16. Drawing

.... Jesus said,

.... "and I, if I be lifted up, (crucified) will draw all men to Myself."

(John 12:32)

.... God works through Jesus to draw everyone to Himself by a goodness and lovingkindness that effectively counters our reluctance -- by which we never would have taken the initiative to seek God on our own (Is 64:7; Rom 2:4; 3:11). This is such a necessary initiative that Jesus said in John 6:44, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him."

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.... In our previous section we saw that God ordains circumstances to stir up our thoughts, and that sometimes these circumstances can be formed from tragedies. But Drawing seems to be a more edifying counterpart that speaks of His personal care for us, possibly in the midst of those very same situations:

.... Thus says the LORD: "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness-- Israel, when I went to give him rest." The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you."

(Jer 31:2-3)

.... But this drawing, however loving and kind it may be, can also be resisted, with results that we will describe in the following section:

.... "Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the LORD, she has not drawn near to her God."

(Zeph 3:1-2)