Wrong motives - 26 March 2009 |
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2 Samuel 24 says that ‘the LORD … incited David’ (v. 1) to take a census of the Israelites, an action that David later recognised (rightly) as sinful (v. 10). This text raises in a very pointed form one of the hardest questions in Christian theology (a question most commonly asked by inquisitive, thoughtful young Christians): How can God be sovereign over evil – indeed, cause people to commit evil acts – without himself being morally responsible for the evil committed?
Among the many things that might be said here, one important factor to bear in mind is that the LORD has different motives in causing people to commit such actions than the people themselves have in performing them. The (sinful) people intend evil, and their actions are therefore sinful; the LORD intends only good, and his actions are therefore holy. As Joseph said of his brothers’ wickedness: ‘you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good’ (Genesis 50:20).
Isaiah 9-10 helpfully draws attention to the importance of motives in determining the sinfulness or otherwise of an action.
Here the LORD promises to raise up Assyria as an agent of judgment against the wicked Northern Kingdom of Israel (10:5-6). The LORD acts righteously in doing this – consider the multitude of Israel’s sins in 9:8-10:4.
Yet at the same time the LORD threatens judgment against Assyria also (10:16-19) for the sinfulness of her (divinely appointed!) military campaign against Israel. For while the LORD’s motives are just and holy, Assyria is acting with very different motives:
He does not so intend … he says, “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom” (10:7, 13; cf. 15).
Thus the LORD’s (righteous) motives leave him morally blameless in decreeing Assyria’s conquest of Israel, which (because of Assyria’s unrighteous motives) leaves them morally culpable.
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Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Minister's Blog, Theology