When God Doesn't Act Like God -- Part 3

Job said of God, "Whatever His soul desires, that He does". Other translations add further insight: "He does anything He wants to do."(NIRV); "He does whatever He wants."(GW); "He does what He wants when He wants."(TM); or "He does whatever He pleases."(NIV).

Now that may sound like a reckless, boastful, willful statement, because if we were to say that about ourselves it would be. We could never say such a thing because we belong to God. But God is "unique" and doesn't move according to whim or emotion, but according to His own infinite knowledge(His higher perspective and wisdom). This simply means: God knows all(He is the source and sum of all knowledge); He knows more (about me and my situation than I do); and He knows best. Jeremiah the prophet learned a lesson from God as he watched the hands of a potter fashion something out of clay which was then marred by those very same hands. As a result the potter then made it into another vessel as it seemed good to the potter(Jeremiah 18). So God knows all, knows more, and knows best...even when we think we know better! And since God does what He pleases, He is free to move in and out of character to suit His purposes.

In the final scene of the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, two people step into Wonka's office, Charlie Bucket and his Grandpa Joe...two followers, path takers, or Christians, if you will. It becomes clear that Grandpa Joe is offended by Wonka's actions and the fact that He is acting so out of character. Grandpa Joe is dangerously close to veering off the path and walking away from the Grand Prize. But Charlie pauses, and proceeds to lay down on Wonka's desk the "temptation" to doubt and betray Wonka and walk away, choosing to trust Wonka even though he's obviously not getting the Grand Prize after all. But it was just a test! The test was would Charlie trust and "keep to the way" even when Wonka was not acting like Wonka. (Job understood this all too well. He knew he was being tested.) As soon as Wonka watches Charlie walk away, he exclaims "I had to test you!". Charlie had to pass the test of facing and encountering a Wonka who was acting out of character to claim the Grand Prize, which turned out to be much more than just chocolate.  Charlie was to inherit Wonka's "kingdom". So the ultimate test for us might just be when we face God's "way", when He's acting out of character. 

So why would God ever step out of character to begin with? Perhaps it's totally for our benefit...to accomplish in us, to do for us and to work out of us what can't be accomplished any other way. One of the reasons God might do that is so we will seek Him. You well know that consistency and regularity can become routine. So if God is always right here, right near, right now, right close, always the same, it can promote a familiarity which then breeds a lack of appreciation and subtle contempt.

We can get used to having Jesus around, when life seems so very normal, usual and straightforward. Even Joseph and Mary journeyed for 3 days without realizing the child Jesus was not around. It's not until we face upset, difficulty, adversity, tragedy, or crisis that we discover He has stepped aside from us for a moment or departed for a season. God tends to step back just before a challenge. Jesus was often found on the shore, or asleep, or away somewhere otherwise indisposed while His disciples were facing a storm or some other challenge. 

When God Doesn't Act Like God, He is creating opportunities for us to seek Him so that we might find Him afresh. When He steps out of character, will you remain steadfast and find Him? Or will you be inclined to walk away and judge Him as unfaithful and a disappointment?

Let's investigate more of When God Doesn't Act Like God in Part 4.

When God Doesn't Act Like God -- Part 2

The patriarch Job said, "God is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does." In Part 1 we simply affirmed what we all know but don't often admit, and that is, God is easier to love and trust when He is in character, when He is acting like God! Is that so surprising?

In the film of the 1970's entitled Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, young Charlie Bucket, one of the lucky Golden Ticket holders first meets Willy Wonka at the beginning of the chocolate factory tour. Wonka is congenial, whimsical, and even a bit bonkers! He then ushers all the Golden Ticket holders into a special room filled with more chocolate and candy than these children have ever seen...a confectionary paradise, and truly a "world of pure imagination".

