Free Will or Freedom of Choice

In this study we will investigate free will and freedom of choice. Free moral agency falls within these boundaries. I have thought about this for many years and have tried at various times to tell people but they either can't get it or won't allow themselves to accept it. I find that most people really want to be in control of their destiny and don't easily accept that they are not. I feel the opposite. I find it comforting to know that circumstances are controlled by someone far wiser and more powerful than myself and that I am a part of an overall plan that Yahweh has designed.

We do not have free will as the majority of mankind see it. The vast majority think that when we choose to do right or wrong that we have exercised our free will in these choices. Proverbs 16:9 A man’s mind plans his way, but Yahweh directs his steps.

They do not understand their true position in a great plan that is being worked out by a very supreme mind. Isaiah 44:7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it, let him declare and set it forth before me. Who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to be. If it is as most believe, then Yahweh has made a few mistakes and had to make corrections to compensate. This would make Him imperfect and bring Him close to our level of imperfection. This most assuredly is not how it is in reality. Mankind would love to remake Elohim in their own image. Most have already done this in their own minds.     

Some things that have happened would seem, on the surface, to indicate that Yahweh made a few mistakes and had to rectify them and go to a different plan. The first one being in the garden of Eden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground Yahweh Elohim made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Under investigation this scenario is not as it first appears to be. Everything happened exactly according to the preordained plan of Elohim. Yahweh planted this tree in the midst of the garden in plain sight. This was a beautiful tree pleasing to the eyes and delicious to eat and would give wisdom. (Mankind love to be wise.) Then Yahweh drew it to Adam and Eve's attention. Genesis 2: 16 And Yahweh Elohim commanded the man, saying, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden;

17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die."

He knew before hand that they would choose to eat of this tree. Consider for a moment that everything that we know is contrasted with something else. Health contrasted with sickness, wealth contrasted with poverty, etc. Good contrasted with evil is no different. One would not know they were doing good unless it is contrasted with doing evil. That is why Yahweh put the fruit of the knowledge of good and the fruit of the knowledge of evil on the same tree. They were in contrast to each other. Yahweh knew they would choose to eat of this tree. They acted exactly according to His overall plan.  He was not surprised or taken aback. He did not have to adjust His plan to compensate for an oversight. Romans 8:20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope;

      Were they exercising their own free will? No. They were exercising satan's will. They made a choice but it was Satan's will that they carried out. Did satan defeat Yahweh's original purpose for Adam and Eve by this? Did Yahweh now have to come up with a different plan? This goes much deeper. If in fact Adam and Eve acted according to a preordained plan of Elohim, did satan even have free will to tempt them as he did? No, he was also acting according to the schedule of the preordained plan of Elohim. So it was Yahweh's will that was adhered to in the garden of Eden, Yahweh's plan carried out by Adam, Eve, and satan according to Yahweh's will. There is irrefutable evidence that this is true. Yahshua was preordained before the earth and mankind were even created to come to earth as a man and bear the penalty for mankind's sins. 1 Peter 1:20 He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake. If the sin of Adam was not in the plan then Yahweh was taken by surprise and had to adjust His plan to accommodate this error. This is not the case because the plan of salvation through Yahshua was put in place before Adam sinned and not after.  Satan or mankind did not, can not, and will not ever alter Yahweh's plan or schedule.  Everything is according to Yahweh's will.  

       Now we come to another contrast. Life and death. Until Adam's sin, death was not in the picture. Adam and Eve could not understand what life is until it was contrasted with what death is. Their first experience with death would be the animal or animals that Yahweh got the skins from to clothe them. Because of their sin, a death had to occur. An example set for later fulfillment in Yahshua. These animals would have to be put to death in order for the skins to be removed. Once they experienced this contrast they had to be removed from the garden, lest understanding the true meaning of life now that it was contrasted with death, they would attempt to take of the tree of life. This was all according to Yahweh's will and His overall plan for mankind's future. They had to experience all of these things in order for the continuing plan of Elohim to move forward.

       Lets go forward to the time of Abraham. Before he had any descendants, Yahweh told him that his descendants would be slaves in a country that wasn't theirs and that they would be oppressed for four hundred years. Genesis 15:13 Then Yahweh said to Abram, "Know of a surety that your descendants will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and will be slaves there, and they will be oppressed for four hundred years;

Exodus 12:40 The time that the people of Israel dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.

41 And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, on that very day, all the hosts of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt.

