans 9:17,22 For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, “Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my Name might be declared throughout all the earth”… What if God, willing to show wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of Grace, which He had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Compare this:
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
All who do not believe what Yehovah revealed to them are vessels of wrath, and are fitted to destruction. He endures and uses them to show his power and wrath, and to declare His Name, while giving them every good opportunity to turn. These passages contain no indication that either Pharaoh or Esau were planned for damnation, but were used to show attributes of Yehovah.
Yehovah Chooses Vexations To Bring Upon Those Who Chose Evil
Isaiah 66:3b Indeed, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their vexations, and will bring their fears upon them; because, when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose [that] in which I delighted not!
Yehovah chooses which disasters and vexations to bring upon folks who have chosen their own ways and things contrary to His delight.
Yehovah Chooses Tribes, Families and Individuals over Other Tribes, Families and Individuals
1 Chronicles 28:4 Howbeit Yehovah God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he desired to make me king over all Israel: and of all my sons (for Yehovah hath given me many sons), He hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Yehovah over Israel. And He said unto me, “Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him my son, and I will be his father. Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.” (verse 9c) If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever! Take heed now; for Yehovah hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do.
His wives turned Solomon’s heart. Did Solomon seek Yehovah or did Solomon forsake Yehovah? Yehovah chose Solomon to be his son. Did that guarantee that Solomon would follow Yehovah? Did that mean that Solomon automatically obtained everlasting life?
Yehovah Chooses Hills
Psalm 132:13 For Yehovah hath chosen Zion; He hath desired [it] for His habitation.
Yehovah Chooses Individuals and Peoples
Nehemiah 9:7 Thou art Yehovah the God Who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham, and foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him.
Psalm 65:4 Blessed is [he whom] Thou choosest, and bringeth near: he shall dwell in thy courts.
Isaiah 14:1 For Yehovah will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.
Yehovah Chooses Locations
Zechariah 1:17b Yehovah shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
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Section 5: Yehovah’s Character
Yehovah Is Sovereign
Psalm 103:19 Yehovah has prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all. Bless Yehovah, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word. Bless ye Yehovah, all His hosts; ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure. Bless Yehovah, all His works in all places of His dominion: bless Yehovah, O my soul!
Yehovah rules over all. “Does Yehovah rule over men?” is not the same as “Does Yehovah rule in the hearts of men?” Were Yehovah to rule in the hearts of all, all would be righteous.
2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men is righteous, ruling in the fear of God…
Yehovah Rules over the Sea
Psalm 89:9 Thou [Yehovah God of hosts] rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
Yehovah Rules over Men
2 Samuel 23:3b “… He that ruleth over men…
Yehovah Rules in the Kingdom of Men
Daniel 4:17b The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men.
The question still remains; does Yehovah rule the heart of men? The next series of sections will cite passages in which Yehovah will do something with the heart (mind).
Yehovah Has No Unrighteousness
Psalm 92:15 Yehovah is upright: my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
An accomplice to crime is as guilty as the doer. A human might help in a crime without knowing it, but since Yehovah knows all, not knowing is impossible for Him.
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Section 6: Summation
Yehovah and individuals work together to send them in either the direction of righteousness or destruction and hardening. Yehovah uses His Sovereignty in conjunction with individual choices to accomplish His will. He can and does overrule man on occasion, as He did with Balaam:
Numbers 22:35 And the angel of Yehovah said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak.
Numbers 22:38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? The word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Numbers 24:12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, 13If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of Yehovah, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what Yehovah saith, that will I speak?
Even Balaam said, that will I speak rather than that must I speak. After Yehovah had forcefully directed Balaam what to speak, Balaam then taught King Balak how to cause the Israelis to sin, to bring the wrath of Yehovah on them. Balaam was not forced to do or speak righteousness once he had prophesied the Word of Yehovah for Israel. Balaam’s desire to not follow Yehovah was fulfilled, yet Yehovah was glorified.
Lot’s wife was forcibly removed from Sodom, but she was not forced to reject Sodom (and thus the warning, “Remember Lot’s wife!”). She obtained her desire, and she was destroyed with the city and her other two daughters.
