Sunday, we got into a discussion about two questions.  The first was fairly easy to answer because we had examples.  "Can God do anything?"  The answer was "No."  He cannot make you repent.  He cannot make you believe in Him.  He cannot make you accept Jesus as your redeemer, your payment for your sins.  All of those instances are up to your free will.  So we went on to the next question which was, and is, much harder to answer.  "Does God know everything?"

That question came up because we were studying 1Samuel's account (15:10) of King Saul's disobedience of God's directive not to take any of the sheep or cattle--after Saul had defeated an enemy.  Saul decided to disobey because he felt that killing all those animals would be a waste.  He excused himself by saying that the animals could be sacrificed to God.  And because Saul disobeyed, God said, "It repents me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he is turned back from following me..."

Some translations used the words, "I regret."  Others used "I am sorry."  So the question was:  How could God be sorry if he knew in advance that Saul was going to do the wrong thing?"  Did God know that Saul was going to disobey him?  We didn't get that question answered--and probably never will.  The key verse in the passage is:  "To obey is better than sacrifice."  Saul didn't get it.

I am reminded of an old hymn that says:  "Further along, we'll know all about it.  Further along, we'll understand why.  Cheer up my brother,  live in the sunshine.  We'll understand it all by and by."

I don't have all the answers.  But what I do know for sure is that God loves us.  He took the form of a man and died for our sins because of that love.  And he extends that love to each and every one of us.  It's free.  All you have to do is accept it.  (Go online and listen to Keith Green's rendition of "To obey is better than sacrifice."  It is really good.  Keith--and his children--died in a plane crash a long time ago, but his music lives on.) Obedience is at the top of the list of things that God expects of us.