He even told Abraham how they would be delivered from that country and he brought it about right on schedule. Genesis 15: 14 but I will bring judgment on the nation which they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. Exodus 11:2 Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, jewelry of silver and of gold." 3 And Yahweh gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people. Exodus 6:5 Moreover I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold in bondage and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am Yahweh, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment,

According to James, Abraham was a friend of Yahweh. James 2:23 and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed Elohim, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of Elohim. Abrahams descendants had done nothing either right or wrong because they did not yet exist, yet Yahweh had their next four hundred and some odd years planned. Could anyone's free will have stopped this from happening? Did any of Abrahams descendants have the free will to alter this scenario in any way?  Even Jacob did not have the free will to decide whether to go to Egypt or not. His being there with his family was part of Yahweh's plan and the beginning of the four hundred year captivity that was in this plan.

Jacob did not even have the freedom of choice. His choice had been decided by Yahweh before he was born. Isaiah 14:27 For Yahweh of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?

His son Joseph knew this, and that his being sold into Egypt was Yahweh's will and not that of his brothers. Genesis 45:4 So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, I pray you." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.

5 And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for Elohim sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And Elohim sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but Elohim; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me; but Elohim meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Lets move ahead to the captivity of Judah in Babylon. Jeremiah foretold of this captivity.

Jeremiah 25:11 This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, says Yahweh, making the land an everlasting waste.

This was fulfilled during the reign of king Zedekiah of Judah. 2 Chronicles 36: 20 He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfil the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfil seventy years.

Notice that the Kingdom of Persia was mentioned as the nation that would free them. Cyrus was to be the one to release them from the grip of the Babylonians.

Let’s investigate Cyrus of Persia. One hundred and sixty some years before he was born, Yahweh had his life already planned in conjunction with his chosen people, Israel. Yahweh foretold that he would invade and defeat Babylon, and set His people free from captivity, and even aid them in building a city for Him, Jerusalem. Isaiah 44: 24 Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: "I am Yahweh, who made all things, who stretched out the heavens alone, who spread out the earth—Who was with me?—25 who frustrates the omens of liars, and makes fools of diviners; who turns wise men back, and makes their knowledge foolish;

26 who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins’; 27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry, I will dry up your rivers’; 28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfil all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’"

Isaiah 45:1 Thus says Yahweh to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and ungird the loins of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: 2 "I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron, 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel, who call you by your name.

4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me.

This all happened on schedule. Yahweh even foretold how Cyrus would gain entrance to Babylon. I'm sure Cyrus thought, at the time, that it was his great plan, however it was Yahweh's plan which Cyrus carried out. Did Cyrus have the free will to change this? Did he even have freedom of choice. He had neither. Both had been made by Yahweh a century and a half in advance.

Isaiah 46: 9 remember the former things of old; for I am Elohim, and there is no other; I am Elohim, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

Even satan's will could not alter this scenario. He tried. King Astyages, During his reign, learned that his daughter Mandane, was pregnant and because of a dream that foretold the child’s greatness, Astyages decided to have the infant put to death. That infant was Cyrus.  King Astyages gave the job of execution to Harpagus, a trusted Mede from his own house. Harpagus could not bring himself to kill the baby and handed the job over to Mitradates, a shepherd. He in turn when showed the baby to his wife did not execute him, and raised him as his own son. None of the people involved in this had the free will to change what happened. Even satan, bent on Cyrus' destruction before he could carry out Yahweh's plan, could not prevent Yahweh's will in the matter. Yahweh even foretold this scenario in Isaiah 45: 9 "Woe to him who strives with his Maker, an earthen vessel with the potter! Does the clay say to him who fashions it, ‘What are you making’? or ‘Your work has no handles’?

10 Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’ or to a woman, ‘With what are you in travail?’" 11 Thus says Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "Will you question me about my children, or command me concerning the work of my hands? 12 I made the earth, and created man upon it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.

13 I have aroused him in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward," says Yahweh of hosts.

Since Yahweh foretold of Cyrus one hundred and sixty years in advance and what he would do, could anything have prevented the captivity of Judah, and the destruction of Jerusalem? Nothing. It was all within Yahweh's master plan for mankind. Israel, Judah, Babylon, the Mede, the shepherd, Cyrus, and yes even satan, were working according to Yahweh's will, not their own. I'm sure Cyrus was shocked and humbled when he read the scroll of Isaiah. Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he will. Perhaps satan should read it as well!! Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of Yahweh that will be established.

Isaiah 43:13 "I am Elohim, and also henceforth I am He; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work and who can hinder it?"

This brings us to the topic of satan. Does he have a purpose in Yahweh's plan? He has a purpose that I'm sure he is too proud to admit or to recognize.  Pharaoh was raised up for the express purpose of showing Yahweh's power and mercy. Romans 9:17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth." Exodus 9: 15 For by now I could have put forth my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth;

16 but for this purpose have I let you live, to show you my power, so that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. Pharaoh did nothing of his own free will. Yahweh even hardened and softened his heart to fulfil His purpose. Exodus 7:3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Exodus 9:12 But Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken to Moses. Pharaoh also had no freedom of choice. These were made for him at the time of Abraham and probably before the world was even made. He did Yahweh's will. I believe scripture shows that satan is no different. He accomplishes Yahweh's will, preordained before the earth was made, without even knowing it. Lets notice one example that is very prominent.

