"Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker … Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?'” (Isa. 45:1-13)

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The setting

• Isa. 45:9-10 – A woe is pronounced on those who would question Jehovah's right to use a foreigner (Cyrus the Great) to redeem Judah and release them from their Babylon captivity and return them to Israel to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. If Almighty God wants to set His children free, how about using some supernatural events like He did when he freed Israel from Egyptian captivity?
• Isa. 45:11 MKJV – Says Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel … do you give command(s) to Me about My sons, and about the work of My hands? 

The answer is NO! I am God and there is NO OTHER!!! Read Isaiah 45 (and 46) and count how many times God expresses this sentiment, in one way or another, that He alone is the Ruler.

Our problem develops when we respond improperly to life’s hits and get ourselves into a quarrel with God.

Have you observed individuals, yourself included, who have had any of the following quarrels with God?

1. I haven’t spoken to God since my spouse/child died.
2. I haven’t spoken to God since He allowed this terrible accident to happen.
3. I believed God for healing, and I wasn’t healed, so now, I’ve stopped believing.
4. I believed God told me an event would happen, and it didn’t, so now I don’t trust Him anymore.
5. I don’t understand how a loving God could allow …
6. If I were God, I would …
7. Since I can’t figure out why God allows these things to happen, I am offended and have withdrawn from Him. I am no longer passionate to follow, love and obey Him.

The life-sucking results of quarreling with God

I lose love, trust, and passion. I enter into depression and darkness. Infirmity and negativity attack and overwhelm me. Life is no longer worth living. I am simply existing, not living, not thriving.

My Wife's Solution – Patti is convinced of two things

• The two key truths that keep her and me are: God is Almighty and God loves us.
• The corollary is that I need to lay down my demand that my mind be able to fully comprehend God’s ways.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:8-9)

My personal experience

I have had journaling that did not work out like I thought it should. Re-journaling it to try to figure things out does not work well. I have found I just need to lay it aside as a “mess” that I just don’t understand or know the answer to. It is fine. I choose to continue in faith, even when my mind is too small to fully comprehend God’s ways.

I have some theological disputes with God on the way He runs His universe. I have told Him that I have some ideas for improving things, and I even have ideas on improving eternity. He tells me to trust Him and reminds me I don’t know everything. Often He shows me insights from Scripture that will help relieve my troubled mind, troubled pictures, and troubled emotions.

For example, I shared with God how unfair it was that Israel had to spend 70 years in Babylonian captivity for the sins of their ancestors, and that the Israelites had to spend 40 years in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land. His response, "Mark, it takes a while to get the world of sin and unbelief out of a generation of people, so this is a time of shedding the old and a deepening of faith and belief." 

The light bulb went on, and I recognized how true that principle was in my life, and it is only as I step into new faith that a new reality appears for me.

If I make a decision that I will NOT believe if I can't understand, then my spiritual life becomes damaged. Generally, within a day or two, I will feel the depression and repent of my DEMAND that I MUST UNDERSTAND. I let God know I am back to Patti's two foundational beliefs: God, You are Almighty and You love me. That is all I know.

Journaling application

• Lord, have I withdrawn from You over the hurts I have experienced?
• What would You speak to me so I can be restored to faith, hope, and love?

Hearing God's voice is as simple as: 1) quieting down (Ps. 62:1-5), 2) beholding Jesus at my right hand (Ps. 16:8; Acts 2:25), 3) asking for His revelation and tuning to flowing thoughts and flowing pictures (Jn. 7:37-39; Jer. 2:13), and 4) recording this flow (Hab. 2:1,2; Rev. 1:9-11). I then test it, ensuring it lines up with Scripture (Ps. 1:2; Jn. 10:35; 1 Thess. 5:2;) and is affirmed in the hearts of my three spiritual advisors (2 Cor. 13:1; Prov. 11:14). See this link.

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