God is Longsuffering

I attended a memorial service years ago that impacted me.  The thing I remember the most is the point emphatically driven home by the impassioned speaker was death was not God's will.  He bristled at the suggestion the sudden passing of his family member could be the will of God.  The point he made is supported in scriptures like 2 Peter 3:9 which reads, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."  God's will is for people to repent of sin and receive salvation, and though our bodies will go the way of the earth the souls of God's redeemed will be clothed with eternal life in glory.

The fact people physically die shows God allows things to transpire on earth that are not His will.  Mankind has chosen to rebel against God in sin and this has brought innumerable horrors into the world God created good.  Even God's people were guilty of doing things which never came into God's mind, (Jeremiah 19:5-6), that they would sacrifice their children to idols.  God would see to it those people reaped what they had sown when they were slaughtered.  Then God did what is awesome and unthinkable in taking human form and laying down His life on the cross, embracing death for lost sinners so His will could be accomplished to redeem and save them.  God is able to overcome death by the power of His glorious life.

It is easy for us to point out faults in others, and it also simple to find things in this world that are not God's will.  Some are very inquisitive about "God's will" as in regards to them, supposing they must submit to circumstances that are God's will and are justified to rail or fight against what they deem is not His will.  This is a risky proposition, for it can be a temptation for man to sit down in the judgment seat and put God on trial by what He has done or sovereignly allowed.  A more constructive approach would be to submit to desiring and doing God's will as revealed in scripture and the example of Jesus.  There are many things I cannot know or understand about God's will and plans, but based on 2 Peter 3:9 I know God's will is to save lives, not destroy them.  He has sent Jesus to that end, and thus I ought to proclaim and live in light of the Gospel, loving others as Jesus loves me.

1 Peter 4:19 says to followers of Jesus, "Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator."  This verse shows suffering in itself is not contrary to the will of God, even though it may feel like it should be.  Our commitment to God is shown by doing what He deems good, knowing He is our faithful Creator.  He will not allow us to be tempted without making the way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13), and He will never leave or forsake us.  Paul learned in all circumstances to be content and rejoice in the LORD--even when he suffered much for Christ's sake.  Praise the LORD God is longsuffering toward us, and let us follow the obedient example of Jesus even when suffering is involved.

Ezekiel's Example

I've been reading the book of Ezekiel each evening and I am always impressed by the intricate object lessons God provided His people through Ezekiel's obedience.  The prophet Ezekiel had an inquisitive audience who wondered over the strange things he did, like making a model of Jerusalem on a tile and laying siege to it, lying on his left side for 390 days and on his right side for 40 days, ate his food by weight (20 shekels a day) and drank water by measure (about 600 millilitres), and even baked bread with cow dung.  God made Ezekiel a sign to the rebellious house of Israel, to people who largely ignored God's warning of coming judgment.

It requires faith in God to obey Him, especially when it seems nothing positive comes from our efforts.  It would have been easy for Ezekiel to be discouraged if he looked to his hearers for justification to continue.  Some have said, "If only one person hears the message, it's worth it."  Every person is precious in the eyes of the LORD who loves them, yet I am convinced Ezekiel did not content himself with the hope one person heard and responded in obedience.  Ezekiel's motivation to open his mouth and do as God directed was simply obedience to the LORD God regardless of what others thought of him.  Ezekiel's primary audience was not the people or a person but the almighty God who is worthy of all praise, worship and obedience.  What a good example for us all!

The prophets detailed in scripture (from a human, worldly perspective) had varying degrees of success.  Over 100 years Noah was a preacher of righteousness who convinced only his immediate family to enter the ark while through the preaching of Jonah for 3 days all the inhabitants of Nineveh repented in sackcloth and ashes.  Sometimes prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel were not listened to at all, their words a testimony of God's love and grace to warn rebellious people who would refuse to heed.  If people applaud this ought not to boost our resolve to continue, and should they complain or not even show up this should not discourage us from obedience to our awesome God who has revealed Himself to us.  When no one turns up to a prayer meeting or Bible study we prepared to lead instead of losing heart we can take courage and be strengthened in Christ.

