Another clear example in Scripture of God planning human disobedience is the case of Judas Iscariot.
We can all agree that it was God’s intention for His Son to die on the cross to save humanity. For that purpose to be accomplished, Judas’ betrayal was necessary.
So, was Judas using his so-called “free will” when he betrayed Jesus, or was he carrying out a role purposed by God to fulfill Scripture?
During the Last Supper, Jesus quoted Psalm 41:9, saying:
“He who is eating bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.” (John 13:18)
He added, “I am aware whom I choose, but this is happening so that the Scripture may be fulfilled.”
Judas disobeyed God and betrayed God’s Son, yet the betrayal was foretold in Scripture centuries before Judas was even born. Jesus explicitly said Scripture “must be fulfilled,” and Scripture said Judas would do exactly what he did. Therefore, this act of disobedience was planned by God before Judas’ birth to lead Christ to the cross.
God planned it. Jesus knew it. Judas could do nothing else.
In fact, Jesus told Judas directly, “What you are doing, do more quickly.” (John 13:27) Judas had to betray Jesus because it was written, and God had purposed it. To add to this, Satan entered Judas to carry out this act. If Satan is actively influencing a man, how can that man truly be free?
Once again, we see that God planned disobedience to fulfill His purpose. God decides His purposes beforehand and orchestrates the circumstances of a person’s life to bring about the decisions they make at the appointed time.
Thus, human disobedience does not prove “free will.” Instead, it fulfills the sovereign purpose of God.
The Law
God gave Israel the Law, written on stone tablets, and commanded them to obey it. Yet, as history shows, Israel failed miserably in keeping the Law, which included far more than just the Ten Commandments—it governed every aspect of their lives.
Did God truly intend for Israel to keep the Law perfectly? No.
The apostle Paul makes it clear that it is impossible for humans to fulfill the Law in a way that would justify them before God:
“Therefore, by the works of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)
“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did…” (Romans 8:3)
Though the Law is holy and righteous, God never intended for Israel to achieve righteousness through it. Instead, the Law was given so that Israel would recognize their sinfulness and their need for a Savior.
The Law remains God’s standard, but its purpose is to reveal sin and point us to the righteousness of God found in Jesus Christ alone. The Law was never given as a ladder for man to climb to prove his own righteousness.
As Paul explains:
“Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24)
God commanded Israel to obey a Law He knew they could not keep so that they would see their need for the One who could—Jesus Christ.
If Israel or humanity could have achieved the righteousness demanded by the Law, there would have been no need for Jesus. God planned for human disobedience to reveal humanity’s need for the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.
This plan was established long before Israel even existed, for Revelation 13:8 declares that Jesus was “slain from the foundation of the world.” Human disobedience has allowed God to showcase His righteousness and love through Christ to the world.
Thus, human disobedience is not proof of “free will.” It is evidence of God’s sovereign plan.
Romans 9 further confirms this truth: while man may disobey God’s stated commands, no one can oppose God’s ultimate purpose. Not a single human can act outside of what God has planned for them to do.
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