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.
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