Q: I just read your latest Q&A and thought it was another excellent article to read. However, there is one question that I have: If God’s Sovereignty was never an issue, then why has He allowed so much time to pass before intervening?
________________________
A: In my rather lengthy answer to the question: "Is the 'vindication of Jehovah's sovereignty' the 'big' or 'important issue facing mankind'―as explained in The Watchtower June 15, 2017, Study articles for August? And how does one 'support' God's sovereignty?", I mentioned the example of two kings who Jehovah himself had chosen and anointed, namely, Saul and Jeroboam; both of whom became presumptuous and rebelled against God within a short time after becoming kings. Now, why did Jehovah not destroy them immediately upon their rebellion? Was it because he had to vindicate his own sovereignty? Did he have to give them time in order to prove that his way is the best way, and that we need his rulership? Of course not! Jehovah's sovereignty has never been the issue, it has never been called into question. As I pointed out in my previous answer, by the fact that he himself chose and anointed those two individuals as kings over his people, Jehovah himself became indirectly responsible for their action and its consequence; just as when the CEO (chief executive officer) of a large corporation promotes a person―who at the time seems highly qualified―to an office of supervision and great responsibility; but who then becomes presumptuous and tyrannical, becoming an oppressor to his fellow employees rather than a motivator, with great damage to the corporation. Does the CEO, who promoted this person in the first place, not share some of the blame?
When Jehovah chooses and anoints someone for the
responsibility of oversight,
and the person becomes presumptuous after his anointing―such as in the case of the
"anointed covering cherub", and the two above mentioned kings―Jehovah respects that appointment enough to allow the
person to continue during the time allotted to him. If he should rebel against
his anointing, there will clearly be consequences; but which are not the fault
of God for having chosen the person at a time when he was yet humble and "little
in his own eyes". (1 Samuel 15:17-19; Ezek. 28:14-16) For example, the apostle
Paul explains that overseers within God's household are appointed by holy
spirit. (Acts 20:28) He further outlines the qualifications a man should have
before being appointed for such a position of oversight. (Titus 1:5-9) To that,
the apostle Peter adds the seriousness of an overseer's responsibility, when he
writes: "Shepherd the flock of God in your care, not under compulsion, but
willingly; neither for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly; neither as lording
it over those who are God’s inheritance, but becoming examples to the flock.
And when the chief shepherd has been made manifest, you will receive the
unfadable crown of glory." (1 Peter 5:1-4)
Now, suppose such a shepherd, after his appointment, becomes abusive, haughty,
even tyrannical, causing much suffering for the flock; and resulting in many of
God's sheep to scatter. (Compare Ezekiel 34:2-10) Will Jehovah remove such a
wicked overseer from his position immediately? He may, if he chooses to do so.
But he may also permit the wicked shepherd to continue in his wicked course,
until God's appointed time arrives for him to judge his appointed shepherds,
"when the chief shepherd has been made manifest." At that time, the "chief
shepherd" Christ Jesus will identify his "faithful and discreet" overseers;
while he will punish the evil shepherds "with the greatest severity and will
assign [them their] part with the hypocrites." (Matt. 24:45-51; Acts 20:29,30)
Do the Scriptures indicate, anywhere, that God allows time for the wicked
shepherds to exist and exercise authority over his sheep for the purpose of
vindicating his own sovereignty?
Adam
and his wife Eve had a perfect start when God blessed them; and under the
protection of the anointed covering cherub the entire earth would eventually
have come to be
filled with their righteous offspring, living in perfect peace and happiness
under God's guidance and laws, and enjoying his blessings as his sons and
daughters. That was God's will! (Psalms 34:7; Matt. 4:6; Rev. 20:3-7)
Unavoidably, their rebellion against their Creator resulted in Adam and Eve
becoming alienated from God, bringing upon themselves and their yet unborn
offspring sin and death. (Gen. 3:17-19, 23,24; Rom. 5:12) Jehovah did not allow
the terrible consequence of their rebellion, with its horrible wars and sickness
and suffering, to continue for thousands of year merely to prove his own
superiority and sovereignty. And neither could he simply overlook and forgive
their deliberate breaking of his clearly stated command. (Gen. 2:16,17)
Immediately upon Adam's rebellion, Jehovah stated the means by which he was
going to redeem mankind from their inherited sin and death, and to "break up the
works of the Devil." (Gen. 3:15; 1 John 3:8; Rev. 12:9)
The reason that Jehovah has
allowed so much time to pass after the rebellion in Eden has nothing to do with
him needing time to "vindicate his sovereignty"; in the same way that he did not
allow the wicked kings to continue in their rebellious course simply to
vindicate
his own sovereignty over mankind and his rule as being superior; or for allowing
wicked shepherds to continue to exercise authority over his sheep. Rather, he is allowing time for his
choosing and anointing to
run its course; intervening only at such
times as he sees the need in order to carry out his own will and objective.
