it's in the fulfillment of prophecy that He is proven, not in the giving of it - because many false prophets go out; they are proven false when what they say doesn't come to pass.
prophecy proves God's sovereignty, as He Himself explains:
Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning,
and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying,
‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’
calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country.
Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass.
I have purposed it; I will also do it.
(Isaiah 46:9-11)
He calls a man, a bird of prey, who executes His counsel. He says, He speaks it & He brings it to pass -- He purposes it and He does it; this proves He is God and no other is; He does all His will.
what do these facts say about the supposed 'sovereign free agency' of the man He calls to fulfill His purpose?
isn't that humanity's major beef with these things? the complaint that God is 'playing puppet with people' and 'that's not fair, God should respect people's free will' ? what does this mean here in Isaiah?? is that God saying He does this and that it's proof He, and He alone is God?
if it's not, what is He saying?
can human will change what is prophesied? or *must* it come to pass as He declares it?
is He not saying He is the very one who brings it to pass? IMO the very existence of prophecy throws human notions of free agency for quite the loop; it's not so free as it's made out to be: ask the bird of prey from the far country about compulsion & destiny. or maybe from his point of view, he does it of his own accord without any divine 'interference' as it may be described??
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