19th.: Nevertheless, God’s Will be Done
Yesterday, we saw that Ezekiel was able to 'change God's mind', or at least a specific instruction.
And God did not reprove Ezekiel for this objection.
Fast forward to the Apostle Peter.
God commanded the Apostle Peter to do certain things.
In Acts 10:9-16, the Apostle Peter saw a vessel come down from heaven.
This vessel had in it,numerous animals that violated the Jewish dietary laws.
Peter then heard, “Rise Peter, kill and eat.” (Acts 10:13).
Peter objected, “No so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common, or unclean.” (Acts 10:14).
Peter used the same objection that Ezekiel used.
The voice then answered Peter,
“What God has cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice, and the vessel was received up again into heaven.” (Acts 10:15b-16).
God is neither capricious, nor vacillates, as unsure of himself.
Rather, God put into play, his multiple prophesies concerning the Gentiles (i.e. the non-Jews).
One such prophesy is from Isaiah 11:10,
“And in that day, there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious.”
Peter objected.
But God took Peter, and his fellow Christians, down a different path.
It is analogous to when someone ‘comes of age’, the rules and responsibilities change.
Peter was not reproved, but he WAS instructed in a new way. It was for Peter to obey.
“Nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou will.” (Mark 14:36b)