Unusual answer to a question

The other day I was asked for my thoughts on how the Lord's sovereignty and our choices fit together. Hmmm... what were my real thoughts on this question? I know the Lord always works things out for good, but that doesn't really answer the question, does it? What about a choice of a marriage partner who later commits adultery? Are these choices made outside the will of God? Is any choice made outside the will of God? Hmmm...
As I pondered this, I asked the Lord to remind me of a story in the Bible that would provide the answer to this question. What He gave me was not what I expected.
"Who sinned? This man or His parents?" Then Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him."
(a hesitant Okay... came from me) This is from the story in John 9 about Jesus healing a man born blind.
The blindness that was on this man, from birth, was given him by God for God's purposes. The blind man, throughout his entire life, up to the point in this story had no idea why God had made him born blind. The blindness did not leave him at a young age, but stayed into adulthood. The scripture tells us he was of age and could speak for himself. Nor was he unintelligent. His reply to the Pharisees is quite poignant and cutting. He must have asked the same questions anyone else going through a difficult trial asks of the Lord, "Why me? What did I do wrong? What have my parents done that I am their punishment? Why?" And the answer is that it has nothing to do with us, but is all about the Lord. Niether this man nor his parents sinned. But this was done that the works of God might be displayed (my paraphrase). He was born blind at the right time in history so that he might be of age when the Lord Jesus Christ would come to him and heal him. Jesus had a short window of time when He would be bodily present on earth and perform miracles showing the works of God (taken from John 9:4-5). This man's trial was appointed by God for His glory.
Was a woman's choice to marry a future adulterer sin? Was it out of God's perfct will? NO. God didn't just make something good out of something bad. He ordained it for His glory, that He might show His good works. That He might put salve on the open wounds left from a destroyed marriage covenant and bring healing at just the right time, that His great works might be known. That His healed child might say, "Lord, I believe" and worship Him (John 9:38). That Romans 8:28 might be proved true and our Lord shown faithful.
"And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are the called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined he also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified."
Our great Lord predestines, ordains, trials in our lives to conform us into the image of His dear Son. They are for our good and His Glory.