God's Not Like Us

GOD'S NOT LIKE US

I was watching a trailer for an American Gospel production about how the gospel had become watered down in America and how some churches are conforming to please the masses. At one point it cut to a shot of a bible opened up to Ps. 50:21 focusing on the words, "you thought I was altogether like you".

I was intrigued by that so went to Ps. 50 to read it for myself. Beginning in vs. 16 God addresses the wicked. He states various offenses and finishes with vs. 21. Ps. 50:21, "These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face."

They thought because God hadn't struck them down that he was being tolerant of their sins, like they were of their own and each other's. But they were wrong. We can do that. We feel because God isn't striking us down when we sin then he let it go. This stems from putting human thinking into the mind of God. But God's not like us. Let's look at why this is important to understand.

1) God's not like us.

We can make the mistake of viewing God through the lens of human behavior. I've counseled men who had a wrong view of God based on how their earthly father was. Their thinking was if my earthly father was mean and abusive so is God. If my father didn't stick around, God will abandon me too. If my father didn't show up for weekend visits or my birthday then God will break his promises and let me down too. If my father doesn't love me, neither does God.

We can make this connection with other relationships or life in general. If I feel ignored or shunned by people then God has done that too. I can feel like a societal misfit; alone and depressed. No one cares-not even God. If I've done wrong and feel no one's willing to forgive me God won't either. If I mess up too many times, people reach the point where they want nothing to do with me. Has God reached that point too?

We make the mistake of thinking God behaves like people. But it's not true. People make decisions on emotion-God doesn't. People get out of control-God doesn't. People are hateful toward each other-God isn't. People's love can be shallow-God's isn't. God is different-he's not like us.

Num. 23:19, "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"

People lie, deceive and break promises. People let us down-but God never will. Humans commit human errors. No one is perfect-except God. That's why we need to see him in a different light. That's why we have verses like these. God needed to say he's not like man because we can tend to wonder if he is. "People have lied to me, betrayed me; let me down when I needed them most. How can I trust that God won't?"

The issue is we can point to times when we feel God has let us down. That's a reason why some people don't want anything to do with God. "I prayed my mom wouldn't die when she got cancer and she did. Praying doesn't do any good. God doesn't care." That all goes back to believing God should do things the way we would.

But we need to remember that we have a limited view; we only see what's in front of us. God's view is an eternal 360 degrees. We can't see all the factors; we can't see tomorrow. Even what we can see is with a limited understanding. Only God has the full scope; that's why we need to trust in him, not ourselves.

Prov. 3:5-6, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

If I lean on my own understanding I won't trust in God-I'll trust in me. But if I will acknowledge him, which involves acknowledging that he has all the insight, wisdom, power and understanding-then the path I walk will be a straight one of faithful obedience.

In Mark 9, Jesus came across a situation where a man with a possessed son went to the disciples to see if they could help; but they couldn't. Then Jesus comes along and is told what happened and he told them to bring the boy to him.

Mark 9:20-24, "So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”