The launch of the NOLA 3rd F:
We will be reading and discussing the book: How God Makes Men on approximately a monthly basis. T-claps to Amnesty for suggesting this 3rd F and Hawgcycle for taking the initiative to find the book and getting YHC to commit to taking the first Q. 10 Burpees for whoever said we should do it at 6:00am pre-beatdown on Saturday though.
3rd F Disclaimer: I am not a pastor, priest or prophet. I can only read the Bible as you do, draw logical conclusions and applications and have faith in God to fill in my gaps in understanding.
As a prequel to the first chapter YHC and the PAX discussed God’s providence. Was God asleep on August 29, 2005 or September 11, 2001? Whether you believe God actively causes all events on earth, that He passively allows man to do evil, and/or that the evil is all do to the deterioration of the earth after man’s sin, we all agree that God is actively involved in the events of the day and individual man bears responsibility for his actions, whether good or evil. Romans 8:28 is very clear, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Does God work everything to the good of all? What is the criteria set on the people for whom God works events for good? Those who love God and are called according to his purpose and verse 29 gives an idea of what the lives of those people look like: “conformed to the image of Christ.”
We will see God’s providence play out in the lives of each of the men we study in this book: Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, David, Solomon, Nehemiah, Job, Peter, and Paul. The circumstances for some of these men are the direct result of their good or evil actions (Abraham v David) and for others their circumstances are of no real fault of their own (Job and possibly Joseph). Whatever the circumstance we can see the good that comes as a result of the events of their lives which should strengthen our faith as we endure events that we cannot explain or make no sense in our lifetime.
JV mentioned, God has the perspective and understanding of a wise parent watching their child take shortsighted actions which the parent foresees will result in injury. We are bound by limited understanding and our temporal nature while God is omniscient and eternal able to see and direct all the events to the good of His people.
Well said SFx. Thanks for taking the introductory Q and giving us a good perspective from which to read the book. The disclaimer is a nice touch.