“All the promises of God in Him [Jesus] are yea, and in Him Amen.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

As we saw in the previous lesson, God prophesied a perfect immortal universe before He created it. In spite of creature choices that introduced sin and death, God prophesied a plan of redemption to restore His original prophecy.

When God promises that He will do something, then He will do it. The condition of God’s promise is God’s ability and willingness. Because there is nothing to stop God’s choice, then we know it will be fulfilled. When God promises to give the penitent sinner salvation, then it happens. When Jesus said, “If I go... I will come again,” then we know He will return because He fulfilled the condition of leaving and there is no one who can stop Him from returning.

God’s promises are conditioned upon His infinite love and power. Therefore we know they are guaranteed. However, His predictions about humans are conditioned on human choices, and so their fulfillment can change. This is why God “repented” several times in the Old Testament. This is why Jesus made a very interesting prophecy to Peter the night He was betrayed.

“Then said Jesus unto them, All you shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of you yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Truly I say unto you, That this night, before the rooster crows, you shall deny me three times. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with you yet will I not deny you. Likewise also said all the disciples.” (Matthew 26:31-35; Zechariah 13:7)

Notice the sequence: Jesus predicted scattering, then Peter predicted loyalty, then Jesus predicted denial, then Peter denied the denial. Jesus increased the prophecy after Peter’s first argument. Jesus predicted that Peter would sin against Him, while Peter exercised his free choice and denied it.

Did Christ’s prophecy force Peter to sin? Was it “fate”? (God tempts no one. James 1:13-15)

If we look at all prophecy as something that must be fulfilled simply because God said it, then Peter has no choice. He must sin, because Jesus said it. However, that conclusion can’t be right. So we must look at prophecy differently. If Peter continues in his proud condition of wanting to be number one and arrogantly arguing with the Son of God, then he is guaranteed to sin, not because of the prophecy, but because of his condition.

How do we know this to be true? Because Jesus tried to help Peter change his condition.

“And he comes unto the disciples, and finds them asleep, and says unto Peter, What, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:40-41)

Jesus tried to help Peter break His own prophecy! Jesus was willing to look like a false prophet to save Peter! Of course, Jesus would not have been a false prophet either way, because the unstated condition was Peter’s attitude and preparation.

This willingness to suffer the accusation of being a false prophet was not something Jonah could handle.

“And truly the Son of man goes as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!” (Luke 22:22; Psalm 41:9 )

The word “determined” is a little stronger than “prophesied”, both in English and Greek. It was not merely a guess or a prediction, but it was decreed and appointed that the Son of man would be betrayed.

If that was the case, then “what must be must be.” It is “unavoidable”. “Somebody has to do it.” Therefore, how could the betrayer be held accountable. After all, he is only doing what "must" be done. Or is he?

If the prophecy is in control, then how can the “criminal” who fulfills the prophecy be held responsible? How can there be “woe” to the prophetic actor when the prophecy demands fulfillment? It appears that God has said, Someone must do it! If not Judas, then someone else.

But would God make someone sin just so His prophecy can be proven true? He might not force Judas to sin, but He would need to force someone, right? Wrong. The prophecy is conditional. Jesus could have been sacrificed and crucified without being betrayed.

Repeatedly, Jesus said, “I have chosen you twelve and one of you is a devil.” If that was really true that one of the apostles was a devil, then Jesus was breaking His own commandment. “Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness? And what concord has Christ with Belial?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15)

Jesus was repeatedly warning Judas off a dangerous path. Jesus was trying to help Judas break the prophecy. By faith, hope, and love, Jesus was trying to save the soul of Judas.

“And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” (Jonah 3:4-10)

Notice that Jonah preaches an unconditional message of destruction after 40 days. There is no hint of mercy, grace, or gospel in his message. It is the king, obviously moved by the Holy Spirit, who ventures, “Who can tell if God will turn and repent?” Of course, God did “repent” because the people repented. This made Jonah mad.

“And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray you O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that you are a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repent you of the evil.” (Jonah 4:2)

Jonah knew ahead of time that his forty day prophecy of destruction was conditional on the city’s condition. The prophet knew that he would look like a false prophet if the people repented. What Jonah failed to realize is that he would have looked like a gospel prophet if the people repented.

“When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” (Galatians 4:4)

The fullness of time can be an arbitrary time God selected, or it can be the time when the fullness of human choices is reached and circumstances are the most favorably shaped. Either way, God does not force choice. He affects them without forcing them.

When you know you have a deadline to complete something that matters to you, do you not alter your schedule and priorities? Your choices depend on your choice about what matters. If you don’t care about the deadline, then you make different choices compared to if you cared. Either way, you are free to care or not, to choose or not.

Therefore, when God sets a time, He is deciding a date about His course of action. He is within His freedom to do so, just as we are within our freedom to care or not about what He does.

