Exodus 2:16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come home so soon today?” They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.” He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”
Moses flees for his life and comes to a place where there happens to be an injustice being inflicted upon the daughters of the Midian priest. He intercedes and corrects the injustice, is invited to the home of the priest, is given a daughter in marriage, and has a son. We can surely see the hand of God in this, but the question of the sovereignty, plans, and purposes of God and the free will acts of man raises its head. I start down this path only to find myself at a crossroads that either gives too much credit to free will, and thereby limiting God, or places everything being done as the total work of God and thereby limiting man’s free will.
God has given mankind the free will to choose to honor and glorify Him or to go after their own way and dishonor and reject and deny Him. Mankind chooses to do good or bad, right or wrong, godly or ungodly things. God has given mankind a “free will” choice to trust in, cling to, rely on, follow, and obey Jesus Christ for their salvation and forgiveness of their sin. Eternal life is promised to all who repent, believe, and trust in the redemptive work on the cross through Jesus Christ. Eternal torment is promised to all who don’t. In these promises, there is God’s all-knowing “past, present, and future” purposes and plans, and mankind’s free will. God reaches out to the hearts of mankind and offers salvation, at the same time He knows who will repent, trust, and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This mystery of God’s sovereignty and mankind’s free will is far above my understanding.
I do know this; repentance, trust, belief, obedience, and reliance on Jesus Christ changes a person. You are changed immediately and being changed continually for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. Old things are past away and all things are new. You are a new creation, born again, and a light that shines for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. Into this person will come to the Holy Spirit to guide, lead, and direct them in thought, words, and actions that honor and glorify Jesus Christ. To these, there is given a peace that passes all understanding though the world around them is in trials and troubles.
Commit this day to live in such a way that in all you think, say, and do will honor and glorify Jesus Christ.
