Jan
31
Eager to Bless
Filed Under Devotional
It’s so easy to imagine that those in authority are cold and uncaring. Of course, that very attitude is selfish because it usually doesn’t take into account any other point of view.
You can’t always get angry at the store clerk who refuses to give you a cash refund. For every legitimate complaint, they probably have to worry about five bogus ones trying to cheat the company. You can’t always interpret being laid off as a cold, heartless act. Would it be any better if the company went under a year later and couldn’t even pay a severance? What appears to be rude or mean behavior may very well have a real reason behind it.
Still, I think that perception of authority is common and it’s especially applied to God. Most nonbelievers (and some believers!) see God as a stern disciplinarian looking for any opportunity to smack your wrist and dole out punishment. The truth is that He has every right to based on our own records.
After reading about Ahab and Jezebel, I have come to the opposite conclusion. After doing everything he could to oppose God, there comes a day when Elijah tells Ahab that God has noticed his behavior and informs him that his household will not last. What happens next is somewhat surprising, given the history:
” ‘Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country.’
(There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the LORD drove out before Israel.)
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: ‘Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.” 1 Kings 21:24-29
Ahab was arguably one of the most evil men ever. He spent his life disobeying God. Still, in a single moment, when he humbled himself before God, God blessed him. God had already promised to wipe out his household, so He wouldn’t reverse direction, but He did reward that moment of humility by delaying His judgement.
This tells me that God is not looking for opportunities to punish, but opportunities to bless and praise! He disciplines because He loves us, not to torture us or deny us. What He’s eagerly looking for, though, is obedience and love for Him. He can’t wait to bless us! He’s just watching for when we finally humble ourselves before Him and obey.
This is the loving, giving God we serve. Not the one imagined by the world.