Blaming God for Our Choices
Have you ever wondered why God allows evil to prevail? Do current events cause you to question God’s judgement or fairness? Why are things like abortion and homosexuality so prevalent in our society?
In Malachi 3:14-15, the Jews felt the same way about their society. They felt as though God was rewarding the heathen and the wicked while they (‘God’s chosen people’ – at least on their mind) continued to suffer.
Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?
And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.Malachi 3:14-15
The Jews had returned to Jerusalem after 70 years in captivity. The people had rebuilt the temple and the walls of Jerusalem. However, the people of Jerusalem had begun to slide back into sin. In his book of prophecies, Malachi exposes the corruption of the priests. Through Malachi, God accuses the priests of using corrupt sacrifices, pocketing tithes, and allowing men to divorce their Jewish wives in order to marry heathen women.
In verse 13, God unmasks the people’s arrogance and obstinance. He says, “Your words have been stout against me.” So, what is it that the Jews have been saying against God? Basically, the people said that it is pointless to serve God because the wicked seem to prevail while they are oppressed (verses 14-15).
We often hear this same sentiment today. Why obey God if He is always allowing me to suffer and the wickded to prevail?
The Jews wondered why God allowed them to be in such a difficult situation, but never turned examined themselves and their actions! There was no introspection at all. The Jews were content to just blame God. The Bible is clear that we are to look at ourselves constantly to examine if we are in obedience or not.
EXAMINE YOURSELVES, WHETHER YE BE IN THE FAITH; PROVE YOUR OWN SELVES. KNOW YE NOT YOUR OWN SELVES, HOW THAT JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU, EXCEPT YE BE REPROBATES? BUT I TRUST THAT YE SHALL KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT REPROBATES. NOW I PRAY TO GOD THAT YE DO NO EVIL; NOT THAT WE SHOULD APPEAR APPROVED, BUT THAT YE SHOULD DO THAT WHICH IS HONEST, THOUGH WE BE AS REPROBATES.
2 CORINTHIANS 13:5-7
In truth, the Jews situation was a difficult one. They were still trying to rebuild Jerusalem, their beloved city. They were still subject to a gentile king (Persia) despite God’s promise that He would come and establish His kingdom on earth in Jerusalem. They still had enemies who were attempting to destroy them. It was hard to be a Jew at this time.
But here’s the thing: the Jews were not obeying God. Their difficult situation was a result of THEIR actions, not God’s.
They were taken captive by Babylon because they refused to repent and turn back to God. Now, here they are again refusing to repent. Nehemiah says it well when he tells these same Jews who were actively disobeying God’s commandments, “Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath” (Nehemiah 13:18). Nehemiah recognized that the people were continuing to do the same sins that their ancestors were committing prior to their destruction and captivity. Here in Malachi, we see that despite these sins, the people were expecting God to bless them! They wanted God’s blessings but didn’t want to obey Him.
Let’s look at a modern day example. Many of us have wondered why God allows homosexuality to continue to prevail in our society. We wonder, ‘Why isn’t God stopping this?’ However, when the church is willing to humble itself and analyze its own actions, the church will receive their answer. Homosexuality prospers because WE devalued godly marriage. We averted our eyes as divorce within the church became more prevalent. But, now that homosexuality is on the rise, even within the so-called “church”, we care about godly marriage. It’s too late! We need to return to obedience!
Here is another one. The abortion industry has just blossomed beyond belief. We are angry to see how easily society, and yes, some members of the apostate “church,” have so easily accepted murdering children. But, let’s get introspective here. We devalued children! The church accepted birth control. We forgot the importance of having children in a godly marriage. And here we are angry that society doesn’t value children? We need to return to obedience!
We, the church, have walked away and disobeyed God, therefore, we are suffering the consequences of OUR actions. The degradation of this society isn’t GOD’S fault. It’s OUR fault.
If we want God to bless us, let’s give Him a reason to bless us!
Malachi finishes up this passage by confirming that GOD’s children WILL BE BLESSED! How are these children described? They are those who “feared” and “served” the Lord.
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened and heard
it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.Malachi 3:16-18
God tells us that HIS children will not be forgotten. That they will be remembered when it counts the most: on judgement day!
Next time you want to blame God for not removing your trial or suffering, examine yourself. Are you active in the faith? Are you obeying Him? If not, return to Him so that He will remember your name on judgement day!