“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will:” (Ephesians 1:11)
This verse is part of five verses about the riches of His grace. In this verse we see topics which we have viewed before, our inheritance and predestined. We will review these in light of the counsel of His own Will.
The “...counsel of His own will...” What exactly does that mean? God works being counseled by His own will, for who can counsel God? Who has wisdom superior to His? Who has understanding more than He? “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1Corinthians 1:25) And in writing to the Romans, Paul writes, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor?” (Romans 11:33-34) God is wisdom. And God in His wisdom speaks out in proverbs, “Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.” (Proverbs 8:14) So God can be counseled by His own will because His will is full of wisdom, full of all knowledge and all understanding.
It's by this wise counsel of knowledge and understanding that God worked our predestination. Our limited minds, knowledge and understanding often misunderstand God’s work and believe that God has picked and chosen who will be His. But it’s His foreknowledge of all things that allow Him to predestine us with spiritual blessings and an inheritance. Before the world was formed, He knew us. He reveals His foreknowledge when He tells Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee...” (Jeremiah 1:5) God knows our end. He knew the day you would accept His salvation through Jesus. God continues to tell Jeremiah, “...and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” And can you just picture it? In the womb, before even being born, God sees your choice to follow Him and right then and there in the womb, He anoints us with gifts, talents and anointings for His work on earth, for our purpose and for His glory. It’s too wonderful to understand or even how that is. But God lives in eternity where the past, present and future are known to Him.
God’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding are available to us. All we need to do is ask. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5) God wants His children to have wisdom. Solomon writes how wisdom cries out to man to get wisdom. “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there: when He set a compass upon the face of the depth: When He established the clouds above: when He strengthened the fountains of the deep: When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. (Proverbs 8:1-36)
God’s wisdom is in His counsel. His counsel cries out for man to seek wisdom and to love wisdom. It brings us His favor and His blessings.
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