Shorter Catechism Q. 7. What are the decrees of God? A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.
Commentary: The decrees of God pertain to God’s plan (purpose) for the universe. God is not someone who plays it by ear. He has an eternal, comprehensive plan that he made by himself and for himself.
God’s plan is eternal. He didn’t sit down at a desk and work out a plan over the course of a few days or weeks. He didn’t have to take time to figure out what would be the best plan or what would work well in this situation or that situation. God is not like us. He is all-knowing and all-wise. He doesn’t have to figure things out or take time to plan things out. There never was a moment when God didn’t have a plan. It is eternal.
God’s eternal plan is comprehensive. It includes the smallest and most random events. It includes good and evil, highs and lows, pleasure and pain, and everything in between. Indeed, it includes the free actions of morally responsible human beings. Nothing, therefore, takes God by surprise because everything that happens is an outworking of his plan. God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.
God made his plan by himself. He didn’t hire a group of consultants for their expert advice. He didn’t seek anyone’s counsel for any aspect of his plan. He made it according to the counsel of his own will.
Furthermore, God made his plan for himself. The ultimate purpose and goal of God’s plan is God’s glory. It couldn’t be otherwise because there is no one greater than God, and there is no greater end than his glory. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen (Rom. 11:36).”