(Baha'u'llah: Gleanings, Page: 133)
I don't understand quite what Baha'u'llah is getting at regarding irrevocable degrees. These degrees are said to be fixed and settled. One would think, therefore, that God would not be able to alter or repeal such decrees, as that would seem to make them impending decrees, with God (not man this time) able to do something to change them. Perhaps "irrevocable" is used insofar as human ability to change things is concerned. Perhaps it's not meaning to take the power of God into account. In saying that God is able to alter or repeal His irrevocable degrees, is Baha'u'llah suggesting that He might do this, or is He just saying, without being all that clear, that He won't do it (though has the power?)? I wonder if the latter is correct, as if all should submit to irrevocable decrees, and changing the decree (which God would do) is harmful, surely God wouldn't do this. He would cease to be God if He did so. Furthermore, the indication is that changing the decree would not be what "God hath willed," as He would want things how to be what He decreed originally. If God were to change a decree, wouldn't that mean He wasn't following His own will, or had two wills? If it is possible for God to change an irrevocable decree I would be interested in knowing what the nature of the harm done would be. The "all, therefore, should willingly acquiesce" would seem to indicate that man can do something that might make God change an irrevocable decree, causing harm. From reading the passage over several times my impression is that Baha'u'llah is not meaning to say that God might alter irrevocable decrees. Is Baha'u'llah even saying that God is able to? If He is, I'm not sure how the decree could be irrevocable. Who ever heard of an irrevocable decree that could be changed? Now there's an oxymoron.
Regards, David
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