Because God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours we can wonder what He is doing when nothing seems to be happening.  It may be within our own hearts and minds God has much work yet to accomplish.  Know what God has promised He is able to perform (Rom. 4:21), the work He has begun He is faithful to complete (Phil. 1:6) and we are complete in Him (Col. 2:10).  Jeers and praise taken to heart both pose risks for the Christian who is tempted to play to the crowd or even one person rather than speaking forth and living out what God has written in His word.  Praise the LORD Jesus is wisdom for us, the Holy Spirit comforts us and helps us do our duty as God's servants with love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness and self-control.

Be Glad in Jesus Today

It is fitting and proper to read the Bible with a seeking, inquisitive heart.  While it is true many of our questions can spring from doubt and unbelief, this does not mean asking questions reveals a lack of faith.  Our faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the truth of His word is according to knowledge gained by questioning, wondering and reasoning.  A product of caring and consideration of new concepts and ideas is asking questions, and this simple act acknowledges our lack of understanding and desire to learn and grow.

I was recently asked a great question about the meaning of Jesus' words to Jews who were skeptical of His identity and doctrine in John 8:56:  "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."  The context of the conversation was Jesus claimed not only to be of God to be God made flesh, much to the confusion of His hearers due to unbelief.  These were people who revered Moses and Abraham, and were incredulous Jesus would imagine himself equal or superior to them.  When we reflect on a time past we might say something like, "Back in the day we used to write letters by hand with paper, pen and ink."  Jesus said father Abraham rejoiced to see His day, meaning Jesus was living and present at that time.  His hearers were gobsmacked by this claim because they did not believe Jesus is God in human form and thus eternal.  The surface meaning is clear, that when Abraham lived it was Jesus' day.  The inescapable conclusion is Jesus is greater than Abraham.

Like many passages of scripture, one verse or statement can have multiple correct interpretations, like when prophecies have multiple fulfillments.  It is unnecessary to strictly limit the words of Jesus to only one possible interpretation or application when there is scriptural support for complementary views.  For instance, Abraham and Sarah are mentioned of having eyes of faith in Hebrews 11:13:  "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."  Thus Abraham, having believed the promise of God Who revealed Himself to him, the day of which Jesus spoke was a day present for Abraham and also a future day.  The sacrifice God provided instead of Isaac pointed to the day and hour when Jesus would be offered as a sacrifice for sinners.  God was glorified in the judgment of sinners in the plain of Sodom and in Abraham's victory over the kings of the north.  Abraham rejoiced in the almighty, living God who promised, Who guides, provides and lives.

It is possible for us to be so taken with obscure connections and implications we can miss the plain, simple meaning of the text:  Abraham rejoiced in Jesus' day, and he saw it and was glad.  The people Jesus talked to had a very different attitude towards Jesus.  Though they witnessed His miraculous power they heard Him and were mad.  They hated and rejected Jesus rather than simply believing Him as Abraham did.  This confirmed the truth of what Jesus claimed, that they were children of the devil because they wanted to kill him.  They may have been physical descendants of Abraham but were estranged from God spiritually due to unbelief.  The genuine children of God will hear and rejoice in the words of Jesus, for He speaks to us the words of life.  Instead of picking up stones to destroy Him we rejoice to hear Jesus proclaim in John 8:58, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

God Who Pardons

Contrary to the false caricature that the almighty God is a ruthless, bloodthirsty tyrant, He is a God distinguished by mercy, compassion and love.  Because God is not comparable to anything He has created or concepts conceived in the minds of men, many have taken upon themselves to present distorted ideas of what God is like.  Unless we receive the testimony of the word of God that portrays Him in truth, we could never know Him.

Consider what the prophet concluded in Micah 7:18-20:  "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. ¹⁹ He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. ²⁰ You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old."  God did not create mankind to destroy them, and it is man who is responsible for destroying himself through sin--which is entirely contrary to God's goodness and righteous ways.  Man is notorious for blaming others or even God rather than humble himself and admit his faults.

Isn't it wonderful God pardons iniquity and passes over transgressions?  He is not like those who hold grudges in bitterness, for He delights in mercy.  God maintains a position of absolute power and authority and is not like weak men who are suspicious, defensive, afraid of what others think, say or do.  His mercy, forgiveness and compassion are evidence of His infinite strength and power.  Because all His judgments are in truth He keeps His word to remove and subdue sins of those who fear Him.  God has chosen to redeem sinners as His heritage and thus demonstrates His glorious majesty over all.  Psalm 130:3-4 says, "If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared."  God's forgiveness is not due to weakness but supernatural strength.