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.