3 Things About God and His Leadership
Should you be scared that the government might be reading your emails?
Job 34 says: 16 “If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say. 17 Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty, 18 who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’ 19 who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? 20 In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.
I read the book 1984 and watched the movie based on the book each one time. Never again. I feel I don’t need to partake because the imagery is so vivid and chilling, those pictures have been burned into my memory.
Why is it so chilling? Because we often get worried that we’re going to accidentally say the wrong thing about the government and wake up one day to that knock on the door. Or that black van that’s been following you for the last couple of days.
Here’s the thing: We’re careful to monitor what we say about the government/president, but are we as careful about what we say about God as ruler?
The story of Job has a lot of unanswered questions. For many people, Job’s questioning of God’s decisions is an uneasy look into our own questions. We wonder about the legitimacy of our thoughts. Are we being careful enough to guard ourselves against unrighteous beliefs about the providence of our Lord?
This section of Job 34 is a statement against Job, calling him to account on his perceived blasphemy against the divinity of God. Can God’s will go against the laws of justice? Are we better than God in our righteousness? Are we able and allowed to say things to and about God that we wouldn’t dare say about our own earthly leaders?
I think this passage is a telling statement about how we are tempted to let our minds go off on wild tangents against God’s decisions, trusting that He’ll forgive us and not be concerned with the continued tirades against His character.
Here are 3 points to think about when we are quick to challenge God and His right to rule:
(1) God does not agonize over decisions like we sometimes think
God’s character is one of perfection, and agony is a human attribute. God looks at our moral decay with the hopes that His intervention will move us to the path of righteousness, but it is a compassionate move, not one based on our fallen emotions.
God’s decisions are swift for a reason. He knows what we need. He knows what we don’t need. He knows how it’s all going to play out. He knows how it’s going to end. And He is working for our good to get us there.
There can be comfort in that knowledge. His actions are decisive because they’re all based on good. It may not seem like it if we are under the sometimes intense testing of God, but there is good waiting to shine through it all.
Take heart, God need not second-guess a decision He made over you.
(2) God measures worth according to His needs
This doesn’t sit well with many people. God raises up rulers as He needs them. God raises up lesser leaders as He needs them. He places them in authority for His sake. He has the plan, and it’s always leading toward glory.
That is not to say that once a leader is in a place of power, that everything they do follows the correct path. God’s plan is that earthly leaders would obey His Word, govern according to His will, but evil has a way of corrupting the heart. And so, God will rebuke as needed.
God has the power and authority to rebuke people, and nations. We must ever be mindful we receive the leaders that we need at that moment. We may not want to hear that, but all leaders, in their decisions, tell us something about what God wants us to learn. We have to keep searching and listening to God to hear what that message is.
What are God’s desires for us in this next election?
(3) No one has the right to believe that social status defines character
Leaders go wrong here, and we, the people, go wrong here. God shows no partiality in His grace, though we often wish He would. He knows who is worthy and unworthy.
That should be a great message for us. Just because someone is in power or has a higher social standing than we do does not mean that they have better character than we do. We all have brokenness; wealth and social status can sometimes hide that or it can bring it to light. Most people that were once poor jerks become wealthy jerks.
Character starts at the lowest level, so no matter where you are in life, it’s never too late to work on your character.
—————-
God seeks all people for restoration in Jesus Christ. He would not have made the decision to send His Son if His heart were not for His people. That decision alone should remind us of how fortunate we are, even when things fall apart.
Instead of worrying about who is watching you through the camera on your phone, look toward Heaven and know that salvation is near. That is the antidote to what ails our weak spirits. God as ruler knows all, and that should remind us of all that we need to know. Whatever decisions we see happening around us, know that it is exactly the right time for them. Amen.
Recent Comments