Does God determine how and where we die?

Bible Question:

If God determines even the hour of our death, does He also determine how and where we die?

Bible Answer:

The Bible teaches us that when someone dies, God is always in control of their death. and that God has appointed a time for us to die. But does God determine how and where we die? You will discover that sometimes God does determine how and where people die. What follows are two biblical examples.

Does God Determine How and Where We Die?

There are a number of times in the Bible when we are told that God determined how and where a person would die. However, we will discuss two examples. The first one is the prophet Moses. Numbers 20:1-12 records a disastrous event in the life of Moses. It tells us that he called the Israelites rebels and disobeyed God by hitting a rock rather than speaking to the rock. Consequently, verse 12 says that God told him that he could not enter the promised land. Later God told Moses that he would die on Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 32:48-52). Deuteronomy 34:1-7 reports that Moses did die on Mount Nebo. It also indicates that God caused him to die.

A second example is from the New Testament. In John 21:18-19, Jesus told the apostle Peter that he will die with his hands stretched out and he would be girded. It is usually believed that Jesus told Peter he would be crucified. History tells us that Peter was crucified on a cross that was turned upside down. It was turned upside down since Peter did not want to be crucified as Jesus was crucified. That is how he would die. However, Jesus did not tell him where he would die.

So, God told Moses where he would die. Peter was told how he would die.

Does God Determine When We Die?

The article, “Has God appointed a time for us to die?” indicates that God has determined the number of our days. God has appointed a time for us to die. Job 14:1-6 states,

Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass.
Turn Your gaze from him that he may rest,
Until he fulfills his day like a hired man. Job 14:1-6 (NASB)

God has determined the length of our days. Sometimes the length of days can be extended, according to Isaiah 38:5.

Conclusion

In summary, God has determined the length of our days. But there is not enough evidence to conclude that God also determines how and where every person dies. However, we have discovered that sometimes God has determined specifically how or where we will die.

Yet, Ecclesiastes 12:1-18 reveals that our end of life will eventually come. The passage describes in general, how we will die . It says that our eyesight, teeth, hearing, heart, and mind will weak and fail. That is the general way in which we gradually age and die.

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