Job's trials.

      I knew a man who left an assembly years ago because of this story and no minister could give him a satisfactory explanation. His problem was, satan baited Yahweh and Yahweh took the bait and Job suffered because of it. To him this made Elohim unfair and prideful I didn't know then that this was absolutely not what happened. I am amazed to this day that our minister did not know it either.

Satan reported to Yahweh and of course lied about what he was doing. Yahweh said, have you noticed my servant Job, what a righteous man he is. Job 1: 8 And Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" If Yahweh had not brought Job to satan's attention, satan would likely have ignored Job. However Yahweh wished to teach Job a very important lesson in humility and was about to use satan to do it. Satan thought that he was having his way with Job, however he was fulfilling Yahweh's will and not his own. He could not even go beyond certain boundaries laid down by Yahweh. Job 1: 12 And Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself do not put forth your hand." So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh. Job 2: 6 And Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your power; only spare his life.” Satan works for Yahweh and does not even know it. I believe he was raised up, as the Pharaoh was, to show Yahweh's great power and mercy. There is no contest. Revelation 20:3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years were ended. After that he must be loosed for a little while. Yahweh is in control of even satan. Yahweh’s will, will be done.

Let's not forget Jonah. Yahweh's will was for him to deliver a message to Nineveh. Jonah did not wish to go so he fled. Jonah 1: 1 Now the word of Yahweh came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness has come up before me." 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of Yahweh.

Did Jonah exhibit free will or was he actually submitting to satan's will instead? Jonah hated Nineveh and wished vengeance and destruction to come to them. This is certainly satan's mindset. Yahweh of course intervened and His will was done by Jonah in the matter and Nineveh was spared. This, I believe, was written down to show us that regardless of rebellion, refusal, and exerting what we think is our own free will, it is Yahweh's will that is done. Ecclesiastes 7:13 Consider the work of Elohim; who can make straight what he has made crooked?

The carnal mind is enmity against Yahweh and will not and can not submit to His law. Romans 8:7 Does this mean that the carnally minded are exercising their own free will by not submitting to Yahweh's law?  Not at all. In human free will, there are of necessity, three options. For, neutral, or against. However, in spiritual matters of salvation there are only two options, for and against. There is no neutral. There are also only two wills in play. Neither of them our own free will. There is the will for, which is Yahweh's will. There is the will against, which is satan's will. Mankind has these two options, submit to Yahweh's will, or submit to satan's will. This is absolutely true because it is not really our own free will, it is satan's will that we submit to rather than Yahweh's. The world in general have been submitting to satan's will for millennia. 2 Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Messiah, who is the likeness of Elohim. Ephesians 2: 1 And you he made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

According to scripture, this is also a part of Yahweh's plan and His will. John 12:40 "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and turn for me to heal them."

Isaiah 29:10 For Yahweh has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, the prophets, and covered your heads, the seers.

Ephesians 1:11 In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will,

John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.     

I believe there has only been one man in all of history that had free will, Yahshua. He had proven, by His perfect acceptance of Yahweh's will throughout His life, that He was trustworthy to have such an honor. It was His Father's Spirit within Him that gave Yahshua the desire to submit perfectly to Yahweh's will. His free will was made evident on the night that He was arrested. As a human, He was terribly afraid of what lay ahead for Him in the next few hours. Mark 14: 32-33, Matthew 26:37-38 He was distressed to the point of sweating great drops as of blood. Luke 22:44 He made His will known to His Father. If there was any way, could He be spared what lay ahead. Luke 22:42 However, as He always has, He humbly submitted to Yahweh's will.

John 4:34 Yahshua said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work.

John 5:30 "I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Did He have to go through the terrible events that lay ahead? No, He did not. Shortly after this He told his followers to put away their swords because He could ask His Father and he would send twelve legions of angels to his defense. Matthew 26:53 What if He had exercised His free will and called for these angels? Yahweh would surely have sent them and they would have totally annihilated mankind from this earth. Because of the love He had for us He did not exercise His free will. He submitted to Yahweh's will, for us.

Even we who are converted and have Yahweh's Holy Spirit do not have free will. His Spirit within us will empower us however to submit humbly and lovingly to His will. With His Spirit he has given us freedom of choice. We can no longer have any excuse for sinning. John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. The choices are life eternal or death eternal. His will is eternal life for us.

2 Peter 3:9 Yahweh is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Matthew 7:21 "Not every one who says to me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

1 John 2:17 And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of Elohim abides for ever.

May we always humbly submit to His will.

HalleluYah. May Yahweh bless your studies. Elder Dave Ganton