I previously gave a list of scriptures showing that God is the author of salvation from start to finish— even our faith was provided by Him.
Yesterday one of my pastors at The Well gave a great sermon based on the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda. At one point, he mentioned the fact that the text doesn’t give any indication that any of the other dozens of afflicted people present asked for healing.
Did they not see?
How could you witness a true miracle but just keep looking at the waters, your idol, expecting healing to come from a different source, when a real healing was literally just displayed before your eyes?
But an even more striking question is, why did Jesus choose this one man, and not others?
This one man didn’t even ask. He wasn’t looking for Jesus. But Jesus presented Himself and offered a gift.
So, why didn’t Jesus offer this gift to any of the others?
I don’t want to pretend this is a light question. I don’t want to discount the many times of discouragement, and the wrestles we must have with our faith, when one person is seemingly randomly chosen to be healed while another person continues to suffer.
But it’s becoming increasingly clear to me that the only way to explain both of these things is simply the sovereignty of God!
We don’t know why God chooses one and not the others.
Why are some given faith while others struggle with doubt?
Why do the scales fall from some eyes, while others remain blinded?
Why are some led to salvation and others not?
God is running this show, guys.
We may not understand Him. Of course we don’t understand Him! We are humans, and He is God. He has given us a glimmer of understanding, in order for us to hope. But the plan isn’t for us to know all things.
For whatever reason, He is working according to His purposes.
Romans 9 is a very challenging passage of scripture; many wrestle with these ideas. But nevertheless, that is what scripture says:
“‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” (verses 15-16)
“Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?” (verse 21)
Many other passages tell us how God predestined some, chooses some, and hardens some.
We may not understand why this is, but God is sovereign.
All I Possess 