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Does God determine every detail of His creation, making sure that everything that ever happens is precisely according to His pre-determined plan? Does God micro-manage everything in order to maintain sovereignty? Or does God approach His creation in a different way? Where God is willing, even intentional to delegate His purposes, authority and powers? The route that God takes has profound implications on how we follow God and walk in His purposes.
As we study Exodus 18:13-27, we discover the principle of delegation clearly expressed by Jethro. This principle of delegation, if properly understood from Scripture can give us a glimpse about the way God operates. We will show biblically why God delegates and how this passage reveals principles of divine delegation. It also gives us insight into why we too should practise the principle of delegation. We will expound 4 insights from this passage.
DELEGATION IS DIVINE
Exodus 18:17-19 (NIV) 17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him.
Jethro understood clearly the principle of delegation is of God and urged Moses to delegate his authority and function. Jethro affirmed that Moses must be the people’s representative to God and went on to outline how Moses had to delegate to others to fulfil his role. This is a crucial concept to get right. Moses would not be able to fulfil his role unless he delegated. It is just as critical for us to realise that it was a role that God in fact delegated to Moses as well. Hence, delegation is a divine principle.
On what biblical basis do we know delegation is divine?
God delegates
As we study Scriptures, we discover the principle of delegation is demonstrated by God’s actions.
From the beginning, God delegated to man the mandate and authority to rule over planet earth inGenesis 1:28 (NIV) ... fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Basically, God delegated to man, saying, “You are in-charge.”
An example is seen in Genesis 2:19 where God delegated the right to identify or name every animal to Adam. Genesis 2:19 (NIV) “…He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.” In other words, God entrusted to Adam and Eve the right to give names to animals and God accepted whatever names they came up with. I suggest that God enjoyed seeing what they would come up with. Like a father enjoying and even marvelling at watching his children come up with new ideas, enjoying their creativity.
Jesus delegated to the Church the Great Commission of making disciples in every nation (Matthew 28:18-20). Imagine the fate of souls has been given to the hands of the Church! For the Church is to bring the Gospel to them. At the same time, God delegates to His Church authority and power through the Holy Spirit to carry out the task. Such a crucial task and yet God delegated it to the Church.
God delegated to governments the authority to govern for its citizens and to protect its citizens. Romans 13:1 (NIV) “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” In other words, all authorities that exist have been established by God. Even though many of these authorities eventually did not govern as they should. Yet God delegated authority, despite knowing many will fail to dispense of it in a godly manner.
God delegated to parents to care for their family and nurture their children.
God delegated to church leaders to lead the church and watch over the members. Hebrews 13:17 (NIV) Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.
Generic delegation is an automatic delegation to all with authority roles.
We must also understand there are different types of delegation. All the above, I describe as generic delegation. It is a delegation to all of mankind, to all governments, to all parents, to all church leaders and so forth. It is an automatic delegation to all with authority roles.
Specific delegation is to undertake a certain task or responsibility, usually for a certain period of time.
There is another type of delegation that I describe as specific delegation. A delegation to specific person or beings is to undertake a certain task or responsibility, usually for a certain period of time.
God delegated to His angels to be specific messengers like archangel Gabriel who appeared to Mary to proclaim that she will be with child Jesus. Some angels are delegated to destroy. Some bring healing or comfort. Some protect such as the archangel Michael who is the protector over Israel. Some even to investigate like in Sodom and Gomorrah. God has delegated many key responsibilities and tasks to angels to undertake. God also delegated spiritual leadership such as to Moses, Joshua, Paul, etc. This is specific delegation.
God does delegate some of His anointing or miraculous power to certain individuals.
I believe that God does delegate some of His anointing or miraculous power to certain individuals. This anointing can sometimes reside even in their bodies for a while. Like in 2 King 13:21 (NIV) “Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.” Consider this. Who made the choice to revive the dead man? Not the burial team. Not the dead man. Not Elisha. Nobody prayed for the dead man. Nobody exercised faith. Obviously, God allowed it to happen. But did God intentionally desire to revive the dead man through such a means? To do it through such a means would be controversial and likely to arouse superstitious approach to miracles. I submit that God allowed it because some measure of divine anointing still remained in Elisha’s dead body. God chose not to intervene to remove the residue anointing because He had poured it unto Elisha’s physical body.
