By Todd Paetznick, September 26, 2024

A challenge that has always plagued mankind is the belief that we know better than God. We may not consciously think we know better than God, but our attitudes are revealed through what we say and do.  People are watching — our co-workers, the young people around us, family members — and they are more influenced by our actions than words.  

An accusatory response to natural disasters and the inevitable loss of property and life causes many to wonder where God was in the midst of the tragedy.  As I write this, Hurricane Helene is heading for the Florida panhandle and Georgia.  We do not know what will happen, but we can expect there to be material damage, and some people will likely die.  Why does God not prevent tragedies from happening?  This will frequently be a question in our minds and on our lips.  Many of us will presume to stand in judgment over God, believing we know better.

When we, as Christians, do as we please while knowing that our actions are contrary to biblical teaching, we are, in effect, saying we know better than God.  The impact of our actions is witnessed by people who see a difference between what we say we believe and how we act, damaging our reputations and our Lord’s.  We must stop telling people we are Christ-followers if we persist in cheating our customers, lying to friends or colleagues, being verbally or physically abusive, getting out of control due to the use of alcohol or drugs, engaging in promiscuous activities, indulging in occultic practices, and the list goes on.  Making Jesus Christ the Lord of our lives means behaving like Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives.  

The ancient Israelites often did not care that they were God’s chosen people; they went through periods when they did as they pleased, presuming they knew better than God.  After Joshua and the Israelites took possession of the promised land, the people had no king to lead them. After the generation of people who were witnesses to God’s provision and miracles had died, the next generation did not remember.  They chose to abandon God and instead serve the gods of the people with whom they intermixed in their cities.  Why?  Because they were promised something they desired in exchange for ignoring God’s teachings.  

 The book of Judges records the events of multiple generations of Israelites repeating a cycle of prosperity > rebellion > oppression > repentance > rescue.  The people lived during good and prosperous times but forgot the miracles of God’s provision and His deliverance.  Before Israel had a king, the judges were people God selected to rescue His people from oppression.  Some familiar judges include Samson, Gideon, and Deborah, but there were many more.  In each cycle, the generations immediately after the one that was rescued did as they pleased.  They did things that angered God, resulting in God allowing them to experience the natural consequences of their actions and desires.  

Paul, in the opening chapter of the book of Romans, describes a similar phenomenon in the Church Age. “Therefore God gave them up to vile impurity in the lusts of their hearts, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 1:24-25 NASB20).  Even people claiming to be Christians are not excused from the consequences of unChristian behavior.  We may presume to know better than God and stand in judgment over the way we think things should happen, but we are not God.

The end of the Book of Judges reads much like the beginning, and the rebellion / rescue cycle repeats throughout human history and continues even today.  “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25 NASB20).

God is on His own side and expects righteous behavior from His followers. None of us should expect to be free from the consequences of any unrepentant rebellion.  But as mere people, none of us can presume to know the eternal status of another person before God or sit in judgment of anyone.  All we can do is share the warning with other people.  Take cover; there is a hurricane on the way. Do what you need to to protect your property and your life.