Deconstructing the Word of God-Trying to Change God's Mind

From the beginning of humankind's story with God (remember God has always been) and even before, we have been trying to change God's mind or heart about something.  There are many reasons why, but for the most part, it is because deep down, we don't really trust in a loving yet sovereign God.  A God who is both completely loving and kind, yet is moved to righteous anger and wrath.  One we celebrate when we are succeeding and winning, but we are cursing and fighting when we face a trial. We have trust issues and so very easily want to put God in a box.  Our box.  The box that we build.  The one that is only big enough for our human imagination.  The one that eventually, given time falls apart because it has flaws.  

The flaws?  God doesn't like our boxes.  

For one, the box will never be big enough.  God is eternal, He lives without walls.  He is everywhere at once.  He goes before us, stays with us, and is there long after we are gone.  

Second, He doesn't like our decor.  Our ways are not His ways.  Our style of "picking things out" is not His style.  He likes clean.  Humankind likes messy.  God's style is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Our style changes with time. God likes to pick out the "best of stuff" for His children.  The kind of "furniture" that will last, because it is built with care.  We like the cheap and ugly stuff.  The stuff that looks good for a bit, but we throw away after it has been used.  We like to change the "pictures" and there meanings like a revolving door.  The "Family Rules" sign is written in chalk, so that when we don't like a "rule" we can erase it and make up a new one.  God's rules are written in permanent marker.  His rules stay the same.  God is satisfied with His creation.  He says so.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image.  We are not satisfied however.  We always want more.  We like to change our style often.  

Third,  God can't breathe in our box.  How can He?  When we don't like what God has to say, or His plan or purpose, we shut the door and windows on Him.  We close Him up and board the door so that we can ignore His voice.  When things don't go our way, we want to put God in a time-out in the box until He changes His mind.  But.. boy does He like to breathe.  

Another reason we want to change God's mind is that we don't think God's got "it right."
When we face a trial, or come against suffering of any kind, we begin to question God.  "It can't really be this way God."  "Hey!  I know You didn't really mean it when You said, 'in this world you will have trouble.'  I mean, I am a good person, I go to church, I try my best.. yet, I lost my husband in a tragic way, my daughter has special needs, my uncle is losing his memory, people are coming against me at work..."  

Or.  How about Jonah?  He definitely did not like God's plan.  "Those people God?  Are You sure... those people?  You must not mean those people."  "You do?... Well, you must not be thinking it out right... I need to change your mind."  "I couldn't change Your mind?... I would rather die."

We want to "wrestle it out with God" in hopes that we will change His mind.  And when we see things not go in our direction, then we reason it out, that the Bible must not be completely true.  It doesn't have "our" ending.  It doesn't tie itself up in a neat bow the way we want it to.  

It doesn't matter, that today.. yes today... looks A LOT like things looked in Biblical times. The Ninevites' sin in Jonah's time was just as horrendous as things we see in modern day.  We just can't reason (like Jonah) way God would want to save them.  They were bad= they should "get it".  I am good= I should never suffer, or face adversity.  The Bible, therefore must be just stories.  

Sin.

Another reason we must deconstruct the Word.  I must change God's mind about what I want to do.  I want the apple.  

Even before our story begins, there was an angel who wanted the apple.  He was convinced that his ways were better than God's.  That he could write a better story.  That his mind and decisions were better.  

And now we do that.  Never mind what God's Word says.  We have to reason that God's Word doesn't really mean truth, because it does not allow me to do what I want.  If the Word of God says that something is wrong that I feel is right... I must tear down the Word and reconstruct it to fit my paradigm.  Again... "I need to change God's mind... He would NEVER mean those commands for me?!?"  I don't trust that God could change my heart.  And my heart MUST be right.  

And because I want the apple.  My ways are better that God's ways.  I must be smarter than God.  God must only know what is happening in the present, that is why He spoke to certain sins in the Bible.  He could not have meant those same things for me, because truly my ways are higher.  He didn't realize back when He was dealing with the Israelites, that He couldn't mean me when He said X or Y was a sin.  Certainly times have changed and God must change with the times, so He can realize that I really needed the "rule change" on my list.  

God must be dead.  Or at least dying.  Doesn't matter that I have, by myself shut the windows and doors in my box, to shut out God's breath.  Every time I read His Word, I have more questions. When I am in a group of others, we all read the Word together, but it speaks different things to each one of us.  How can this be?  When I am by myself, I read a passage and then, somehow two months later, I catch on to another layer.  A new meaning.  New questions.  So it must not make sense.  It must mean that it is not relevant.  It must mean that there is something flawed in it.  It must be dying.  I can't make sense out of why it doesn't make me feel the same as the others.  God is NOT whispering in MY ear something new, something better... He can't be speaking to different maturity levels and different situations and different backgrounds using the same Word.  I don't trust that God can be bigger than my box.  That He can purposely speak to different situations as He sees fit because God is dead.  

Truth.  God is not dead.  He is sovereign.  He likes to breathe.  He likes to reveal Himself in His timing.  He likes questions.  He likes justice.  He likes forgiveness.  He likes different maturity levels.  He likes His decisions.  He likes His ways.  He likes being the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  He likes good decor.   He likes showing you new things.  He likes speaking to you in different way.  He likes revealing answers if you would ask.  He likes being a mystery.  He likes the place He has designed for you to live.  He likes you.

He likes living in your heart.  Not a box.