No person will be able to declare, “My will was violated by Yehovah, and I was forced to be destroyed!” or “My will was set aside, and I was swept into salvation!” Everyone given life and responsibility has also been given choice. Yehovah will accomplish His will using them.
Yehovah fought with Jacob, and did not force him. Jacob won:
Hosea 12:3 [Jacob] took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: 4yea, he had power over the Angel, and prevailed.
One view called hyper-Calvinism claims man has no real choice, and Yehovah causes everything. Another called Arminianism claims that man has complete choice without God’s interference. Yehovah, by sovereign design, grants choice. He knows, by foreknowledge, who will choose life and who will choose death. He places folks in time and location according to this foreknowledge so that their choices and actions will work according to His plan for the ages. He will prove to all that He has been fair in all things.
Hyper-Calvinistic and Arminian views, along with many others, have ignored differences between Yehovah and men. A man cannot bring about his will on the world, while giving others choice. Dictatorships are the closest humans can come to bringing about their will.
Any system of understanding ‘free choice’ versus ‘predestination’ in which the justice and sovereignty of Yehovah are trashed is wrong.
The following is a list of the sections covered above. Click these links to view any section again.
Choices Individuals Can Make
Folks Can Choose What Doesn’t Please Yehovah
Folks Can Choose Things That Please Yehovah
Folks Can Turn Others’ Hearts From God To Idols
Folks Can Prepare Their Own Hearts To Seek Yehovah
The Heart Can Turn Away; One Can Choose Life
Some Choose (Or Reject) the Fear of Yehovah
Folks Sometimes Know That Others Are Chosen By Yehovah
Some Folks Know They Are Chosen By God
Choices Groups or Locations Can Make
A Location Can Choose the Way of Truth
A Location Can Choose Yehovah’s Precepts
A Location Can Incline Its Heart To Continually Perform Yehovah’s Statutes
A People Can Circumcise the Foreskin of Its Heart
A Location Can Hide the Word in Its Heart
A People Can Set Its Heart and Soul To Seek Yehovah
Israelis are Commanded To Choose Yehovah or False Gods
Israelis Are Responsible To Choose Life/Good/Blessing Or Death/Evil/Cursing
The Brethren Must Certify Yehovah’s Choice of Them
What Yehovah Sometimes Does
Yehovah Sometimes Bows-Down the Heart
Yehovah Can ‘Incline’ a Heart To His Testimonies
Yehovah Sometimes Directs Hearts Into the Love of God and the Patient Waiting For Messiah
Yehovah Fills and Places Things into Hearts
Yehovah Forms the Unity of the Heart
Yehovah Unites Hearts To Fear His Name
Yehovah Must Supply the Heart In Order for One to Know [Spiritual things]
Yehovah Must Supply the Heart to know Him
Yehovah Teaches His Fearers in the Way He Chooses
Yehovah Sometimes Circumcises a Heart To Love Yehovah To Live
Yehovah Sometimes Gives a Wise and Understanding Heart
Yehovah Sometimes Gives ‘Largeness of Heart’
Yehovah Sometimes Puts His Fear into Hearts To Prevent Departing From Him
Yehovah Strengthens the Heart [singular] of Those Who Wait For Him
Yehovah Supplies the heart to Return to Him
Yehovah Sometimes Turns the Heart of People To Hate and To Deal Subtilly
Yehovah Sometimes Performs Heart Transplants
Yehovah Sometimes Reverses the Heart of People
Yehovah Smites Hearts with Confusion
Yehovah Sometimes Shuts Hearts To Keep Folks From Understanding
Yehovah Deceives the Intentionally Deceived
Yehovah Sometimes Suspends Choice
Yehovah Sometimes Does Not Suspend Choice
What Yehovah Chooses
God Sometimes Chooses Called Folks To Salvation and the Obtaining of Messiah’s Glory
Yehovah Chooses Some Israelis For Obedience and the Sprinkling of Messiah’s Blood
Yehovah Predestinates Those He Foreknew
Yehovah Sometimes Chooses Folks Before They Are Born
Yehovah Chooses To Raise Certain People Up To Show His Attributes
Yehovah Chooses Vexations To Bring Upon Those Who Chose Evil
Yehovah Chooses Tribes, Families and Individuals over Other Tribes, Families and Individuals
Yehovah Chooses Individuals and Peoples