"Let God Be God"

 

“Let God Be God”

 

One of the rural areas in which we lived was served for many years by a general practitioner. He was an excellent physician but his bedside manner left something to be desired. It was reported that he once told a patient who didn’t follow his instructions, “If you’re not going to do what I tell you you’re wasting my time and your money!” Put another way, “If I’m your doctor let me be your doctor!”

Years ago I knew of a church that was willed a house by a long-time member who had no surviving relatives. The pastor met with the estate attorney and began telling him how to proceed. The lawyer stopped him by saying, “Pastor, I don’t tell you how to preach so please don’t tell me how to practice law!” In other words, “If I’m your lawyer let me be your lawyer!”

If you’re like me there have been times that by our conduct we’ve told God how to run our lives and the universe. Under the guise of prayer we try to give Him instructions as to (to use a political commentator’s book title) the way things ought to be. But we forget David’s words: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it; the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1, emphasis added). So God’s telling us, “Since I’m God let Me be God!” Moses challenged Israel shortly before his death, “Acknowledge and take heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.” (Deuteronomy 4:39, emphasis added). And the sooner you and I recognize this the better off we’ll be.

Around 625BC God’s prophet struggled with His actions towards His people and inquired, “Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” (Habakkuk 1:13). God in His mercy assured him that He was in control (“…The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.”—Habakkuk 2:20) and His servant responded that even in the worst of times “…I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18). His experience speaks to us even after 26 centuries because “I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6) and neither does His Word (“Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”—Psalm 119:89). So—let’s let God be God and trust Him to be in charge of all things, including your and my life.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan