God Is Bigger than We Think
God Is Bigger than We Think
A whole lot bigger. Most Christians willingly acknowledge God’s hands in peoples’ good deeds. But if you’ve ever been a victim of a crime, you want to know if God also notices peoples’ wicked actions. Well, as astounding as it may sound, no sin happens that God doesn’t deliberately allow. Don’t misunderstand—he is not the source of peoples’ bad deeds, for he despises sin. He hates it. James 1:13 says that God never tempts anyone to do wrong. Nevertheless, God’s overarching decrees allow for him to turn wicked hearts and evil motives this way and that, all to suit his higher purpose. Proverbs 16:4 tells us, “The Lord works out everything for his own ends—even the wicked for a day of disaster.”
So how does our big God pull it off? He steers the sin already in peoples’ hearts so that sinners unwittingly fulfill God’s plans and not merely their own. Look at wicked King Ahab of Israel. As he was mustering his troops for war, a courageous prophet tells him what he does not want to hear: “The Lord has decreed disaster for you.” Decreed, mind you—Ahab’s death in battle is not a suggestion-box item that God is merely considering. Even when the wicked king tried to cleverly subvert God’s decree, he still ended up dying in battle (2 Chron. 18:33–34). God accomplished it and countless similar circumstances by infinite wisdom far beyond our grasp.
God is constantly protecting us from the full force of the fall and the evil and suffering that goes with it. Time and again, he drives the Devil away and rescues us from his wicked schemes. This sin-stained planet would have ripped apart at the seams long ago were it not for the restraining hand of God.
Second Thessalonians 2:6–7 says, “And now you know what is holding [the evil one] back... For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.” The Spirit of the Living God is the One who is “holding back” Satan and the suffering he instigates. Moment-by-moment God is engaged with suffering, restraining it and only allowing those harmful things to reach us that ultimately fit into his plan for your life!
PRAYER: Lord God, there is no way I can understand the way you do things. I don’t pretend to comprehend how you work through peoples’ evil deeds to serve your own ends. But I know this: I believe you are far more kind and gracious than I could possibly imagine.