YHWH's nonredemptive missions

YHWH is a God of second, and third, and fourth chances. He is "a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (chesed)" (Exod. 34:6). He is a God who wants to see all people saved (1 Tim. 2:3-4) and who does not delight to see anyone perish (Ezek. 18:23, 32; 33:11). Yet in some passages, YHWH seems to have passed the point of seeking redemption or reconciliation. YHWH does not seem interested in repentence--the fate of the people is sealed. YHWH seems to use these people, but they are still held accountable for their actions. What do we make of this?
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*2 Chron. 18:18-22 YHWH has already decided the fate of king Ahaz. He gathers his angels and plots how to kill him. YHWH puts a lying spirit in the mouths of the prophets. Even Micaiah, the prophet of YHWH lies at first (2 Chron. 18:14-15).

*Num. 22:20-22 Balaam, son of Beor, the seer. YHWH commands him to arise and go (Num. 22:20), yet when he does as YHWH commands, YHWH is angry with him and sends an angel to kill him (Num. 22:22). Again, Balaam says he will turn around if he is against YHWH's will (Num. 22:34), but he is commanded to continue (Num. 22:35). Is he following YHWH's will or not? YHWH has already designated Balaam for destruction (Num. 31:8; Josh. 13:22)-his fate is already sealed, yet YHWH commands Balaam to continue so that YHWH can reveal his glory through him. Although YHWH commands him to go, Balaam is still accountable for the sin of going out against Israel.

*YHWH hardens pharoh's heart (Exod. 7:3; 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:8) "that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am YHWH" (Exod. 10:1-2). Pharoh's fate is already sealed--YHWH is not concerned with reconciliation for "for this very purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth" (Exod. 9:16). Although YHWH hardens pharoh's heart, pharoh is still accountable for the sin of not letting Israel go.

*Josh. 11:19-20 YHWH hardens the hearts of the Canaanites that he may be glorified through their destruction. "There was not a city that made peace with the people of Israel except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. They took them all in battle. For it was YHWH's doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as YHWH commanded Moses." The fate of the Canaanites is set.

*YHWH sends an antagonistic spirit on Saul (1 Sam. 16:14-15, etc). YHWH almost seems to harass Saul (1 Sam. 16:14-15, 23; 18:10; 19:9, 24) from the point that YHWH decides Saul is unfit for the kingship (1 Sam. 13:13-14). Although Saul continues to persistantly seek YHWH (1 Sam. 13:12; 15:13-15, 24-25; 28:5-7, 15), YHWH persistantly hides his face from Saul (1 Sam. 15:23, 26; 28:5-7, 16). Saul's ultimate destruction was because he went to an unlawful extent (Lev. 20:6) to seek the will of YHWH through the medium at En-dor (1 Sam. 28:7, 11), only because YHWH refuses to reveal himself through conventional means (1 Sam. 28:5-7), although Saul seems to earnestly seek him. YHWH does not play a passive role in this--YHWH drives Saul to his own destruction, as it were.

*Isa. 6:9-13 YHWH tells Isaiah to act as a stumbling block to the people of Israel, so that they will not turn to YHWH but rather be driven to their own destruction. "Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." Aghast, Isaiah asks "how long, O Lord?" YHWH answers "until their cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is a desolate waste and YHWH removes people far away, and the forsaken places are in the midst of the land. And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again." Isn't it the job of the prophet to restore the people to their God, thus averting punishment? But the success of Isaiah's prophetic mission will be judged on how well he drives the people into blindness and destruction.

*1 Sam. 3:14 YHWH sets the fate of Eli's sons, corrupt priests, and assures Samuel "I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever." Is repentence even an option at this point?

*2 Sam. 24:1 YHWH is angry at the people, so he commands David to take a census (1 Chron. 21:1 attributes this coercion to Satan, but 2 Sam. 24:1 attributes it to YHWH--sometimes YHWH's just punishment and Satan's torments align). Although YHWH thus commanded David, David is still held accountable for the sin of taking the census (2 Sam. 24:10, 12-14) and YHWH sends a plague on the entire land, killing 70,000 men (2 Sam. 24:15). The fate of the people was set--YHWH uses David to exact his punishment on the people, but David is still held accountable for the sin.

==exegetical cross references==
*Rom. 9:11-23 Paul cites some of these cases in defense of divine election--some "pots" are designated for honorable use and some for dishonorable use. God remains sovereign.
*Sirach 5:5-7 "Do not be willing to be without fear concerning a forgiven sin, and you should not add sin upon sin. And you should not say: The compassion of the Lord is great; he will take pity on the multitude of my sins. For both mercy and wrath go forth quickly from him, and his wrath sets its gaze upon sinners"
*Psalm 18:25-27 "With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down."
*Psalm 27:9 "Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior."

Created 10 months ago