How does God’s control over the world interact with our free decisions? What does the Bible have to say about this?
Just to be clear, I believe that God is in control of everything that takes place. This includes the natural events in creation, human history, human decisions, human sin, and human salvation. God’s control is universal. Everything happens as a part of his plan. I also believe that we make our own choices. However, who is in more control of my choices? Myself, or God? I believe God is in control of my choices, and that all the choices that I freely make are according to His plan. I am still held accountable for my sin, however, as it is still me making the choice to sin. In my post here, I used the metaphor of an author writing a novel to illustrate this. Obviously the reality of God’s control over the world is more complex, since creation and humans are more complex than a novel and its characters.
I’ve compiled a list of some scripture passages to support this belief. For reasons I won’t get into here, I’ve used The Holy Bible: King James Version (AV). All the passages work as well in other translations such as ESV or NASB. I wrote some thoughts underneath each verse in italics.
Before your begin, a word of warning. This a long post and does not ‘flow’ the way a proper article should. If you’d like, treat it instead as an in broad survey on what the Bible says about God’s control, and about how our plans fit into God’s larger plan.
I hope it can be a springboard you can use to dive deeper into this topic on your own.
Bible Verses About God’s Control Over Different Aspects Of The World
Psalm 33:10-11 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Michael’s thoughts: God is the one who ultimately decides if the plans of humans succeed or fail. Specifically, this verse mentions ‘heathen.’ Sinners make their plans, but God controls the outcomes. God’s counsel and thoughts are synonymous with the idea of plans. This verse shows that God’s plans stand forever while the plans of sinners do not, and are brought to nothing in the end in light of God’s plan.
Genesis 45:5-8Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
Michael’s thoughts: This passage shows that God was in control of Joseph’s brother’s choice to sell Joseph into slavery. Verse 5 says that ‘ye sold me hither.’ Verse 8 says, ‘It was not you that sent me hither, but God.’ Is this a contradiction? Who did the sending hither? Well the brothers did the selling, while God did the sending. The brothers sold Joseph out of their evil plan to get rid of a hated brother, while God sent Joseph out of His loving plan to save the hating brothers. The same actions, Joseph sold into slavery, was part of two opposite plans. God’s plan prevailed. And God’s plan included within it, the sinful choice of Joseph’s brothers.
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Michael’s thoughts: Again, God meant for the sin of Joseph’s brothers, the evil thoughts they had, to be part of His good plan to save many.
Jeremiah 1:5Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Michael’s thoughts: Who formed Jeremiah in the womb? God did. Who forms all human infants in the womb? God does. This is why abortion is evil, because life starts in the womb when God forms it. God had a specific purpose for Jeremiah. He always intended, even before he was born, that the baby would grow to be a prophet to the nations. The specific sperm that combined with the specific egg to form the unique human man Jeremiah was under God’s direct control. And for God to control that, He had to control every single birth from Cain to Jeremiah. He controlled every single marriage, act of love-making, accident and fluke that resulted in Jeremiah the prophet to the nations.
Ephesians 1:4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love
Michael’s thoughts: God chose all Christians in Christ before the foundation of the world.
Psalm 139:13-16For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Michael’s thoughts: God is in control of what happens to any man each day. We are not to boast as if we can control the events in our future. That control belongs only to God.
Luke 6:45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Michael’s thoughts: Jesus sets forth the foundational principle of all human decision – what we do comes from our hearts. The man with a good heart does good things. The man with an evil heart does evil things. Even the very words we speak come from our hearts. What sin does a man do that does not come from his wicked heart? What good does a man do that does not come from a new heart given to him by God?
Romans 9:17For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.Exodus 9:16And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
Exodus 14:4And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.
Michael’s thoughts: God controlled the heart of Pharaoh. Therefore, he controlled all of Pharaoh’s choices, since human choices flow from human hearts. In fact, the only reason Pharoah exists, was because God raised him up according to His plan, so that He could show His power.
Psalm 33:12-15Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. 13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
Michael’s thoughts: God does not only control the hearts of kings as isolated incidents. God is in control of the heart of every man because He is the one who designed the heart of every man.
Proverbs 16:1, 9
The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD….A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Michael’s thoughts: Man makes his plans within his heart. But in the end, God is in control of what will happen.
Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
Michael’s thoughts: God directs the king’s heart in any direction He chooses. God controls the decisions of the King.
1 Kings 12:14-1514 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
Michael’s thoughts: God caused Jeroboam to not listen to the people, thus fulfilling prophecy. God was in control of the man’s choice and actions.
Deuteronomy 2:30But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.
Michael’s thoughts: God controlled the heart of this pagan king to make sure he was hostile to Israel.
Judges 7:22And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.
Michael’s thoughts: God was in direct control over the way each man used their weapons, causing them to turn and fight each other.
Judges 14:1-4And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. 3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. 4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
Michael’s thoughts: Samson’s lustful choice to get a wife from the Philisties was ‘of the LORD’ because God wanted to use Samson to kill Philistines.
2 Chronicles 25:17-20Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face. 18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. 19 Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee? 20 But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.
Michael’s thoughts: God was in control of the heart of Amaziah so that he would not hear the words of Joash. Why? Because God planned to deliver Amaziam into the ‘hand of their enemies.’
Daniel 1:8-9But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
Michael’s thoughts: God caused the prince of the eunuchs to have a good opinion of Daniel. He controlled his heart.
John 19:23-24Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
Michael’s thoughts: God controlled the actions of the Romans who cast lots for Jesus’ clothes. Why? To fulfill the prophecies from the Old Testament that this would happen. God controlled their decisions to do so.
