Deut. 32.39 See now that I myself am
he, there is no God besides me, I put to death and I bring to
life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver
out of my hand. God always acts according to
His sovereign will in the administration of both His providence and His
grace. The rich and the poor owe to
Him their respective lots, as do also all who are appointed
to health or sickness, life or death. There is not any trial
with which man is visited, but it proceeds from God. But where
do we find one who, in a state of trouble, has not been ready
to murmur and repine? And what is that but striving
with our Maker? Just so does God construe it,
and so it will be found in the last day. As to the sovereign
exercise of His grace, that is still more offensive to our proud
hearts. Though we claim for ourselves
a right to dispose of our own property as we please, we refuse
that right to God, as if, in benefiting others, He did to
us an injury. The very case is stated by Paul,
who, having instanced in the case of Pharaoh, and in the destinies
of Jacob and of Esau, the uncontrolled sovereignty of God, states the
feelings of an ungodly man. You will say unto me, Why then
does he find fault? for who has resisted his will? To which God indignantly replies,
Nay, but who are you, O man? Who replies against God? Shall
the thing formed say unto him who formed it, Why have you made
me thus? Has not the potter power over
the clay To make one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonour? Here, then, we indisputably see,
in what light God views all such instances of murmuring and complaint.
For, in all circumstances whatever, our only wish should be, Not
my will, but may your will be done. Isaiah 45 7 I am the LORD,
and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness. I bring prosperity and create
disaster. I, the LORD, do all these things.