Sparring with Expectations

Scripture: But if you say to me, “We trust in the LORD our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before this altar”? (Isaiah 36:7 ESV)

Observation: The King of Assyria sends an officer to taunt King Hezekiah. He asks Hezekiah where he places his trust. Then he asks, “But if you trust God, then why did you tear down all the high places and altars?” The Assyrian officer thought that all forms of worship were the same. He could not understand how Hezekiah could claim to trust God, yet destroy religious symbols. He could not see that Hezekiah tore down those idolatrous high places and altars because of God, not in spite of him.

Application: It is easy to misjudge the actions people take for God. People often have unbiblical or cultural expectations of Christianity, and when you do not live up to them, they question your faith. I face this all the time. Someone expects that if we really loved God, we would sing a patriotic song in a worship service, or support this political cause. Yet it may be precisely because of our faith in Christ that we do not. The important thing I am hearing today is that my response to these people is crucial. With graceful patience, I need to be able to calmly and without battle, explain the reason for what we do. Then, if they still don’t get it, we can agree to disagree. My problem is that I tend to take their words personally, when I should let them go. Yes, there should be the foundation of humility, and willingness to grow, to change, to reverse a decision or policy. But sometimes we need to hold the course, even if that does not satisfy the expectations of others.

Prayer: God, give me patience today. Help me not get riled up when others question my decisions. Help me be humble and really listen, and have the wisdom to seek out compromise when needed. And give me courage to stand my ground even if it disappoints. But protect my heart from ratcheting up into anger.

Why Am I Really Mad At God?

Scripture: They wrong the barren, childless woman, and do no good to the widow. Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they despair of life. Job 24:21-22

Observation: Job is frustrated with the struggle between God’s sovereignty and the obvious injustice in the world. If God does whatever he desires and no one can turn him back (23:13), then why do those who take advantage of the poor prosper? Why do those who perpetuate injustice seem to flourish under God’s control? This is why Job is so bitter: God says he cares about injustice, yet seems to do nothing when it occurs.
But is Job really that concerned about injustice in his world, or is he using this to protest his own feelings about how God has dealt with him? Job feels he has done everything right before God, and he has been treated unjustly. This bitterness turns into a general complaint about how God deals with injustice.
So often, we get riled up over how God deals with this world when the real issue is between God and us. We hide behind theological and philosophical arguments and talk about situations half-way around the world when the real issue is: We are mad at God about *our* situation.

Application: I often find myself angry about things I see in this world, or actions of others. And I can easily characterize these things as indictments of God. But could it be that the reason for my anger is that I feel I have gotten a raw deal? Am I failing to go to God and directly deal with the issue, instead hiding behind theological and philosophical arguments about good and evil?

Prayer: God, help me look below the waterline, to see what really motivates my feelings and actions. To see if my anger is motivated by holy discontent, or a sense of personal loss. Show me what is going on in the waters of my heart.

Slow to Anger, Rich in Love

Scripture: The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. Psalm 145:8

Observation: God is slow to anger. In Acts 2, Peter stands before the very people who crucified the Messiah—the One God sent to rescue them, and extends an offer of forgiveness.

Application: If God can be slow to anger and rich in love specifically to people who rejected and murdered him, what right do I have to be quick to anger?

Prayer: God, I am quick to anger. I am not rich in love. The antidote to both of these is Your Holy Spirit working in my life. Please be my Helper (John 14:6) this week in slowing my anger and enriching my love towards my kids, wife, and dog.

Slow to Anger and Great in Power. August 3

Scripture: Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard. Nahum 2:13
The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son. John 5:22

Observation: Nahum is describing the destiny of the Evil Assyrians and the fall of Nineveh. For their heinous crimes and deeds, Nineveh will be destroyed. Nahum gives graphic description of this powerful destruction—shields covered in blood, chariots of flashing metal racing through the streets, flashing swords and glittering spears. As one of God’s people who had suffered under the oppression of Assyria, I could see who welcome these words would be. Knowing that God does not clear the guilty. And although God is slow to anger, when he is finally roused to act, it is terrible and unrelenting. Bottom line: You do not want to have the Lord of Hosts against you. You do not want to be on the wrong side when his judgment comes.
Then we skip to John 5, where Jesus tells us that all of the power of the great judgment of God has been given into his hands. The terrible final ultimate judgment of the wicked, of all those who have rejected God, has been given to Christ.
Application: Sometimes we reduce the Old and New Testament to simplistic terms. God in the Old Testament is judgment; Jesus in the New is love and grace. But we forget that God is one, and that God never changes. The meek Jesus of the New Testament is not a wimp. He is a man of unlimited power and authority to judge, who restrains that power to give people a chance to hear of God’s great love and come to him. But in the end, those who reject God face a terrible fate, much like the Ninevites. Our God is good, as Nahum declares. And he is slow to anger. But when he finally does act, as Jesus will at the final judgment, his actions are terrible and swift and great.
How seriously do I take this? Serious enough to tell others of God’s love and judgment?
Prayer: God, forgive me for putting you in boxes. I worship you today because you are slow to anger, yet great in power. You keep wrath for your enemies and in no way will clear the guilty. Thank you that my guilt and your wrath towards me were dealt with at the cross. Help me share that with others so they may never be on the wrong side against you.