He Could Not Because They Would Not

Elizabeth Elliott on will of God and will of Man, Part 2

Title: He Could Not Because They Would Not

The other side of the coin of this amazing matter
of cooperation with God is that there are things
even God cannot do. He cannot because He has
chosen to assign certain powers to his people. If
they will not, his hands are tied.

"He did not many mighty works there because of
their unbelief"(Mt 13:58 AV).

"How often would I have gathered you . . . but ye
would not"(Mt 23:37 AV}.

Some would argue that although it is proper to
say that God will not and does not, it is not
proper to say that He cannot. I would reply that
given the terms of his relationship to us, the
people He loved and called, He cannot force us,
for He cannot deny Himself. To force us would be
to deprive us of the freedom He granted when He
made us, and thus to deny Himself.

Yet we pray, "Make me to do Thy will!" And so we
should, for in that prayer we express our will to
cooperate with Him.

"Our wills are ours to make them Thine."
(Tennyson)