This can explain why some misuse these powers and anointing at times. The prophet Balaam misused his prophetic gifting. Some contemporary healing evangelists, apostles, prophets and other ministries did misuse their anointing. God eventually removed their powers or even removed them.
To God there is no difference between natural and supernatural authority/anointing that He has delegated.
Many Christians arbitrarily separate natural and supernatural authority. If a Christian leader wrongly uses their authority, they argue it is due to the leader’s sin or lack of wisdom. If a Christian leader wrongly uses a supernatural anointing, they get confused. Why would God do an evil thing? As if the supernatural act had to be a divine act alone. But it is not God’s responsibility since it is the person’s responsibility to wisely use the authority/anointing God has delegated. To God there is no difference between natural and supernatural authority/anointing that He has delegated.
The divine delegation can be time-specific, or function-specific or conditional. That is not unusual because we do this in society as well all the time. Next time, as you read the Scriptures, put on the spectacles of delegation and you will be amazed at how much evidence there is of God’s delegation.
Sovereignly delegated.
God is always sovereign, even when He delegates.
We must understand that God is always sovereign, even when He delegates. Some think that if God delegates, He loses control of the situation. That is never so for God always remains sovereign. Scripture helps us to understand that God delegates because He wants to. Yet He selects the manner and extent of the delegation.
God can also intervene as and when He chooses and in the manner He chooses.
For example, God has chosen to delegate to man authority to rule over this earth. God has also chosen to delegate to man responsibility to decide their own final destiny by their response to the mercy of God. Whatever authority God has delegated, He usually gives plenty of room to exercise the authority. Yet God can also intervene as and when He chooses and in the manner He chooses. Psalms 33:10 (NIV) The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. God can appoint rulers and remove rulers.
God is not deterministic, seeking to control and pre-determine every action and choice of man.
God is not deterministic, seeking to control and pre-determine every action and choice of man. As some Calvinists may believe. On the other hand, God is not a gambler, taking risks on man’s choices, hoping that man will do the right thing, as some with open theism theology believe.
God is not a gambler, taking risks on man’s choices, hoping that man will do the right thing.
I believe that God delegates to man authority and the ability to choose. Yet God remains intimately involved. Man can choose within certain boundaries, man can plan, take action but in the end, God is still sovereign. God can over-rule anytime in any way He desires but He does it judiciously with wisdom according to His purposes. Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Psalms 33:11 (NIV) But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
Some think that God has to be deterministic otherwise He cannot ensure that everything proceeds according to His plans. However, I believe that Scripture reveals a God whose sovereignty is so awesome, so all-encompassing that He can give room to man to make his personal choices, take actions, etc yet in the final analysis God’s will is accomplished. This sovereignty is greater than the sovereignty understood by those with a deterministic theology.
In the 2007 movie Evan Almighty, Senator Evan who was commanded by God to build an ark. He tried to run away from it, resist it but He could not escape God. I realise the movie showed it in a very funny way, but I liked the idea where it depicted God first prodding Evan, persuading him, putting him in absolutely funny situations until gradually Evan agreed to build the ark. At first reluctantly but finally with conviction. That is delegation God’s style, more or less. Yet all along God is sovereign. Evan had all his choices, but God still ends up getting His way. I like their depiction of God. Witty, fun-loving, enjoying his creation, wise and very relaxed.
Our theology of God should inform the way we behave. Such as the way we deal with our children. I desire my children to be well-behaved. If my theology of God is that He is deterministic then I should follow His example and force my children to be well-behaved – telling how to do everything the way I want them to. I could be like a sergeant in boot camp and insist they only do things exactly my way. And I would be right to do so, if God does so. After all, Scripture tells us that God desires us to be Christ-like, to be godly, to be as God is in character, etc.
But my theology tells me God does not do it that way. So I give them room to my children to make their own decisions, even making mistakes along the way. While I instruct patiently, remind them when necessary, encourage them continually, correct them when they go astray, role model consistently, broaden their understanding of the benefits, rebuke them if they persist in wrongdoing yet through it all show love. Because that is how God does it. God is not a control freak, hence neither should I.
The difference between me and God is that He is infinitely wise and does a far better job than I ever could. The difference between me and God is that He knows the final outcome, while I can only hope. The difference between me and God is that He is infinitely loving, while I try to love by God’s grace.
Now some may ask, “Why does God bother to delegate when He can do everything Himself and do it perfectly?” This brings us to additional insights which is expounded in Part 2 of this article.
Copyright©️2024 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.
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