This article deals with a topic that is hardly talked about. Due to a lack of education, some people have given up or even lost their belief in a merciful and loving God.
The Bible also provides information about the many tasks that God has given man to do. But why did the weak man have to help Almighty God? Why is this strong God dependent on cooperation? HE could have done everything much better and easier on his own! Examples to explain what is meant here:
God the Creator said to the first people of the world: “And God blessed them and said to them: Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and rule over the fish in the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:1,28) In other words: keep, build up and fill with your children the world that I have created!
The cooperation even goes so far that God passes on the blessing that HE wants to pronounce together with man: "... They shall put my name on the Israelites, that I will bless them." (Numbers 4:6,22-27 ). These are the many tasks and collaborations in which God has involved man.
There is also a very large and delicate task that is described in the Bible that relates to this topic of cooperation. It is not easy for us humans to understand, let alone comprehend, why God in His moral law forbids killing and even punishes the perpetrator on the one hand, but then also commissions people and angels to kill and even on a large scale.
This is a mystery, since God says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD" (Psalm 55,8:XNUMX). This article attempts to unveil a little of this mystery of killing. The following examples make this question clearer.
It was the young shepherd, David, who had to kill Goliath. Strong Samson was compelled to take deadly action against the Philistines. In order to conquer the city of Jericho, it was the Israelites who stormed the city and had to kill all the residents and their children. When the extermination decree came in the time of Queen Esther to kill all Jews, it was the Jews themselves who carried out the ban on their enemies.
In all of these events, surely God Himself could have acted as He did with the Egyptians by miraculously drowning (drowning?) them all in the sea.
What needs to be clearly emphasized is that this was not a man-made vigilantism, but a direct inspiration and cooperation of God. Here are four examples:
David went against Goliath because he had mocked and mocked the God of Israel. At the same time, God influenced Goliath to cut off his helmet from his forehead and direct the stone of David to that covered forehead. (1 Samuel chapter 17)
God miraculously gave Samson great strength, symbolized by his long, thick hair. In this power he slew a large number of enemies of God's people. (Judges, chapters 14-16)
In order to conquer the city of Jericho, God removed the strong city wall to make way for the Israelite fighters. (Joshua, chapter 6)
The Jews' defense against their henchmen was only possible because God gave Queen Esther free access to the king, influencing him not to lower his scepter when she appeared uninvited before him. (Esther Ch.8)
These were OT examples of God and man working together. Similar examples can also be found in the NT:
Peter actively participated in the death of Ananias and his wife Sapphira. “But Peter said to her: … Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door and will also carry you out. And immediately she fell on the ground at his feet and gave up the ghost.” (Acts 5,1:10-XNUMX)
Before the Lord Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked His disciples if they had swords with them. (Luke 22,36:38-XNUMX) So they should be able to vigorously defend their Master.
At this point, action can be taken against one who has sinned. “If your brother sins, go and rebuke him between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. If he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that every thing may be confirmed by the mouths of two or three witnesses. If he doesn't listen to them, tell the congregation. If he does not listen to the church either, he is to you as a heathen and tax collector.” (Matthew 18,15:17-3,17) See also Ezekiel 21:XNUMX-XNUMX.
One could extend the above question: Why does Almighty God also need angels for such active cooperation? Here, too, could HE do everything himself with the power of His word? Here three examples:
Angels with fiery swords were placed at the entrance to the Garden of Eden to guard it. (Genesis 1:3,24) “When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD repented of the evil, and he said to the angel that was destroying the people, It is enough; now let go of your hand!” (2.Samuel 24,16:1) “And the LORD sent an angel; he destroyed all the soldiers and captains and centurions in the camp of the king of Assyria.” (21,12 Chronicles XNUMX:XNUMX)
The explanation for God's way of including man in his work is to be found in His character, which is reflected in the characteristics of His entire creation - it emerges and becomes clear there.
Upon close Bible study, it becomes evident that Almighty God loves company and delights in diversity. This confirms the variety of human races, animal species, voices, colors, sizes, scents, tastes, characters, both in humans, in animals, as well as in the entire colorful flora that ER created.
By character, God loves peace and justice. To achieve that, HE could have created all humans and angels as good robots. There would then be no wars (not even in heaven Rev 12,7:XNUMX) no injustice and no violence take place. But because God does not want robots that lack understanding or peacefulness, that do not know or feel anything about love, HE shared his dominion with discerning people and angels.
By participating in the elimination of evil conditions, humans and angels alike learn abhorrence, dislike and hatred of the things that refuse them. At the same time, they learn to create and preserve general peace and justice in their own interest. The noble goal of God is, so it can be understood, to let all His creatures experience His entire peaceful program and to let it grow in mind and heart.
That is why God does not want to carry out some things alone, but also wants to realize them together with people. In this way, the occurrence of evil and bitter states has a double effect. Humans and angels are not controlled robots for which God, the ruler of the universe, would have to do everything alone.
This action of God is also evidence against the accusations of Satan, who claims that God is a dictator who enslaves his subjects to harsh compliance and blind mindless obedience.