Is God in FULL CONTROL of history; or is He in PARTIAL CONTROL; or completely OUT OF CONTROL. I believe our lessons have proven that history has not slipped out of God’s hands. Neither is Deity behind every historical event. There are other players. Let us look at some Scripture passages that will dissolve any doubts about that.

1 Corinthians 10:13-14—No temptation has taken you but such as is common to man: But God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (God promises no protection from temptation for people who deliberately flirt with temptation. But He gives victory over temptation to those who cooperate with Him. Also, all things that do happen because God allowed them. Else they could not happen. That does not mean He willed them to be.)Genesis 11:5-8—The LORD came down to see the city and tower [of Babel], which men built. And the LORD said: The people are one [unity], and they have one language; and this they begin to do: And now nothing will be restrained from them that they have imagined to do. 

Let us go down and confuse their language so they cannot understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from there upon the face of all the earth: And they left off building that city. (God gave man both authority and ability, and He will not take back His gifts. But man will be judged for how he uses those gifts.)Isaiah 10:5-7—The Assyrian [king] is the rod of My anger; the staff in their hand is My indignation. I will send him against a hypocritical nation [Jews]…Howbeit he does not mean so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. (Men often go beyond what God intended for them to do.)Zechariah 1:15—I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Isaiah 30:1—Woe to the rebellious children [Jews], says the LORD, who take counsel, but not of Me; and cover with a covering, but not of My spirit. (They acted against His will, and He allowed them to do it. So God does notwill everything that happens.)Isaiah 65:12—When I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear; but, [you] did evil before My eyes, and [you] did choose that wherein I delighted not. Isaiah 66:4—I will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them; because, when I called [them], none did answer Me; when I spoke, they did not hear: But, they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. (God will allow us to choose to do things displeasing to Him, and will not stop us. But He will judge us!)Hosea 8:4—They [God’s people the Jews] have set up kings, but not by Me: They have made princes, and I knew it not. (They left the Lord out of their decision-making.)Amos 3:7—The Lord will do NOTHING [on earth] without [first] revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. (He gives ample warning before meting out judgement.)Matthew 24:22—Except those days will be shortened, no flesh would be saved: But for the elect’s sake, those days will be shortened. (God will be in control of that event!)
(God does not control our thoughts or actions, but He is in control of the outcomeof our thoughts and actions. God will be in ultimate control over history right up to the end of the end–times, so we need not be caught off guard. See Luke 21:28.
(Ron Craig is pastor, teacher and author of Christian books; and these articles. You may view all the books by logging onto www.livingwayfellowshiponline.org. While logged on the website you can even listen to audio Bible-lesson podcasts. You may also send your questions or comments to ronwritercraig@gmail.com)

 Is God in control? Is the devil in control? Or, are human beings in control? Looking at history and current events, it is difficult to tell. (I have not abandoned the subject of that last-days event.) The primary reason such confusion abounds in the world today is that most people do not understand the Bible truth that God has a part in both history and current events, the devil has a part, and man has a part.

Those parts getting mixed up causes the confusion. The Bible helps us get a grasp on what is going on in this world. I also need to say that history used to be current events. Current events are history in the making. Let us look at what the Bible says about what part each of the characters plays in the development of history. God’s Word accurately answers a lot of questions, and dispels a lot of confusion about a lot of things. God does not lie about anything!     One of the first questions to be answered is: Why do the devil and man have a part in working out history? Primarily because God, our Creator, gave His moral creatures a free will. God did not create the devil. He created angels, and gave them the freedom to chose. And one of His chief angels, Lucifer, used that freedom to rebel against God, and become God’s adversary—Satan, and the devil. God also created man with a free will, and gave him dominion over the earth and all that is in it. Free will, Lucifer’s fall and man’s dominion opened the door for some interesting history to unfold. Man had to be tested for loyalty, so God permitted man to be exposed to the Adversary—Satan.     Satan is only an angel—a created being. His attempt to be like the Most High God reveals his self-deception. No creature can be the Creator! So, himself having failed in that endeavor, the devil come to the Garden of Eden and slyly sold Eve (and Adam) on the same idea—that they could be like the Most High God. Self-deception endeavours to spread that same deception to other beings. Lucifer, having gotten himself into eternal trouble with the Creator through his rebellion, he knew that Adam and Eve would also endanger themselves by disobeying God. Thus began the human history tragedy.     Now, Deity does not take back what He has freely given; but His promises are given with conditions attached. He also tacks onto those freedoms some strict warnings. He told Adam and Eve what would happen if they disobeyed, and it happened just like He said it would. Surely, the angels were given some warnings regarding rebellion as well.      God knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). That does not mean that He has planned everything that happens (as John Calvin taught). It just means that He is very smart. God knows how His creation operates because He designed creation. Thus He knows what will result from certain actions. He knows how gravity works because He created gravity. So, even though God did not plan for people to fall and get hurt, He knows that people will get hurt if they fall. Satan tried to trip up the Lord on that issue in those temptations in the wilderness when he suggested Christ could jump off a cliff and not get hurt (Luke 4:9-12). Christ knew better, because He knew the Word of God.      God gave us creatures a lot of freedom, but He also has an overall plan for creation, and He will make everything eventually fit into that plan. Isaiah 46:11: “I have spoken it, and so I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it, and I also will do it.” Proverbs 16:4: “The Lord has made all things for Himself; even the wicked for the day of doom.”Made, not created. Big difference! Next time I will present the Bible explanation.  (Ron Craig is pastor, teacher and author of Christian books; and these articles. You may view all the books by logging onto www.livingwayfellowshiponline.org. While logged on the website you can even listen to audio Bible-lesson podcasts. You may also send your questions or comments to ronwritercraig@gmail.com)