WHAT DID GOD DECREE?

There are differing ideas about what God has decreed.
However, ideas and opinions are not too important unless
supported by evidence. Where do we turn to find evidence?
The Bible is the only infallible source that can be trusted to
provide the truth regarding the extent of God's decrees.
Therefore we will look at what God's word teaches regarding
this most important matter.

Before proceeding, it might be helpful to define the word
"decree." According to Webster's College Dictionary it
means "to command, ordain, or decide by or as if by decree."
It also deals with formal court orders, etc. In addition, it
states that it is: "one of the eternal purposes of God, by
which events are foreordained." I want to discuss later
whether or not the scriptures teach that some or all events
are decreed. We can be sure that whatsoever God has
decreed will most surely come to pass.

In most places in scripture where the word decree is used, it
relates to pronouncements by earthly rulers. Passages which
relate to God are usually dealing with the laws He has placed
in nature. Job 28:26 states that God "made a decree for the
rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder." In Psalm
148:6 it is stated regarding the waters: "He hath established them
for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass."
Jeremiah 5:22 tells us that the Lord "hath placed the sand
for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot
pass it..."

Although the word "decree" may not be used in most cases,
the scriptures teach that God governs His material creation
by His decrees. Proverbs 8:29 lets us know that wisdom
was with God "When he gave to the sea his decree, that the
waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed
the foundation of the earth." It is self-evident, that the orbits of
the planets and changing of the seasons continue by God's
decree.

We know that God has decreed some things and/or events.
Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar: "This is the interpretation, O king,
and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon
my lord the king" (Dan. 4:24). The things relating to the
decree are then listed in the verses that follow.

Psalm 2:7 relates to the person and work of our Lord Jesus
Christ: "I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me,
Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee." Without a
doubt, the life and work of Jesus on earth, including His death
and resurrection were decreed or foreordained. Peter declared
that Jesus, "being delivered by the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands
have crucified and slain" (Acts 2:23).

In Acts 4: 28, Peter and John express the truth that God had
determined the things regarding the crucifixion of Jesus.
In prayer these apostles relate how that Herod, Pilate, the
Gentiles and the people of Israel (as recorded in Psalm 2)
were gathered together, "For to do whatsoever thy hand and
thy counsel determined before to be done."

In His decrees, did God force those involved to perform
their wicked acts? No! They willingly carried out the designs
of their wicked hearts. In ways we do not understand, God
brought about the events without making the men act as
robots or puppets. I think of it as God simply removing His
restraining hand. But, it probably involves more than that.

There are many cases in the Bible where we see the
workings of God's providence. He many times overrules
the wickedness of men to bring glory to His name and
good to His people. The accounts of Joseph and Moses
are two of many examples found in the Old Testament.

The question is not whether or not God sometimes decrees
events and overrules evil to bring about good. The scriptures
show us that He has. The question is: Does God decree,
predetermine, or foreordain every event of life? If not, what
are the exceptions?

Perhaps one of the most powerful verses that can be used
to teach that God has decreed all that occurs in this world
is Psalm 76: 10: "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee:
the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain." This verse, as
all scripture, should be considered in context. The main
theme of this Psalm is dealing with God's deliverance of His
people in battle with the mighty princes of this world. God is
praised when man in his wrath in vain seeks to destroy His
children. The Lord stops them in their evil endeavor. Psalm 2
shows how the heathen, even the kings and rulers of this world,
would try to destroy the Lord Jesus and His work. Their efforts
are so weak that "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the
Lord will have them in derision" (Psm. 2:4).

Psalm 76:10 tells us that some of man's wrath praises God
(indirectly) while some (the remainder) of his wrath is restrained.
In other words, the wrath under consideration that does not
praise the Lord is restrained or limited. It rages within the
actions of wicked men, but it brings about only the harm that
God suffers to occur to His children.

Again, in context, Psalm 76:10 is dealing with events affecting
the nation of Israel in their conflicts with their enemies. The
message is evidently designed to give courage and comfort
to the Lord's people as they face their enemies in this old
world. It shows that God can and does deliver according to
His sovereign pleasure.

But it does not teach that God will intervene in every event of
life so that all of His children will always receive what is best
for them during their existence on earth. Thankfully, in spite
of what may occur at the hands of wicked men in his world,
it cannot compare with the eternal joy that follows. Paul said
it best: "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time
is not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18).

Another scripture used to support the assertion that God
has decreed all things that come to pass is Isaiah 46: 9-11):
"....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: Calling a ravenous bird from the east,
the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea,
I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed
it, I will also do it."

Does the above tell us that God has determined/decreed all
things that come to pass? He does not say that wicked men
will do all of God's pleasure. But in spite of the actions of
wicked men, God will carry on His work to His glory and for
the benefit of Israel. God is telling Israel that He will send
the ravenous bird, Nebuchadnezzar, the Chaldean ruler, to
chastise Israel and bring them to repentance.

There can be no question about the fact that God always
does what He pleases at all times and in eternity. "(O)ur
God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath
pleased" (Psm. 115:3). While that is true, it is equally true
that men many times do not do what pleases God. Even
those whom God used to chasten His people went beyond
God's pleasure. The Lord tells us so in Zechariah 1:15:
"And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are
at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped
forward the affliction." They afflicted God's people more
than necessary.

We know that there are depraved, perverted abusers and
killers running loose in the world today. Too often we read
the account of how even young children have been tortured
in the most horrible way and then murdered. Are these
things decreed by God? How about Romans 8:28? Did
God work these horrors together for the good of these victims?
Would it not have been better for them to have died peacefully
in their sleep? Would any dare to advocate that these little
ones did not love God?

We live in a sin-cursed world where bad things happen. Sin,
not God, is the cause. Paul writes in Rom. 8:22, "For we
know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain
together until now." However, in eternity, God will most certainly
be praised as the wicked are punished in hell while the children
of God who were persecuted on earth enjoy heaven and sing
God's praises forever and ever!

In Chapter III of the 1689 London Confession of Faith, a group
of Baptist ministers stated: "God hath decreed in Himself from
all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will,
freely and unchangeably, all things whatsoever come to pass;
yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin, nor hath
fellowship with any therein...."

I do not in any way want to belittle the efforts and knowledge
of these great and faithful fathers. A great portion of what
they wrote explains in detail the biblical doctrines that we as
Primitive Baptists believe and practice today. However, if the
word decree had the same meaning then as now (I think it did),
they took scripture out of context in trying to teach that God
decreed "all things whatsoever come to pass." For God to
decree something, is for Him to cause it to come to pass.

As stated previously, there are things that come to pass by
God's decree, including events in the lives of Joseph, Moses,
Jesus Christ and others. God was not active in every action
bringing these things about, but allowed wicked men to do
what they desired to do. This brought about the results God
intended or decreed.

There are mysteries in God's workings that are beyond the
ability of finite minds to comprehend. We do not know why
God sometimes intervenes in a powerful manner to save
undeserving humans from tragedies, while on other occasions
He allows bad things to happen. But we do know He does so
according to His sovereign will (See Luke 4:23-27).

God is pleased to be displeased at times. He is not the author
of sin and therefore does not take pleasure therein. God is
the author of all goodness, righteousness and holiness.

Yours in hope,

Wayne Crocker