I agree, it’s not always easy or straightforward understanding the will of God.
There are parts of the Bible and parts of life that require us to be careful how we proceed. Wisdom is particularly important in these circumstances, so that we make the right decision to go in the right direction.
What makes me chuckle despite its tragic reflection on our condition is how we can look to help God out. Maybe the lack of a comprehensive answer and application makes it look like God has insufficiently dealt with the matter, so He needs our help. Before too long we are ‘filling the gaps’ for God and can answer all questions for Him based on our own ingenious systems. So incredibly useful are those systems that we don’t really need to refer to other sources to explain how God operates on a particular area. We have it all sewn up.
These frames of reference soon become pillars by which generations gain their understanding of who God is. We wonder how anyone could have thought things were any other way. It gets particularly awkward when it begins to censor any works that doesn’t wholly adopt the frame of reference. Thinking gets narrow, behaviour gets inhibited, rather than blossoming believers there’s a bound body of folks adhering to something that is alien to God.
It reminds me of the episode where David was excited to get the ark of the covenant back and looking to get it to Jerusalem. The second time worked well with much rejoicing. The first time didn’t work so well. In that first time as the ark was making its way along, the ark veered a little. So a young man sought to hold it to steady it. Just in case, as it was clear God needed His help. The man was struck dead on the spot. The instructions were clear how the ark was to be transported. It was also clear that anyone, unqualified who dared the ark would die.
We have the privilege of being involved in God’s business. He expects us to do that carefully paying attention to His instructions so that death can be avoided.
It’s reassuring to know that God knows what he needs to know and if we need to know, He will keep us in the loop. Other than that, God doesn’t need us to help Him out. We need Him.
That recognition of complete dependence on Him is critical to being comfortable with the questions you can’t answer and don’t need to.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 