The Wrath of Enemies

"When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Proverbs 16: 7)

"Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain." (Psalm 76: 10)

"...I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her." (Gen. 20:6)

Such is the almightiness and sovereignty of God that he is Lord and Sovereign over the minds, hearts and wills of men. He is able to restrain men, able to turn their hearts in another direction, able to restrain men in their sinning, in their evil enterprises. Oh what great comfort is this!

Man has a will, and some liberty connected with it, for sure; but to think that man's "freedom of choice" means God cannot affect or interfere with human choice and decision, is a misnomer. Certainly the above scriptures show that God can restrain sin and evil when it is his will to do so. If God were not able to control the will and choices of men, we would be anything but safe! And he would be anything but "God"!

If God did not frustrate men in their choices, and in the carrying out of them, then why would we pray to God to "change hearts" and "minds"? It is a false view of "free will" to assert that God cannot "force the will" or otherwise "make" a man do anything.

God is God of the hearts and minds of men whether they realize it or not. God made the heart and mind and is Lord of the conscience, Governor of the soul, with its emotions and choices, and that is why we pray to him to both change OUR hearts and minds, to restrain us in evil doings, as well as the hearts, minds, choices and evil doings of others.

We ask the Lord to keep us from sinning, from making bad choices, from willing that which is evil. We also ask the Lord to create new hearts, with new thoughts and feelings, in others, knowing that he is able to do so.

Is your wrath and anger evil and out of control? Perhaps you are suffering from the wrath of an enemy? Then pray to God knowing that he is able to restrain the wrath of your enemies, able to change their minds, forcing them to be "at peace" with you, as well as able to change your own heart, will and affections.

This is an antidote for all our fears. God will be our shield and protection from all who seek to harm us. Not that we should be uncareful, but that we might not fear what men can or may do to us.

Friend, do you understand this? Do you know the God of the Bible? Do you trust in him? Do you pray to him in faith, through Christ Jesus? He is truly an object of trust! There is no situation that is beyond his power to change. There is no evil too strong for him to overcome. He is the Almighty, the Lord God Omnipotent.

"Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God and none else." (Isaiah 45: 22)