Evaluating God

Does the title of this blog bother you?

It should. Unfortunately, there is quite a lot of questioning going on these days when it comes to God and His word. Even some of today’s biblical scholars presume to question God and evaluate His word. Some give Him no more respect than mythological gods, and assign His word no more value than other ancient writings.

When a person questions God, he is calling God into account as if God must answer to him.

When a person scoffs at God’s word, he stands in judgment of God’s declaration. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, scoffed at God’s words delivered by an angel. In contrast, Mary accepted God’s word, even though she found it extraordinary and difficult to understand.

Job listened and responded to his friends when they came to console him. Over and over they concluded that Job’s misfortune was evidence of his sin. After all, in their thinking, good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. Job maintained his innocence, but he went too far. He kept telling them that if he could have an audience with God, then God would defend him; God would vindicate him.

On the one hand Job was correct. His suffering was not a result of sin. (Sometimes bad things happen to good people.) However, it was not his place to call God to the witness stand to vindicate him. When God spoke to Job he started:

Who is this that darkens counsel

By words without knowledge?

Now gird up your loins like a man,

And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!

—Job 38:2-3 (NASB95)

Job had been stating his case, and in doing so, demanding an answer from God. He presumed to have God answer to him.

God answered Job with more than fifty questions (as well as numerous statements) relating to creation. Then He said to Job:

Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it. 

—Job 40:2 (NKJV)

God is not subject to our scrutiny. We may question whether the Hebrew and Greek documents that contain God’s word are authentic, but we must not question what God said. We must evaluate ourselves and even our own congregation of the Lord’s church, but not God.

The Bereans studied the Scriptures to evaluate Paul’s words. Note well, however, that the Scriptures were the standard by which Paul’s words were evaluated. (Acts 17:10)

We might wonder when God will fulfill a promise, yet not question the promise. We might ask for God’s help and then ponder His ways and inquire about His will. And yet, we should never question His character, His justice, His love.

Moses and the Apostle Paul wrote of God:

The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He. 

—Deuteronomy 32:4

Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 

—Romans 11:33

God identified Himself to Israel: I am who I am. He does not exist to be evaluated by man, but to be revered and obeyed.

In the end, it is God who will be evaluating mankind. And His judgment will be carried out according to the words of Jesus (John 12:48).

Mark Stinnett

March 27, 2022