Perspectives: Freewill and Sovereignty
In the last post I mentioned the concept of “archetypes” though I didn’t bother to explain them. The definition of an archetype is: “an original pattern or model; prototype; a very typical example of a certain person or thing; and a recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art or mythology.” In the previous discussion I suggested that the Christian and Jewish perspectives symbolized two archetypal worldviews of the prophecies about the Messiah. However, I think it is important to make a further point: Christians that “over spiritualize” and the Jews of Jesus day that desired a physical rescue of the Israelites—although retrospectively form archetypes—were and are actual historical individuals that lived and breathed. My point: individuals act out archetypal ideals; and the “over spiritual” Christians and “over literal” Jews acted out such archetypes. This all might seem like useless jargon but over the past twenty-four hours my conscience demanded a clarifying statement. If this topic confuses you feel free to contact me via a private Facebook message. If my explanation appears useless to you, I beg you to reconsider; understanding the link between the physical and spiritual (which philosophers generally call “metaphysical;” although it has slightly different denotations with vastly different implications) is vital to molding and executing your worldview. It is this balance of worldview and action to which James 2:18 refers: “But someone may well say, “You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
Now moving on to the section at hand. There is a deep-seated question about the nature of events; whether God deliberately orchestrated a nation to act or called up a storm as judgement upon a people. The questions, however, rarely get a direct answer. In Isaiah 10, we get a glimpse of the dynamic between the sovereignty of God and the freewill of man. While God is deliberately sending Assyria to conquer Israel as punishment for their sins, the king of Assyria has different intentions in his heart.
“Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hands is My indignation, I send it against a godless nation and commission it against the people of My fury to capture booty and to seize plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets. Yet it does not intend nor does it plan so in its heart, but rather it is its purpose to destroy, and to cut off many nations. For it says, “Are not my princes all kings?”
For myself, understanding how man’s freewill and God’s sovereignty are united in function is quite difficult. What could motivate the King of Assyria to conquer Israel while simultaneously be God’s judgement upon Israel for their evil ways of life? The indication is the king of Assyria desires to rule and receive glory. The alignment of those two conflicting interests is miraculous. It shows God’s omniscience; that he perceives the intents of man and allows them to act in a way that fulfills his own desires; in this case, the judgement of Israel. There are plenty of stories in the Bible where God protects his people against all odds. I mentioned in a recent post the story of Gideon. In Judges 7, the Israelites go to fight the Midianites but God reduces the Israelite army down to 300 hundred men with trumpets, empty pitchers and torches. Through a miracle, the Lord defeated the Midianites by causing them to kill their fellow men instead of Israel (Judges 7:22). God is clearly able to rescue Israel. Yet, in Isaiah 10, God chooses to allow Assyria to conquer Israel.
A second thought popped into my mind about the state of the King of Assyria. Despite him “fulfilling God’s will,” he wasn’t a righteous man. I find this hard to grasp. How can evil men fulfill God’s will? The very idea seems contradictory. Yet, it happens. The story of Jonah comes to mind. Jonah didn’t want to obey God; and through many unfortunate events eventually obeyed. But even Jonah had ill intentions in his heart. Jonah hated the people of Nineveh. He did not want the people of Nineveh to be spared God’s wrath (Jonah 3:10-4:2).
Further to the point, Isaiah 10:15 says, “Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it?” That is the Lord’s response to the “arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness” (Is. 10:12). So even though God used Assyria to punish Israel, Assyria is not guiltless and will be punished in the future as well.
“Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts, “O My people who dwell in Zion, do not fear the Assyrian who strikes you with the rod and lifts up his staff against you, the way Egypt did. For in a very little while My indigitation against you will be spent, and My anger will be directed to their destruction.” And the Lord of hosts will arouse a scourge against him like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb.” – Isaiah 10:24-26
A side note, it is interesting how many times the battle of Midian (the story of Gideon) is mentioned in Isaiah; two or three times in the first 10 chapters. Even though Assyria is acting as a tool for the Lord, Assyria will not escape their own guilt. I wish I had more to say about this chapter, but it has challenged me to think and contemplate the depth of God’s sovereignty and man’s freewill. God’s sovereignty and man’s freewill is a hard paradox to grasp. Christians have argued over the boundaries between the two for centuries. There might not be an answer that our minds can completely comprehend. It is sufficient to understand: God’s in control but I act out of my own accord.
