Questions regarding His Story

Originally posted on June 18, 2006 – by Andre Piet

The discussion in response to His Story on a weblog page by Hartman Out has continued over the past few days. It is astonishing to see how people become entangled in their reasoning when they do not start from the fundamental fact that God is GOD (cf. Rom. 1:21), that is, the One who gives everything its place.
Below, I would like to briefly respond to a number of recurring questions or comments.

1. The metaphor of God as Author does not come from the Bible.

That is correct. The closest comparison is that of the potter (see Romans 9). In fact, all creative professions can serve to illustrate God as Creator. The comparison with an author is fitting, because an author is someone who creates a world in which he, like God, determines everything completely. Of course, a metaphor proves nothing; it serves as an illustration.

2. Doesn’t the comparison of God with an author only apply to a limited extent?

Every comparison only applies up to a certain point. The difference is: an author creates an imaginary world of characters and situations, whereas the Creator forms a real world. The similarity with God the Creator, however, lies in the fact that an author also creates a world in which he determines everything. The author is the creator of the entire content of his book. Every person, situation, event, good, evil, coincidence – everything is a creation of the author.

3. Is everything really God’s Plan?

When a man builds something, it is expected that he first calculates the cost, makes a building plan, sets a timeline, etc. (Luke 14:28–30). Naturally, it is no different with God when He “builds” a creation – only perfect. After all, man is limited in his ability to plan, because no one can foresee the future. But God does not share that ‘handicap’. Through the mouth of Isaiah, He says:

Declaring from the beginning, the hereafter,
and from aforetime, what has not yet been done…
Isa. 46:10

God knows everything in advance. Nothing happens to Him by surprise, and He allows nothing to occur without purpose.

YHWH has made everything for its own pertinent end,
And also the wicked for the day of evil.
Prov. 16:4

4. What is the difference between something that has a purpose and something that is the purpose?

An example: God once gave the law to Israel with the intended result that sin would increase, as Paul writes:

Now law came in by the way, that the offense should be increasing. Yet where sin increases, grace superabounds…
Rom. 5:20

The increase of sin is, of course, against God’s will (for that is what sin is), but it most certainly is part of His plan. For it says, “that the offense should be increasing…” Why? Because it was necessary to achieve this goal – namely, that grace would superabound. Sin was not the purpose (i.e., the final goal), but it had a purpose. It was part of the plan.

5. Isn’t it horrific that God allows sin and death to be part of His plan?

It would be horrific if these things were not part of His plan! For that would mean that either God did not know in advance that these things would happen (and would therefore be lacking), or that He permits evil without it serving a purpose. That would truly cast a shadow over the good God! That God gives evil a place because it serves a purpose is what justifies the existence of evil – just as a surgeon is permitted to inflict serious injury if it serves the long-term well-being of the patient. But if God were to allow evil without it being necessary, then we would have reason to doubt His goodness.

Delen: