The Foolishness Of God

Robert’s, Larry’s and the Seattle thief’s action were foolish, but the Psalmist David gives the fool award for first place to the man who says in his heart, "There is no God" (Ps. 53:1).

I find it difficult, no, impossible to place God in the same boat with Robert and Larry, but I must admit there are some things about God’s ways that I do not understand.

He calls the woman the weaker vessel, but imparts to her the painful job of bearing children.

When He brings His Son into the world¡K

„X He has him born in a stinky stable instead of a beautiful palace.

„X Instead of being born to royalty, He is birthed by a teenage peasant girl.

When God decides to send a messenger to the Jews, instead of sending Gamiel’s student, Paul, He sends Peter an ignorant fisherman and He sends Paul to the Gentiles. What a waste.

Even though God’s way of doing things is a bit puzzling, I cannot with conviction of heart say that God has ever exhibited a lack of good sense or judgment.

„X I cannot proclaim God to be stupid, silly or unwise.

„X I refuse to accuse Him of being intellectually inferior or irrational.

Neither do I see God as weak or deficient in strength or power.

All that exists is because God said "let there be."

Minor expressions of His power were the parting of the Red Sea, the preservation of the 3 Hebrews in the fiery furnace and protection of Daniel in the Lion’s Den.

Then one might justly ask, what’s this business about the foolishness of God and the weakness of God?

The Jewish View Of The Cross

The Jews were looking for a Messiah, but not one who would be a suffering Lamb. They were waiting for a Lion King who would roar out against Rome. The Messiah they were expecting would repeat the Exodus, but in greater splendor. A crucified Messiah was a scandalous idea. After all, crucifixion was reserved for criminals convicted of murder, rebellion or armed robbery, provided that they were also slaves, foreigners or other nonpersons . To suggest that Messiah would die on a cross was scandalous, offensive and unacceptable. A crucified Messiah had no place in their understanding of either God or scripture. To the Jews the cross was a "stumbling block." It was an offense.

The Cross was rejected by the Jews because it did not conform to their own prior view of how God would and should act. The God who had acted powerfully in their behalf historically would restore the former glory by acting powerfully again. They had God figured out and the "God who makes sense" would never act outside the boundaries they had set for Him.

QUOTE: C. K. Barrett says that their refusal to accept the Cross implied "¡Ka refusal to take God on trust" (p. 54).

QUOTE: Hans Conzelmann wrote: "¡Kthey set themselves up as an authority that can pass judgment upon God¡K.They expect God to submit himself to their criteria" (p.47).

Michael Yaconelli declared:

QUOTE: Predictability and faith cannot coexist. What characterized Jesus and His disciples was unpredictability. Jesus was always surprising the disciples by eating at the wrong houses (those of sinners), hanging around the wrong people (tax collectors, adulterers, prostitutes, lepers), and healing people on the wrong day (the Sabbath). There was no Day Timer, no strategic plan, no missions statement; there was only the eager anticipation of the present moment. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to be the same as they were. His truth should be the same truth that they had spent centuries taming. But truth is unpredictable. When Jesus is present, everyone is uncomfortable yet mysteriously glad at the same time. People do not like surprises¡Xeven church people¡Xand they don’t want to be uncomfortable. They want a nice, tame Jesus.