Acts 2:22-23Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain
Michael’s thoughts: God’s ‘determinate counsel and foreknowledge’ caused Jesus to be delivered over to death and killed by wicked men. Determinate means that God determined it to happen the way it happened. Counsel means that it was a plan. Foreknowledge means that God knew what was to happen ahead of time. God was in control of all the events, human sins, and accidents that were necessary for Jesus to be crucified.
Exodus 12:36And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
Michael’s thoughts: God controlled the Egyptians hearts so that they would look with favor on God’s people. God controls human opinion.
Exodus 3:21-22 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: 22 But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.
Michael’s thoughts: This is where God explicitly says He will do what happened in Exodus 12:36 (previous verse).
Exodus 34:24For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year.
Michael’s thoughts: God controls the desires of humans because He promised that no one would, ‘desire thy land.’
Ezra 6:22And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
Michael’s thoughts: God was in control of the heart of the king of Assyria.
Jer 17:9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Michael’s thoughts: This verse shows that the human heart is sinful by nature. It is deceitful and wicked.
Psalm 105:24-25And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
25 He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.
Michael’s thoughts: God directly caused the enemies of Israel to hate Israel, and to sin against them. How did he cause this? By turning their heart to do it. God was in control of the sin of the enemies of Israel.
Psalm 95:7-8For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness
Michael’s thoughts: This verse shows that it is a sin to harden one’s heart against God.
Romans 9:18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Michael’s thoughts: God hardens whoever He wants. But if my heart is hard toward God, then I am in sin. So God caused people to be in sin by hardening their hearts.
1 Sam 16:14But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
Michael’s thoughts: God caused and sent an evil spirit to trouble Saul.
1 Kings 22:20-23And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. 21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. 23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.
Michael’s thoughts: God sends out a lying spirit explicitly for the purpose of persuading Ahab to make a bad decision. How will this persuasion be accomplished? Though lies and deception. God uses lies and deception to accomplish His purposes, and He explicitly sends out lying evil spirits to accomplish this when He chooses.
Isaiah 6:9-10And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
Michael’s thoughts: God determined to make the hearts of His people unable to hear the words of Isaiah. God was in control of their sinful rejection of the Word of God.
Isaiah 63:17O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.
Michael’s thoughts: God caused Israel to err from His ways. How? He hardened their hearts.
2 Samuel 17:14And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
Michael’s thoughts: God intended for evil to happen to Absalom. Therefore, He caused Absalom to listen to Hushai’s counsel. He controlled Absalom’s heart.
Romans 11:7-8What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
Michael’s thoughts: This is a callback to Isaiah, where God caused Israel to reject Isaiah’s words.
Revelation 17:17For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
Michael’s thoughts: God will control the hearts of man in the last days, so that they will give their kingdom to the beast. This is all to fulfill God’s will. It is God’s will for this sin to take place.
Proverbs 16:4The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Michael’s thoughts: This speaks for itself.
2 Tim 1:9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
Michael’s thoughts: God is in control of our salvation since He gave grace to us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
1 Thes 1:4Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
Michael’s thoughts: God elects specific people to be saved.
1 Thess 5:9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Michael’s thoughts: Salvation is appointed by God ahead of time. Our choice to believe in Jesus is appointed and planned in advance.
2 Thess 2:13-14But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Michael’s thoughts: God has chosen who would be saved from the beginning, and brought it to pass through our free choice to believe in Jesus. He controls our hearts. He softens them, so that we will believe in faith.
Summary
God is in control of everything that happens. All of our decisions, whether good or bad, come from our heart. And who made our heart? Who fashioned all of us in the womb? Who controls our opinions, thoughts, and emotions? Who controls what we believe, whether we heed or reject God’s word? God does. By controlling our hearts, God controls our every choice. Does this mean we are not accountable for our sin? No. We are still accountable for our sin. However, exploring how that apparent paradox can be true is not the purpose of this post.
Are these passages merely examples of what God can do? Are these merely one off instances where God intervenes? Perhaps the normal way of things is for humans to make their own decisions, but God can come in whenever He wants and interrupt our choices, making our heart turn a different way? As one could argue, ” Of course the purposes of God will come to pass, because he wills it. But this does not mean that he wills everything that comes to pass.”
I would argue that the overwhelming testimony of scripture is that God is always in control. There is not a single thought or intention of my heart that God does not will to exist.
Why do I say this? First of all, see the large list of verses above detailing how God controls who we are, and directs our hearts as He wishes. Secondly, consider the following passages that make even broader, more sweeping claims.
Lamentations 3:37-41Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? 38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? 39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? 40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. 41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
Michael’s thoughts: Nothing happens without God’s command. God brings to pass with His will and His word of power, that which is good, and that which is evil.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Michael’s thoughts: This verse is in the context of the sufferings of Christians, and the groaning of the earth under sin, which was caused by the fall of Adam. The ‘all things’ in this verse refers to all events in creations, all natural disasters, all events in human history, all consequences of sin, everything that happens in the world, works together for good according to God’s good purposes.
Ephesians 1:11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will
Michael’s thoughts:This verse explicitly states that all things, everything, happens in accordance with the counsel of His will. That is, nothing happens outside of God’s plan and His control.
Conclusion
Congratulations if you made it all the way through that! These topics can be difficult to work through. I will echo the words of Paul when he said, in Romans 11:33-36:
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
For further Reading
I relied heavily on Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief by John M. Frame for the scripture references used in this article. I would highly recommend it for every Christian to read.