Looking for a Fight with God
For those with faith, fighting with God is good.
It’s not often you wake up in the morning, fill your lungs with the air of a fresh day, and state unequivocally, “I’m going to pick a fight with God today.” Even those who don’t have much respect for God know that such a quest isn’t generally a very good idea.
And then there’s Job. “If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments” (Job 23:3,4).
Do you find yourself thinking, “Yeah. Go get ‘im, Job!” because you, too, have been slighted by God yourself. If only someone somewhere would file a class action lawsuit against God for being unfair, or absent, or intolerant. That would get his attention! Problem is, it’s had to spar with an invisible fighting partner. Such is really Job’s complaint. God knows where Job is, but Job doesn’t know where God is. Not a fair fight!
“If I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take” (Job 23:8-10).
Is it really true that the God who has promised he is with us always and always everywhere all the time isn’t in these places? Of course not. He’s there all right. Active. Watchful. Determined to love and forgive and offer another second chance. The problem isn’t with God. Ever. The problem is with us and Job. It’s not a system dysfunction on God’s part but an operator error on our part.
God is smart enough to remain invisible to our radar screen of human logic, self dependence, or stubborn pride. These ways of operating stifle his divine abilities. So he’s “not there” unless we notice him by faith, “being certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).
Even then, even when faith kicks in, we don’t see God. We’re just certain of what we don’t see instead of questioning it. That’s when we’re in for a good fight with God, and by “good” I don’t mean ESPN highlight worthy. I mean beneficial, devotional, spiritually wholesome. Fighting “the good fight” (1 Timothy 6:12).
Fighting with God is bad when whatever is human fights against whatever is divine. But for those with faith, fighting with God is good when we use God’s momentum to gain faith victories. Like judo (or is it karate?) that teaches a person to use his or her opponent’s momentum to gain the advantage. God loves it when people give up all hope except the fight of faith that grapples to benefit from his promises. Using his very word as leverage.
Eventually, Job fought with God according to this fair and faith-filled strategy, turning his troubles into triumphs. Others like Abraham bargaining for the safety of Sodom and Gomorrah fought with God. Jacob went a few rounds with God and Moses confronted him, too, as well as Jeremiah the prophet. Hurting and hopeless people were healed by Jesus in the New Testament because they faced off with the Almighty. All in faith. Fighting the good fight. Because they were certain God was there. They were certain of no other way than God’s way. And they found it.
When your prayers are going unanswered, your needs are unattended as you’d like, your relationships continue to cause stress, or your decisions are never easy and you can’t find God for a fair fight - it’s because he’s hiding from you until you find him in faith. When you do find him (not see him but find him) then fight with that faith. Fight the good fight.
Grab hold of God. Grapple a few rounds for his promises to come true. Go with his momentum.
PRAYER: Lord, I confess that I often feel trapped in the web of circumstances with no hope, and I despair in all, including you. Clear me of my sinful doubt and give me courage for a new day, a day filled with faith in your promises, certain of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that makes me specially yours forever. Let me find you by faith even when I can’t see the way or understand the logic or hear your clear call, and then act boldly on your promises in the decisions I make, conversations I engage, risks I pursue, and beliefs I practice. Amen.