Over the last two devotional days, major questions about the goodness of God have been answered. In this season as we continue to build our convictions, one more thing that we must come to know without a doubt is that even with the free will of man, God still makes everything both good and bad work together for our good.

Free will is the liberty to choose right or wrong. God in his sovereignty gave man free will, the right to make choices independently. God didn’t want humans to be subjected to having a relationship with Him. He wanted us to choose to love and seek him. The concept of free will is first of all seen at play in the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis.

‭Genesis 2:17

New King James Version‬

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 surely die.

‭Genesis 3:6

New King James Version‬

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

God had given an instruction to Adam and Eve to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Sadly, they rebelled and man chose to act in opposition to God’s instruction. There had been no evil in the world until then. God had defined the standards for good and evil but man exercised his free will and chose disobedience. Ultimately, this choice came with consequences.

‭Romans 6:23

New King James Version‬

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This choice resulted in death; spiritual separation from God and physical death. Evil had entered into the world by the free will of man. It is pleasing to know that God was working behind the scenes to bring man back to himself in the plan of salvation.

‭Genesis 3:14-15

New King James Version

14 So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.

15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

We see that while God was still meting out their punishment, he made an announcement. In verse 15, we see what theologians call the first declaration of the salvation plan which would ultimately put an end to the evil man had allowed into the world by his free will. Scripture shows us that God was not blindsided by Adam and Eve’s choice. God set the salvation plan in motion even though man made the wrong choice. No matter how we may think man fell, God had a plan. He was intentional and working behind the scenes.

We see another pattern of God’s goodness that bypassed the choices of men in the story of Joseph. His story is a perfect depiction of how the free will of man does not contradict the sovereignty of God. Joseph, one of the youngest of his brothers, had dreams pointing to his imminent promotion and rule even over his brothers. You can imagine that his brothers weren’t very pleased about that and despised him even more because of their father’s favoritism towards Joseph. Eventually, Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery. This was a choice they made. This choice however did not hinder the plan of God. While evil was raging, God’s plan was still in motion.

‭Genesis 50:19-20

New King James Version‬

19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?

20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Joseph had eventually risen to be prime minister of Egypt and the words to his brothers when they came seeking food during famine was that they meant it for evil but God meant it for good. This is such a mindset to have. They went ahead in their understanding to sell him into slavery but God had a plan! God was working even amidst their free will to effect His will.

‭I Corinthians 2:7-8

New King James Version‬

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,

8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Once again, in the story of Jesus, we see that the free will of man did not contradict the sovereignty of God! No one was controlled to crucify Jesus but in his crucifixion came our redemption. Paul is speaking here and he says that if the rulers of this world had known they would not have crucified Jesus. Once again, what they meant for evil, God meant it for good! Even though Jesus lived in a world so full of evil, God was still working behind the scenes in his goodness.

Romans 8:28

New King James Version‬

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

This scripture says all things, not just good things but all things work together for the good of God’s people. So you see, the goodness of God is not subject to the increase or decline in evil caused by the free will of man, the goodness of God is a matter of God’s sovereignty. As long as God is God by himself, he is good! He can work behind the scenes and turn things around for your good and according to his plan for your life. If he did it with the life of Joseph and other men like Noah, and Daniel who enjoyed the goodness of God even in an evil world, he can do it with yours.

Prayer Point:

Good Father, I thank you because you are working all things together for my good. Help me trust in your plan and will for my life.