When God Doesn't Act Like God -- Part 4

Remember what Job said about God? "Whatever His soul desires, that He does."(28:13 NKJV). Or simply restated, "God does what He pleases." This is based on the fact that God knows all there is to know; He knows more than we do; and He knows best...even when we think differently! Doing as He pleases means He is free to move in and out of character. The ultimate test for us is always when God is acting out of character rather than in character.

Why does He do that? One reason is so we will continue to seek after Him and pursue Him. Another reason is so we can see ourselves and what's in our own heart. It was said of King Hezekiah, "God left him on his own to see what he would do; He wanted to test his heart."(2 Chronicles 32:31 TM). "This is a test! And there's no talking or contact while taking the test!" That's the way we normally take tests. And remember, when God stepped out of character with Job, He did not talk to him during the entire test!

So what exactly is in Hezekiah's heart? Up to this point it's not been clear. You would've thought it might have been gratitude, humility, and honor since he has just been miraculously healed, but miracles don't determine what's in our heart; miracles don't determine the level of our commitment. This anointed king had a character flaw, a blindspot, something that could rob him of his destiny, but he didn't realize it. But God does because He knows more, He knows all, and He sees beneath the surface and beyond the present.

King David was worshiping and thanking God with the Ark until his friend Uzza was struck down for touching the Ark. David exclaimed in the Psalms, "I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd, right out in front, leading them all, eager to arrive and worship shouting praises, singing thanksgiving--celebrating, all of us!(42:4 TM). But on that day David stopped worshiping and became angry with God and left the Ark behind! You see, as long as God is only my valet, butler, financier, problem-solver, answer man, way maker, miracle worker, and fix-it man...my heart is never truly revealed. Just like in the family...if you only ever do what totally pleases your children, you will never know what's really in their hearts! David asks, "Where is God?" more than once in the Psalms. His final answer to this plaguing question turned out to be, "Why do people ask, 'Where is their God?'. Our God is in heaven. He does what He pleases."(115:2-3 NCV).

Jesus put some distance between Himself and His disciples on the road back to Capernaum, and sure enough, what was really in their hearts began to come forth...an argument over which one was the greatest among them. Once they arrived in Capernaum Jesus asked them, "'What were you discussing on the road?' The silence was deafening--they had been arguing with one another over who among them was greatest."(Mark 9:33-34 TM) or to put it another way, "which one of them was the most important person."(NIRV).

When God Doesn't Act Like God, and we seem momentarily left on our own, we see more clearly what's in our own heart just as King Hezekiah did. And seeing it allows us to then face it and forsake it by His grace. Let's explore this further in Part 5.