GOD’S WILL: DETERMINED OR DESIRED?

And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been DETERMINED, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed! – Luke 22: 22

The Will of God can be perceived as either His Decretive, Determined Will or His Prescriptive, Desired Will. The former – boule (Greek) – is His firm, inflexible, inviolable, immutable, irrevocable, and predetermined Purpose. The latter – thelema – is His flexible desire for us, which is subject to human response or change.

Paul’s apostleship was God’s determined will: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the Will of God…” (Eph.1:1). Pharaoh’s role in Israel’s deliverance was predetermined (Rom.9:17-21). Acts 2:23-24 says concerning Jesus: “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.” Christ’s suffering, crucifixion, death, and resurrection were God’s decretive Will – nothing could alter or hinder them from fulfilment.

God’s Determined Will is His sovereign counsel. It often involves careful and deliberate outworking, that leads to a firm plan and purpose. This Will of God is fulfilled irrespective of human cooperation. It cannot be broken, delayed or frustrated. Although it is in the order of Divine Decrees, we still have a choice as to what part we play in the entire scenario of God’s Determined Will. For example, the Cross was inevitable, but nothing said Judas must be the betrayer. He unfortunately gave room for Satan to enter, became the son of perdition, and ended up on the wrong side of prophecy (Lk.22:3).

The Desired or Prescriptive Will of God refers to His wishes, wants, and longings, including His moral law, rules of righteousness, and standards of behaviour. These are more or less God’s recommendations for living, which call for human cooperation and response. We as free moral agents can choose to resist or decide to disobey God’s prescriptive will, and thereby hinder them from coming to pass or face the dire consequences. When the scriptures prescribe to spouses – “wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord…Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church…” – even Christian couples may decide otherwise and end up reaping the bitter fruits of disobedience (Eph.5:22,25).

There is nothing more rewarding than living in the very centre of God’s Will, whether decretive or prescriptive. Colossians 4:12 says: “Epaphras…greets you always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and COMPLETE IN ALL THE WILL OF GOD.” It is dangerous to live a careless, lackadaisical life, devoid of moral standards, ethical values, and rules of righteousness. You can only “punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2Cor.10:6). Otherwise, one mat end up a cheap prey for the enemy. God’s Will is not meant to enslave you but to bless, defend, and protect you.