“You cannot tame God. You cannot predict him. You cannot figure him out. Don’t even try it!”
He struck Uzzah dead for daring to touch the ark of God (2 Samuel 6:7).
He blessed the family of Obed-edom for housing the ark of God (2 Samuel 6:12).
He put Joseph in chains . . . bound his feet in fetters and shackled his neck in an iron collar (Psalm 105:18).
He made Michal barren because she was more concerned for David's propriety than David's piety (2 Samuel 6:23).
He raised up a pagan king, Cyrus, to make His name known (Isaiah 45:5-6).
He calls us "unworthy servants" who deserve no special treatment (Luke 17:10)
Job, a man who understood the mysterious nature of God, said,
“Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?”
You cannot tame God. You cannot predict him. You cannot figure him out. But you can trust him. In fact, you must trust him!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Note that. He does not say, "trust his blessings," but "trust him." Trust the God you cannot tame. Trust the God you cannot predict. Trust the God you cannot figure out.
Why?
C.S. Lewis gives us the answer in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. At one point in the story Susan is preparing to meet Aslan, "the Christ of Narnia."
“Aslan is a lion--the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he--quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr. Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”
Today you are going to take another step into uncharted land. If you journey thinking God is "safe" or that to follow him is to guarantee a blessing, you will be disappointed. Much of life -- and God's work in it -- is a mystery. I was reminded of that reading these words from the pen of Madeleine L'Engle, author of A Wrinkle In Time:
A sad fact which nevertheless needs to be faced is that a deeply committed Christian who wants to write stories or paint pictures or compose music to the glory of God simply may not have been given the talent, the gift, which a non-Christian, or even an atheist, may have in abundance. God is no respecter of persons, and this is something we are reluctant to face.
Lewis and L'Engle are at peace with perplexity. Why? Because they bow before God rather than stand over Him. God is not safe, but God IS good. Rest in that truth (rest in Him) as you approach the bend up ahead.
“For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
his faithfulness to all generations.”
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Note:
"the Christ of Narnia" from "Thinking About Aslan and Jesus With C.S. Lewis" by Louis Markos in www.thegospelcoalition. November 6, 2012.
"A sad fact ..." from Walking On Water by Madeleine L'Engle. Colorado Springs: Shaw. 1980, 1998, 2001. Page