But a subsequent meeting with Wonka at the end of the tour, where the Grand Prize awaited Charlie Bucket, the winner, is quite different. In what will prove to be a crucial, life-altering moment for Charlie Bucket, he encounters a Willy Wonka that is totally out of character to the one he has previously known. He now faces the biggest challenge of his life: will he get upset, become offended and walk away because Wonka is so out of character, or will he trust Wonka's true character in the face of what appears to be a total contradiction and an ultimate disappointment, in order to obtain the Grand Prize.

The God being described by Job is not God's revealed character; it's not God "in character", but rather out of character. God has both acts and ways. His acts reflect Him when He is in character while His ways describe Him when He is out of character, when He's not acting like God. Now that can be a bit unsettling for us!

When Jesus walked out into the raging storm on the sea(the same storm into which He had earlier sent His disciples in their boat), and then acts like He is going to pass right by them despite their cries for help...is He in character or out of character?

When Jesus and His disciples are in a boat and a storm arises out of nowhere, and Jesus appears to be unresponsive(literally sleeping through their storm!)...is He in character or out of character? Have you ever felt God was sleeping through your storm?

When Jesus received news that Lazarus was dying(with Mary and Martha begging Him to come help their brother), and He does not respond, but delays for yet another 2 more days...is He in character or out?

When the Syrian woman traveled far and wide, long and hard on her own to find Jesus so that she could obtain healing for her demonized daughter, and Jesus ignored her cries for help...is He in character or out?

When the lame man was placed "daily"(Acts 3:2) at the Temple gates to beg, and Jesus had also been "daily"(Luke 22:53) in the Temple throughout His ministry, and Jesus passed by that man "daily" without touching him...is He in character or out?

Well, what do you say? I'll let you decide. But are you prepared to trust your God when He is acting totally out of character? When He's not doing what you expect Him to do or what you think He ought to do?...because after all He is God! Your response to that question will prove to be a destiny-defining moment for you, just as it was for Charlie Bucket.

Let's talk further about When God Doesn't Act Like God in Part 3.

When God Doesn't Act Like God -- Part 1

Have you ever wondered why it seems there are times when God just doesn't act like Himself? He doesn't do what you expect Him to do? The patriarch Job uttered these amazing words in Job 23:8-13:

'Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does."(NKJV).

God has always chosen to reveal Himself to us through His expressed character. He is known for His mercy, grace, faithfulness, compassion, favor, integrity and truth. King David said, "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You...You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth."(Psalm 86:5,15 NKJV).

That's Who He is! That's His unchanging, undeniable, unassailable character. No matter who might challenge or raise a charge against His character, no matter who might assault, denounce, or vilify His reputation, He remains the same, unchanged forever. In fact Job queried, "Who can make Him change?" Jesus said God the Father "is kind to people who are evil and are not thankful. So have mercy, just as your Father has mercy."(Luke 6:35-36 NIRV). So when we imitate His character, we then become like Him, the true "sons of the Highest".

But here is an interesting observation: God is really easy to love when He is in character! No one ever gets upset with God when He is in character. Whenever He is being merciful, gracious, kind; when He's giving, providing, answering, healing, and helping us; when He's performing His wonders, working His miracles and we're all "feeling the love", He's always very popular. In fact, after Jesus fed the 5,000, He achieved instant popularity, becoming so adored and appreciated that the people tried to force Him into being their king right on the spot! But remember the words of Jesus, "If you love those because they love you, what credit is that to you?"(Luke 6:32).

So if we love God, and serve Him, and stay faithful to Him only when we're feeling the love, and only when He's helping us and doing what we think He should, according to Jesus, that's not really all that commendable, is it?

So how do you respond when God doesn't act like God? When God steps out of character? When God doesn't fully meet your expectations? What do you do then? If I'm faithful to Him only when He appears to be faithful to me, what credit is that to me?

Join me for more of When God Doesn't Act Like God in Part 2.

The End of U.S.? -- Part 1

 

The End of U.S.? -- Part 2