Romans 9:19–24 (ESV)
You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?
How can Satan be responsible for what he does to Job if God is responsible for everything? Two people can’t be responsible for the same thing.
Sure they can. Suppose you buy a new car and something goes wrong that’s covered by the warranty. Who’s responsible?
The manufacturer. The dealer fixes it, but it’s not really the dealer’s fault. The manufacturer pays the dealer for the repair.
Yeah, but what about the worker at the factory whose mistake caused the problem? Isn’t he responsible too?
Not to me. I don’t care about that.
Bingo. His responsibility is internal to the manufacturer—but he’s still responsible. Responsibility can exist differently in different realms.
Okay, but how does that relate to Satan and God?
I think we need another man-made fictional universe. This time let’s make our own. So, we need a bad guy. Any suggestions for a name?
How ‘bout Snidely Whiplash?
Perfect! Rocky and Bullwinkle are an ideal universe for this point We’ll go with their usual plot line too, with Whiplash tying Nell to the railroad tracks.
I’m on it.
Okay, but now I need a big plot twist. We don’t get the usual ending with Dudley Do Right arriving in the nick of time and saving Nell. Instead we get a horrible one where he doesn’t arrive in time.
Dumb, but okay; what’s your point?
Who’s responsible for Nell’s death? Whiplash or me? If Whiplash goes on trial, is he guilty? Or can he blame me?
He’s guilty, of course. Again, what’s your point?
What if a viewer complains about the ending? Can I blame Whiplash for what happened? It’s his fault, right?
Okay, I guess I see. The responsibility is different in different realms.
And the difference between these two realms is a level of existence. Whiplash is responsible inside his fictional universe, while I’m responsible in reality. So it is with Satan and God. Satan is responsible for his actions in his universe, God is responsible in His.
And the Bible says this?
Pretty much. Paul brings up this issue in his letter to the church in Rome.
You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” — Romans 9:19
And Paul’s answer is like yours?
Not by a long shot, but his answer is still a “yes.” Here’s how he explains it.
But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? — Romans 9:20–21 (ESV)
Hmmm. If God’s responsibility is like your responsibility to your audience, might the universe have an audience that God created it for?
I don’t see how. Obviously, I can’t see into things like that—so anything’s possible—but there’s no hint of something like that anywhere in scripture.
Also, my conception of a self-existent creator has God being truth, not a piece of truth. So, I can’t imagine how any kind of “audience” could exist—other than God Himself.
Of course, when we get into the concept of the Trinity, God being His own audience makes sense.
I’m not ready for that.
Yeah, we need to finish Job first.
See you tomorrow.
