Critics
It is so easy to be a critic.
“If I was in charge…”
“No, you should do it this way.”
“Well, if you ask me…”
Yeah right. Walk a mile or two in my shoes, or the one’s of the person you are criticizing, and see how well you do.
Job has been busy criticizing God’s dealings with him. God responds and lets Job know that he is still indeed in charge. Then he challenges him.
Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers? – Job 40:2
It reminds me of the movie Bruce Almighty. Bruce is critical of God. So God shows up, puts Bruce in charge and then goes on vacation.
In one scene Bruce decides to answer everyone’s prayers with a yes. The results are a hilarious disaster. There are hundreds of lottery winners all from one local area, people losing weight on the Krispe Kreme diet, people getting taller, and unlikely sports teams winning.
Yes to all, was not the answer. Some prayers needed a wait, and some needed a firm no.
It doesn’t take long for Bruce to realize that his answers are not going to work. The only thing that works is self sacrifice, continually giving of yourself.
If we could see perfectly into the future, and know all possible outcomes, and weigh every nuance, then, and only then could we even think about criticizing God about his dealings. But even then, only he knows what is best for us. He knows that sometimes, no, most-times, it is the suffering that produces the necessary changes in us; changes that make us like his son Jesus. Left to our own devices, we would never experience pain, hardship, or suffering. And as a result we’d never change.
Lord, thank you for all that you allow into my life. May I remember that when I am in the midst of the hard times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jan, not-so-mighty.
My Journey in God's Word 