When God has no choice

Sometimes God has no choice. Really? You mean the Creator of all things, the Mind behind all the universes, the Alpha and Omega sometimes has no choice?

For one thing, God has no choice about telling the truth. The writer of Hebrews says God swore an oath to Abraham, so it was "impossible for God to lie." (Hebrews 6:13-20). He didn't say God would avoid lying, he said God can't do it. He has no choice.

And another thing... God can't break a promise. He has no choice. His word brims over with promises, but most "believers" keep waiting for God to act. If God has promised, he has already acted.

God acted when he promised physical healing. He told Israel, "I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you." (Exodus 15:26 NIV).

And later he said, "I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span." (Exodus 23:25-26 NIV).

The promise of healing continued in the prophets: "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows (or diseases)... the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5 NIV).

Inspiring promises. Yet, why were so many in Israel sick anyway? The circumstances of life didn't seem to agree with God's heady promises. And they still don't. Why?

Because God has already made his choice. He has healed us. But we haven't made the choice to believe it.

It's clear in Jesus' ministry that he arrived to heal Israel, not just spiritually but physically. When Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law, and then healed "all the sick", Matthew's account says the event "was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.'" (8:17 NIV).

But many in Israel didn't receive the promised healing. That's why Jesus often said, "your faith has saved you" or "your faith has healed you" or even, "according to your faith will it be done to you."

Jesus knew that the Father had no choice. He had to honor faith in his own promises.

And he still does today. He has no choice.