Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
This passage of scripture teaches us the sacred truth that God's will is accomplished in heaven and earth, whether we are in harmony with His plans or not. The reference given in the natural world is important for there is nothing man can do to stop the rain from falling, or to prevent the snow from coming down, and just as it is in nature, so it is in the spiritual realm. It's not necessary for us to believe God, or to be on His side, in order for Him to do His will, for as stated before, His will is accomplished with or without us. What is most important therefore, is that we are aligned with His plans so that we be not found warring against that which we cannot stop, for He gives the human agent the opportunity to be in sync with Him if we so chose, but His purposes will be executed any which way.
When the Hebrews were suffering under the oppressive rule of the pharaohs, God was keenly aware of what was taking place, and for many years it seemed to them like He had forgotten about the promise made to Abraham, that they would be freed from Egyptian bondage. But the time had not fully come as predicted in His will to Abraham, and so the pharaohs were permitted for a while to have their way with the Jews. But when the fulness of the time had come, God called Moses to be the visible human agent in the emancipation of His people, and true to His manner of working, He now gave the then ruling pharaoh the opportunity to be in harmony with His will. But sacred history shows that the human agent warred against God's will, with the vain hope that it would be overturned. Let's read:
Exodus 5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. 2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.
This attitude on the part of pharaoh shows that we are given the freedom to choose to be in line with God's plans, or we can choose to walk contrary to His will, but nothing will stop Him from doing whatsoever He has purposed to do. As a matter of fact, the plagues of Egypt were strategically brought about by the power of God so that His word would be fulfilled to the very letter, for He could have brought the last devastating plague first, and then pharaoh and his people would have let the Hebrews go at that point, but if God had done this, the promise He had earlier made to Abraham would not have been fulfilled in due season.
Thus pharaoh was permitted to play the fool for several days until God's purposes were ready to be fulfilled, and when the ordained time came around, the captivity of His people was signally overturned, and from the sacred record we learn that the selfsame day of God's own prior appointment, the Jews were freed from Egyptian bondage. Let's read:
Exodus 12:40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.
This aspect of God's dealing with the children of Israel has very serious implications for us, who like pharaoh are also given the opportunity to be aligned with God's purposes in our redemption. The offers of mercy are made to us with the hope that we will see the importance and wisdom of God's plans, in sending Christ to die in our place, and thus to redeem us from spiritual bondage. And just as it was in the days of pharaoh, so it is with us, for we can either choose to be in line with God's perfect will, or we can war against His gracious overtures to save us. Heaven is prepared for the obedient and faithful, and hell is prepared for the wicked and rebellious, and we are free to choose which destiny will be ours, but one thing is certain, His will is going to be accomplished any which way, for our freedom of choice in no way alters what He says He will do.
It is therefore incumbent upon us to choose wisely, so that we may be found in harmony with His will, and if by His grace, and our choice, we remain faithful to the end, we will reap the rewards of an intelligent decision to serve God. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which reiterates this very truth, and it is the will of God that we all be aligned with Him and His revealed purposes, for His plans are always made with our very best interest in mind. Let's read:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Ma God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!