Who’s in Charge

Who’s in Charge Many Christians throw around terms like free will and sovereignty. Free will, of course is freedom of choice. But sovereignty means that God ultimately is in control of everything. So, is free will really possible? The idea that God is in control goes against our notions of fairness and individual choice. And yet, we draw strength and comfort from the belief that God is running the universe. Which is right? Is God truly sovereign--is he calling the shots--or are people free and ultimately responsible for making their own decisions, even those that have eternal consequences? This question has perplexed people for thousands of years. It raises itself here, in the account of Pharaoh in Ezekiel 32. It came up in the story of another Pharaoh, too (Exod 3-15). Before he allowed Pharaoh to rise to power, did God know that Pharaoh would sin? Did God simply allow Pharaoh to follow his own course of action? These questions might lead some to think If God is truly and completely sovereign, then I have no real freedom, and I'm just a puppet. But if I'm truly free to do whatever I want, then God isn't really in control of the universe. What's really true? The greatest minds of history have wrestled with this issue, and quite frankly, it remains as impenetrable today as ever. So if you were hoping this article would resolve it, you're going to be disappointed. But we can leave you with one answer: It is a mystery. Sovereignty, responsibility, free will . . . and mystery. The Bible teaches them all. The modern American mind balks at accepting two truths that seem to be contradictory. But when you think about it, it makes sense that God is bigger than our minds--big enough to encompass what seems to us to be paradoxical. If someone asks you whether you believe in God's sovereignty or human freedom, the best answer is yes.