Putting God’s choices together with our choices explains the course and destiny of human history. Like a master chess player, God makes a move, then allows people to react to it. He calculates all those reactions and makes His next move. In the end, God wins and everyone who wants goodness wins.

Jonah knew that God would repent of the evil intended for Nineveh. However, Balaam, the greedy prophet, said, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: has he said, and shall he not do it? or has he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)

Why would an omnipotent, omniscient God need to repent? He can see the future and He can bend the future to His will if He so desires. God does not repent, but presents Himself to an immature people in a more human, relatable form. He is trying to get two points across to His people. First, His will is supreme, and second, He will bestow or withhold justice or mercy when needed.

“Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repents him of the evil.” (Joel 2:13)

Of course, God sees ahead. He sees whether a person will repent. He has consequences of justice or of mercy both prepared for any decision we make. If we repent, then it will appear to us that God repented.

“The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he worked a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? says the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, with which I said I would benefit them.” (Jeremiah 18:1-10)

In case you are not yet convinced that prophecy and choice can work happily together, let’s consider some instances in the Bible where the language seems really clear and strong—just like prophecy—but it is strong in two opposite ways.

The first story concerns David numbering the men of military age in Israel.

“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” (1 Chronicles 21:1) “And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.” (2 Samuel 24:1)

Clearly, David did the numbering, but who prompted him—Satan or God? If God did, then God’s anger made David sin which would give God an excuse to punish him. That sounds cruel. We had better break this event down step by step before our surface reading ties us in knots. Also, let’s not distract ourselves with why it was wrong for David to number Israel (see Exodus 30:12). It was wrong and we will go with that.

First, “the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.” God gets angry only at sin. David must have been moving into a state of pride because of all the military victories and economic prosperity. Second, God’s anger means His blessing and protection is partly or totally withdrawn. Third, Satan moves into the dark vacuum left behind when the Light turns off in the soul. Fourth, David yields to temptation and decides to sin.

Who hardened David’s heart? All three—David, God, and Satan. How did his heart become hard? When the Spirit leaves the heart hardens, just like removing water from the ground which then dries and hardens.

“And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might show these my signs before him.” (Exodus 9:34-10:1)

In the same passage, both Pharaoh and God are given responsibility for his hard heart. Is that possible?!

Just like with David, the same steps of rejection, withdrawal, temptation, then choice take place. Let’s examine them, but this time, let’s replace “harden” with "darken."

Pharoah rejects the appeal of God’s power, so God withdraws His light. God’s choice, based on Pharaoh’s choice, leaves the king in darkness. Human choice is respected by divine choice and action, which results in darkness. Both entities made a choice, so both can appropriately be given responsibility. Pharaoh is guilty for rejecting truth. God is just for mercifully respecting individuality.

With that background, let’s back up in time to an interesting prophecy. “And the LORD said unto Moses, When you go to return into Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in your hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.” (Exodus 4:21)

In this passage, is God predicting choices or forcing choices? It really depends on the background you bring to the text, doesn’t it?!

God makes an unambiguous statement to Moses who has yet to begin his mission. God wants Moses to be confident. However, would Moses have complained if Pharaoh repented after several plagues? Moses would have gained the freedom of his people as well as the soul of Pharaoh. I think he would have been happier than Jonah after the repentance of the Ninevites!

This chapter is a difficult one because it cannot be clearly understood on first reading. Many think that Paul is arguing for divine sovereignty over human will, but he is really teaching Omnipotence among human choices. The issue is the ancient Jews‘ indignation that Gentiles are brought into the church as full members, as Abraham’s children.

“They are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall your seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calls) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” (Romans 9:6-13)

Abraham had only one son, Isaac, but Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau. If being a descendant of Abraham was the qualification for salvation, then Esau and his descendants should be spiritual heirs and fully equal to Jacob and his descendants. However, God predicted the elder would serve the younger because he hated the elder and loved the younger. Strong language! It really sounds like God setup Esau for failure!

However, read their story in Genesis 27 to 33. Clear, defining choices were made as well as full repentance on Jacob’s part. God “hated” Esau in the sense that God could not approve of, and keep warm company with, the older brother like with the younger. On the basis of character, the birthright was given to the younger brother, instead of to the customary oldest brother.

Paul then continues his reasoning with the example of Pharaoh.

“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that wills nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy. For the scripture said unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might show my power in you and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore has he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens. You will say then unto me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who are you that reply against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me thus? Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor?” (Romans 9:14-21)

God can do what He wants when He wants. And if we stop there, then we wonder why anyone is held guilty for sins if God’s will made them do it! Who can resist infinite power?!

Paul is making an extreme point to an extremely hostile audience that God can save Gentiles if He wants to. God orchestrates the events of life to make salvation the most possible for everyone. However, if someone rebels, like Pharaoh, God will also use that to further the plan of redemption. He will use the best or the worst of humanity to honor His goodness and grace.