Jehovah's purpose for mankind is certain to be fulfilled, as Jesus taught us to pray. (Matt. 6:10) God
will carry out his will by means of his kingdom under his son Christ Jesus. The apostle Paul explains that Jesus will
hand over "the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all
government and all authority and power. For he must rule as king until God has
put all enemies under his feet. As the last enemy, death is to be brought to
nothing. . . But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son
himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him,
that God may be all things to everyone." (1 Cor. 15:24-28; Rom. 8:18-22)
Jehovah has not subjected mankind to futility and suffering just to prove that he is the
rightful Sovereign. (Rom. 8:18-25) Any suffering has always been the result of disobedience! He
has, though, allowed the rebellion of the anointed covering cherub to run its
course, along with its consequences, until he brings it to a conclusion at his appointed time.
(Rev. 1:3) For us, God's
allowance of wickedness and suffering for the past six thousand years, seems
like a very long time indeed; but to Jehovah, "a thousand years are but as
yesterday when it is past, and as a watch during the night." (Psalms 90:4; 2
Peter 3:8) The time will come when all mankind's suffering under Satan's
rule will be just a distant memory. (Isaiah 65:17-25)
-----------------------
● Another question we may ask regarding God's sovereignty might be:
Why does
Jehovah say, "you people will have to know that I am the Sovereign Lord
Jehovah", if Jehovah's sovereignty is not the issue? (Ezek. 13:9; 25:5, 7, 11,
14, 17)
In the book of Ezekiel, Jehovah says over 60 times that people "will have to
know that I am Jehovah"; and the prophet Ezekiel uses the title "Sovereign Lord
Jehovah" at least 217 times. Does that mean that the issue is about
vindicating Jehovah's sovereignty, establishing the fact that he is
"the Sovereign of the universe by reason of his Creatorship, his
Godship, and his supremacy as the Almighty.
He is the Owner of all things and the Source of all authority and power, the
Supreme Ruler in government",
as the book Insight on the Scriptures says?
Or, is having to know that
he is the "Sovereign Lord Jehovah" about what his sovereignty means? (it-2
pp. 1008-1009 Sovereignty)
For example,
regarding his people Israel, Jehovah said: "And I proceeded to give them my
statutes; and my judicial decisions I made known to them, in order that the man
who keeps doing them might also keep living by them. And my sabbaths I also gave
to them, to become a sign between me and them, in order for them to know that
I am Jehovah who is sanctifying them." (Ezek. 20:11,12) The issue was not
whether Jehovah is the rightful Sovereign, having the authority to give his
people his commandments and statutes―such
as his sabbaths; but, rather, the issue was about obedience, "in
order that the man who keeps doing them might also keep living by them."
By their obedience, or rebellion, they would come to know Jehovah, and what his
sovereign name represents.
Thus he told them: "But they, the house of
Israel, rebelled against me in the wilderness. In my statutes they did not walk,
and my judicial decisions they rejected, which, should the man keep doing, he
will also keep living by them. And my sabbaths they profaned very much, so that
I promised to pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, in order to
exterminate them. But I acted for the sake of my own name that it might not
be profaned before the eyes of the nations, before whose eyes I had brought
them forth." (Ezek. 20:13,14)
The Sovereign Lord Jehovah is holy! His
name is holy! (Rev. 4:8, 11; Matt. 6:9) Satan has brought reproach upon God's
name by insinuating that Jehovah is a liar; and that he is responsible for all
the suffering that mankind has experienced since the rebellion in the Garden of
Eden. (Gen. 3:1-5; John 8:44,45; Heb. 6:18) The fact is, mankind has been
estranged from God. They do not know him, and neither what his sovereignty really means;
that obedience to him means life.
Through his dealings with his people Israel―giving them his laws and judicial
decisions, and blessing their obedience―Jehovah was
revealing himself as the true God. By listening to Jehovah and obeying his
commandments, his people could serve as his witnesses to all the nations; that
God's laws were indeed superior, the best way of living, the way of prosperity
and happiness and peace. (Isaiah 43:10-13; 48:16-19) Sadly, they failed as his
faithful witnesses. When they rebelled, and broke their covenant with him, they
too came to
know him as the God who insists on exclusive devotion, and that he does not
exempt from punishment. (Ex. 20:5-7; 34:5-7)
Jehovah is not talking about
vindicating his sovereignty in order for everyone to know and acknowledge that he is the Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and
earth, when he says, "you people will have to know that I am the Sovereign Lord
Jehovah"; but rather that we are all accountable to him, and that our everlasting life and happiness
depends on our obedience to him; whereas disobedience leads to sin and death.
(Deut. 28:1,2, 9, 15, 45; 30:19,20; James 1:12-17) Jehovah is unquestionably
"the Source of
all authority and power, the Supreme Ruler in government"; and he does not need
to vindicate that fact! (Dan. 4:34,35)
When Jehovah says, "my people will not be ashamed to time indefinite," who
is the one being vindicated?
Jehovah and his
sovereignty? or his people, for their obedience, their endurance under
suffering, and their unswerving faith in him? (Joel 2:26,27;
Isaiah 66:5; Malachi 3:18)
http://www.perimeno.ca/Index_A.htm