Wearing out God

"Wearing out God"

REVELATION: The last book of the Old Testament. The prophet Malachi allows us to peak into the minds and the hearts of the covenant people at that time. The picture is not pretty. The first two chapters outline the issues God has with his covenant people. Chapter 2, verse 17 nails it on the head.

Mal. 2:17 You have wearied the LORD with your words.
"How have we wearied him?" you ask.
By saying, "All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them" or "Where is the God of justice?"

Can you imagine to weary the Lord with something? The prophet Isaiah says in Is. 40:28, that "the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth neither faints nor is weary. And weary here is the same word (hebrew - yaga') as in Malachi 2:17. What changed? Is this a contradiction? Actually not. Isaiah refers to God's creative powers and energy. Malachi walks us into the finest and deepest chambers of God's own heart. While no physical challenge is too great for His power, our attitudes, stubbornness and slowness to change can actually wear out even God himself. The next thing is that God speaks of sending the Messenger of the covenant to the temple. It's a day of judgement and purification. Good news to some, not so good news to the chronic rebels and hypocrites described so vividly by Malachi in chapters 1 and 2.


OBSERVATION: As a leader I've observed through the years number of people who begin their walk with God, invest a good amount of time in educating themselves Biblically and all of a sudden hit a ceiling of a sort, a spiritual limitation they don't seem to be able to break through. It's not a matter of accumulating more knowledge. It comes to a point where stuff in our lives has to go and too many of us choose to hold on to it. We go through deliverance sessions, we kick and scream, but somewhere there underneath all of this, there is a deep root of bitterness. It sounds like this: "Where is the God of justice?"

A lot of people abandon their faith because they can't reconcile God's claim of being just and righteous with their own life experience and a world full of injustices. It's a very deep, intimate issue and many people don't even realize this deep root of bitterness is operating in their lives. It affects themselves (depression), it affects others (anger) and ultimately it affects the Kingdom (grieving the Holy Spirit).

IMPLICATION: Realize that the temptation to start blaming God for everything that's wrong inside and outside of you is there and it's very real. Ask Cain and he'll tell you. "Sin lies at the door..." (Gen. 4:6) It will affect your relationship with God in the long run. This is a heart issue but it has implications in many other areas. Jealousy, anger and even murder begin at heart level. Don't neglect to look into your own heart. Be willing to accept God's diagnosis, however hard it may be. Even a donkey can speak out and identify what's wrong with you. Don't wait for the donkey, though. Start by asking yourself, the Holy Spirit, those closest to you (even Abel if needed). Acknowledge the hidden bitterness, bring it to open and get free from it. If this doesn't work, go cold turkey and confess all your sins to someone you trust and will love you beyond reason. (James 5:16)

And remember, this fallen world will never reflect fully God's Justice. That's why we have Judgement Day coming. And then the promise of Heaven and the ultimate justice of hell for those who have chosen to violate God and mankind in this life and forever.