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 "I
will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse
or as the mule which have no understanding; whose trappings
include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they
will not come near to you." (Ps. 32: 8, 9 NASV).
The
difference between a mule and a man without understanding is
that the mule has an excuse. Mules have no capacity for
understanding. Things such as the instruction, teaching, and
counseling mentioned in these verses would be wasted on the
mule. They can be wasted on men. God teaches men the way
in which they should go (v. 8). However, some men do not
understand His teachings because they do not choose to do so.
Hence, the admonition, "do not be as the horse or as the
mule..." Men can be different from the mule; they
can have an understanding in the will and way of God. In fact,
God appeals to man's understanding in these very verses in
telling him not to be without it.
Important
principles are involved here. Calvinism says that unregenerate
man is like the mule; that he cannot understand. However, they
forfeit their case by pointing unregenerate man to Bible
passages that supposedly prove his inability to understand and
expect him to understand the passages that say he can't. In
addition, appeals and arguments based on Scripture are made to
the unregenerate who allegedly have no capacity for under
standing them. Calvinists have even been known to debate their
positions with the "unregenerates". To them, that
should be something like arguing with a
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mule. In the face of such glaring inconsistencies,
it appears that the mule is not alone in his lack of
understanding.
Why
would God say, "don't be like the mule" if man could
not do otherwise? If it be objected that God is speaking to the
regenerate here, then that would make them susceptible to
NOT understanding, which is the very thing being regenerated
supposedly makes possible. But the truth is, God addresses
Himself to the UNREGENERATE; to the sinner. He instructs and
teaches them in WORDS whereby they might be saved (Acts 11:14).
Unregenerate men come to the Savior and salvation as the result
of hearing and learning what God teaches (Jn. 6:45), NOT by the
Holy Spirit's "bit and bridle" being placed upon his
heart in some unsought and irresistible way. As indicated in our
text, the mule comes near his master in response to the bit and
bridle. Those made in the image of God come to their Master in
response to His invitation; they come in a spirit of willing
submission motivated by genuine love. You might say that the
mule HAS to submit to his master's REIN; but that understanding
man WANTS to submit to his Master's REIGN.
The
tragedy is not that sinful man cannot understand, but that many
will not (Matt. 13:14,15). It comes to all who sincerely want it
and diligently seek it (Jn. 7:17; Matt. 5:6). It comes to those
who are willing to put aside pride, prejudice and indifference.
God shows the way which we should go. Don't be like the mule.
Dan Shipley
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