“What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” (Romans 9:22-24)

God has no fiendish plans for any of His children, even the rebellious ones. He endures them with pain and longsuffering. He lets them make choices while Infinite Wisdom also makes choices. He exercises wrath—He passively removes His Spirit and/or actively sends judgments—in just proportion to the transgression. However, He lavishly and unfairly bestows grace on the repentant sinner. He can do all this because He is God. He answers to no one, but yet He will one day submit His choices of justice and mercy to our judgment for our consideration.

In the meantime, Bible prophecy can sound unbreakable, which it is, but it is also limited in its respect of the power of choice which God Himself implanted in us. Prophecy is the intersection of the future of both God’s decisions and human choices. That is why it is always conditional and changeable, yet always correct.

Just as prophecy does not force any choices, so it cannot be quoted to get out of the guilt of bad choices. At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “The hand of him that betrays me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goes as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!” (Luke 22:21-22)

Jesus was giving Judas one last out before he left the supper to carry through on his betrayal. Like with Peter, Jesus was trying to break the prophecy: “Yea, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (Psalms 41:9) However, Judas would not be stopped. Because he had to fulfill the prophecy? No, because he had to fulfill his own greed for 30 pieces of silver.

In the judgment, Judas cannot plead that he had to fulfill the prophecy. He cannot plead “who has resisted His will?” He ignored the example and warnings of Jesus and made his own choice.

If prophecy of human selfishness and sinful choices MUST be fulfilled, then prophecy is to blame. However, if those prophecies MAY be fulfilled, which means they might not be fulfilled, then the human actor is to blame. The point should be clear now—prophecy does not force choice, it merely predicts it then foretells the consequences.

Way back in the deep woods stood two very tall trees with wide branches and green leaves. They provided shade and protection for the many animals that lived around their bases. Their trunks were far apart, but their branches were so long and strong that they intertwined. This made the trees look like one tree high above the ground.

Yet they were quite opposite. One tree was the Tree of Life, which was immortal. The other tree was the Tree of Death, which had internal disease and would one day need to be cut down and burned. It was permitted to stand because so many animals burrowed in its roots and flocks of birds nested in its branches. They lodged in the tree of death because they had a very difficult time telling the roots and branches apart.

The Divine Lumberjack worked tirelessly to get as many animals as possible to relocate from Death to Life, but it seemed an impossible job. They were wayward, unmanageable, and accustomed to their spots used for generations.

The Lumberjack started pruning branches on the far side of the Tree of Death to encourage the residents to move closer to the Tree of Life, but He had to be careful so that Death would not collapse onto Life. He also carefully notched the trunk of Death to gradually lean it away from Life.

That crowded the animals together and they fought over territory and resources. The Lumberjack had to spend valuable time dealing with all those issues. The all-knowing Tree Man did what was best for each one.

In the Tree of Life was a mother squirrel. She asked the Lumberjack to rescue her children before Death was cut down. Of course, He agreed and requested her help in the effort.

Day after day, year after year, the children squirrels scampered from branch to branch and made nests here and there. Always, they were being nudged and encouraged to move closer and closer to Life. Over time, some of the children took up full time residence in the Tree of Life and some in the Tree of Death. The rest wavered randomly in the middle, trying to leverage the perceived advantages of both tree.

Then came the day when the Death tree had to be axed. All the animals clinging to its branches were lost. It was a very sad and catastrophic event.

After the dust settled and the bodies were buried, the tearful mama squirrel asked the Lumberjack, “Did you know who was going to die?"

“Yes,” he replied. “I also knew who would live."

“So in the end,” queried mother, “it didn’t matter what we did. They were going to be lost anyways?"

“On the contrary,” said the Tree Man. “If you and I had not worked so hard together, many more would have been lost. I watched each one every day and placed nuts and bent branches and did many things to draw them away from Death towards Life. Precisely because I knew their past, present, and future choices, I knew exactly what to do. Everyone who died, died by their own choice of rejecting my enticements. I never failed."

Mama did not yet understand. “But if you knew, then why do anything because it was going to happen anyway?"

“My foreknowledge does not force. I use that knowledge, not to destroy the game, but to play it wiser, smarter, more lovingly than anyone can imagine. Look at every one of My moves and you will see it was not just good, but the very best. I can hold My head high for all eternity. I can look every living creature in the eye and tell them I always give 100%. Without infinite foreknowledge I would make unforeseen mistakes that would cost someone their life through ignorance. Everyone now living loves Life and nothing can change their minds. Everyone now dead loved Death, and nothing I did changed their minds. You are welcome to inspect my work in case I missed something.”

What are the different conditions on which prophecy is based?

Is prophecy stronger than faith, hope, and love?

How does God repent?

What are the steps to harden a person’s heart?

Did the prophecy of Judas‘ betrayal excuse his guilt?