Jeremiah and Ezekiel shared with faithful men the hardship of preaching God’s word to faithless Israel. Balaam was among the first who resisted God but found himself subject to his sovereignty.
Isaac, son of Abraham, and father of twins Esau and Jacob, intentionally tried to resist God’s 75 year-old prediction that the elder Esau would serve the younger Jacob. Genesis 25:19-34, 27-28 have the accounts. Apologists for Isaac say that the long period between the boys’ birth and his blessing could account for his negligence. Funny that Rebekah and Jacob remembered it and Isaac forgot it. Indeed, that God had to use Rebekah to preserve his prediction shames Isaac. Especially since he ignored God’s word simply by loving Esau’s kitchen skills. Isaac’s taste buds tried to trump God’s predictive will! However, lest we condemn him too harshly, remember that MANY people compromise or dismiss God’s control of their lives by satisfying themselves with lesser goals! How like perverted Israelites are SO MANY today, not a few of them Christian, who reject God “for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread” Ezekiel 13:19a. Wicked old Caiaphas joins this unholy alliance. John 11:45-53 has the account. When toadies rushed news of Lazarus’ resurrection to the Sanhedrin, a hand-wringing meeting followed. They obviously had no control of the Nazarene preacher. He was sure to bring Roman interference in Israel. Note: none of the miracles Jesus performed in more than 3 years, including resurrections, HAD raised concern in Roman authorities. Why would Lazarus’? It wasn’t resurrection the Sanhedrin feared: it was resurrection in Jerusalem, their power base! But it would have brought only further estrangement of the people from the leaders, not the removal of those men by Rome. Nevertheless...Caiaphas’ pronouncement that one man, not the nation, should die, fulfilled God’s intention to preach Christ beyond Jerusalem to capitals of the Empire. The Sanhedrin thought: kill Jesus and he’s gone. God said: kill Jesus and it will simply make salvation from sin possible for all people everywhere. Caiaphas didn’t know that, but what difference did that make? The intentional wicked, and the good but sinful believer, serve God’s purpose. The former may resent it, the believer may regret his role...but God’s Glory remains intact. Fini
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