“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9).
When we fail, do we blame God? Maybe the thought has never crossed your mind. If so, then you would be truly unique indeed, given man’s propensity to pass the buck and fail to take responsibility for his thoughts, words and actions. If we are honest and have lived long enough, then, we will see the day when we at least silently ponder the question of whether or not God is to blame for our circumstances, whether it is couched in this obvious language or found in terms like “God is punishing me.” In those moments, after we are first honest with our doubts, we do well to remember several of the attributes of God that place Him beyond and above our situation and circumstances. Thus, He is above the notion of human failure.
First, He is omniscient. In other words, He knows all. He sees even time, which binds our thinking, as a fluid ribbon with a beginning and end, which are also in His perception. We see a single point on the line. He sees it all. He sees our weakness, our hurts and the things we need to bring us to wisdom and maturity, which are often mistaken for trials and tragedy.
Second, He is omnibenevolent or all loving. With His great knowledge and love, He works all things to our greatest good. God does not tempt. God does not compel men to go against His will. As any loving parent would, He teaches us through correction and instruction.
Finally, God does not change, and by virtue of that fact, He does not lie. In Him there is no shadow of turning. When He makes a promise, He then keeps that promise. Not only that, but all that He says is also true and reliable. Men have questioned Him throughout time and have been proven foolish at every turn. In this day, when you go through trials, assume your responsibility and trust that God is working His will for you. Failure to accept correction, chastisement or instruction will only result in lost faith, failure and loss of an ultimate reward.
[Editor’s Note: Certainly, there are scores of circumstances throughout each of our lives at which times we would do well to emulate the Old Testament Bible character Job. “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong” (Job 1:22 NKJV). ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]
