What God Cannot Do Exists!
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Welcome back, awesome Bezzies!
A
rguably, one of the most popular statements that caused a wave on social media, particularly in African in 2021 was the statement “what God cannot do does not exist”. This was an excerpt from the song entitled “The Anthem” by Dunsin Oyekan. Much as this statement makes religious sense, it is not entirely true. I believe all those who use this statement do so to try to enforce the Omnipotence of God. On the contrary, they rather frustrate the word of God while they put God in a box.
Most Atheist and Agnostics have aired their views on the reasons why they believe It’s not everything that God can do. They often seek to use internal evidence in the Bible to “debunk” the idea that God can do everything. One of the Scriptures they often use is from Judges 1:19 (KJV)
And the Lord was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron.
They sharply contrast this with Jeremiah 32:27
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?
The quotation from Judges assets that the Lord “could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley.” The fact , however, is that the pronoun “he” refers to the nearest antecedent “Judah.” The phrase “the Lord was with Judah,” means that they could definitely have driven out those with the chariots of iron had they only exercised proper faith. Evidently, they didn’t. Other versions say it more clearly.
The Lord was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had chariots fitted with iron. ~ Judges 1:19 (NIV)
God Cannot Lie
The only thing that the bible have said categorically that God cannot do is to lie.
…it was impossible for God to lie [2]
God cannot do anything which is against His divine nature. The Omnipotence does not imply the power to do every conceivable thing, but the ability to do everything which is the proper object of power. For example, an omnipotent being could not cause a thing to be existent and nonexistent at the same instant. The very idea is self-contradictory and absurd. When it is said that God can do “all things,” the phrase applies to those things only which involves no inconsistency or absurdity [1].
The bible says “God is not a human being, that he should lie, or a mortal, that he should change his mind. Has he promised, and will he not do it? Has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? [3]”. God is free to do anything that can be done – there is no limit to His power. He can get people to carry out His purpose.
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled [4].
However, this does not mean that He can do things contradictory to His divine nature, or evil things. He can only do things that are consistent with Him for reasons known only to Himself. There are two sides to God’s omnipotence. First, He has the freedom to do all that is consistent with His nature. Second, He is able to carry out all that needs to be done [5].
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Wait for It
Someone once argued, that by logical reasoning, if you make a statement that someone can do all things, and you find even one thing that the person cannot do, it renders the former statement invalid, therefore If you say God can do all things, and later you find that God cannot lie, it renders the first statement null. This argument is a myopic and charlatanic one. God “cannot lie” simply because He decided not to do so. It is against His divine nature to lie.
This implies that, whatever God has said He will do, He will surely do it. Many Christians pray about the promises of God concerning their lives, and if it delays, they lose hope and stop waiting. We need to agree with Job and say “all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come [6].”
Why This Topic?
I wrote on this topic especially because people who normally make the statement “what God cannot do does not exist,” do so with the pure intention of enforcing God’s Omnipotence. However, what this statement seeks to do is annul the word of God. The Bible says God cannot lie, therefore, we can trust His promises and believe in His word; which He has lifted above his name [7]. If you say “what God cannot do does not exist,” you are also saying God can do everything including the things that are contrary to His divine nature, example, lying. If so, then God’s word could not be trusted.
Pastor Akesse Brempong, one of the finest contemporary gospel musicians in Africa, left a profound comment on this article which I so much agree with him. He said
In our bid to highlight the omnipotence of God, we have contradicted his very nature with the mantra “What God cannot do does not exist”. It can be better rendered “What God cannot do FOR YOU, does not exist”. The introduction of “FOR YOU” shifts the focus from God’s Nature to his providential character.
Conclusion
If there’s anything God cannot do, it’s to lie. God chooses not to lie because it’s against His divine nature. God will not do anything that goes contrary to His divine nature. The question is, does that affect His Omnipotence. The answer to this is obvious. NO! The Omnipotence does not imply the power to do every conceivable thing, but the ability to do everything which is within His divine nature. There are something God decides not to do because, they go contrary to who He is and what He stands for. Has God given you any promise? Wait for it and prepare. It shall surely come to pass.
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References
[1] John Haley, Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible, (New Kensington: Whitaker House, 1992), 63
[2] Hebrews 6:18
[3] Numbers 23:19
[4] Revelations 17:17
[5] Don Stewart, “Is God All Powerful?”, accessed February 7, 2012. https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_1275.cfm
[6] Job 14:14
[7] Psalm 138:2
Last Updated: February 8, 2022
Comments:
samueldaniels
God Bless you
Awura
Yes ! It shall surely come to pass. Amen
samueldaniels
It shall!!
Lion
Great exegesis sir. In our bid to highlight the omnipotence of God, we have contradicted his very nature with the mantra “What God cannot do does not exist”. It can be better rendered “What God cannot do FOR YOU, does not exist”. The introduction of “FOR YOU” shifts the focus from God’s Nature to his providential character.
samueldaniels
True talk brother
Shireen
Indeed God cannot lie, in his own time he makes all things beautiful! God bless you, sir!