Two Simple Comments that Have Me Re-evaluating My View of God

The first comment happened like this: we were sitting on the couch yesterday. Just Caleb – my 9-year-old – and me. Everyone else was asleep. We were watching a big spider building a web right outside our living room window.
We talked about how amazing spiders are. How great of an inventor God is. The conversation turned to the good that spiders do: eating up millions of bugs that would otherwise be flying around and landing on you and me. (Sorry if I just creeped you out a bit.)
That’s when I said, “I know why God created spiders, even though so many people think they’re gross and are afraid of them. But I have no idea why God created mosquitoes. I’d like to ask God why he did that someday.”
There was a long pause. Then Caleb said, “Dad? Do you really think there has to be a reason for everything?”
“Well…er…no, son. I guess there doesn’t.”
I don’t know about you, but so often I feel like there has to be a reason for everything. Not only that, but somehow God is supposed to explain it to me. He doesn’t have to do it now, but I have this picture in my head of me, standing before God, asking him question after question, with him ticking off the list with answers that satisfy my curiosity.
Maybe he’ll do that for some questions. Maybe, just maybe, he will look me in the eye, grin, and say “Do you really think there has to be a reason for everything?”
Makes me think of God’s conversation with Job (starts in chapter 38):
“Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?
Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.’”
The second comment happened on Sunday. Our youth pastor was preaching on worship, being in awe of God; being blown away by God’s majesty, power, and glory. He read from Revelation 4 and 5. (If you haven’t read that description of worship in the Throne Room of God, you should pause and go do it now. Amazing!)
Somewhere in the middle of the sermon he said this:
“As soon as you get to the place where everything about God is understandable and ‘makes sense,’ what you have actually done is created God in your own image.”
Ouch.
I wonder how many times I have done that to one extent or another. Tried to simplify God so much that I forgot the mystery. Explained the way God works in a way that completely dismissed the Holy Spirit. Reduced faith to step-by-step plans that eliminate any need to pursue a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus.
How many times have I made God in my own image?
Why am I so afraid to let God be big? To let Him be holy? To let Him be mysterious? To let Him be all-knowing (when I am not)? To let Him be all-powerful (when I am not)?
When am I going to be okay with God being – well – God? When am I going to say, along with the apostle Paul,
“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!
For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to give him advice?” (Romans 11:33-35)
Question: How about you? What have you heard or read that has you thinking, pondering, and re-evaluating how you see God?
Read an earlier post from Keith here.
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This is an excellent reminder of who God is. Thank you for a good focus for today.
Great Article!!!
Awesome
I still don’t like spiders (especially since I am suffering a spider bite on my face) but I understand your point it is well made. Oh and mosquitoes have a purpose they feed bats. I do think God did make some things for the simple pkeasure of making them the poisonous Monarch butterfly for example.
SONG of SONGS
I see God in everything “good”.
The Cherokee Indians learn patients by watching the spider build a web.
Interesting
Currently reading, “Bad Things Happen to Good People.” Appears to be pretty much right on point with this, sometimes things just happen. I was once taught that knowing why you believe something is more important than saying what you think you believe. I haven’t finished processing “Bad Things…” yet but it was a very interesting read, not to mention a good “make you think about what you believe” book.
I’m not sure if it is right to say that just because we try to figure out who God is and why he does things that we putting God in a box. By thinking about these things we are forming a concept of God in our minds, but forming a concept of God in no sin and wanting to know more about God is no sin.
Fine ! Good Morning !
CindyBaum Glad you liked it Cindy!
Honored to share here at Trochia! Such a terrific ministry.
How he can hear us all at one time.
Wow, well stated! Amen.
amen
I view God as my Heavenly Daddy, He loves me unconditionally, He takes care of me, I trust Him for everything. He never leaves me, He is my creator, my friend, my everything.
well i read this one book, called God is fake
I view God as my everything. I have never felt alone , but I have been by myself at times for years. JesusGod is all to me. :))
Trochia. I view God as my everything. I have never felt alone , but I have been by myself at times for years.
I do not even try. HE just is. Thank God.
YES I LOVE GOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Janet Neese Wow Janet! Spider bite on the face. Yikes. So sorry. I love to imagine God making some creatures “just for fun.”
@Marsha Mossgrove Amen Marsha! The One who IS good also created all that is good!
@Robin Lowery Nice. I guess it’s about time I watch a spider build its web! 🙂
@Autumn Hill If I remember correctly, I read that book a long time ago. I remember it being quite thought-provoking.
@Jimmy Claros I agree that trying to figure things out isn’t putting God in a box. That said…Once we get to the point that we have “figured Him out,” that’s when we’ve put Him in a box. Pondering, exploring, and examining are absolutely not a sin. I completely agree Jimmy!
@Kostya Yatsuk Interesting title. Who’s the author?
Praise him for his mercy.
All the times GOD is Awesome
His Faithfulness! I praise HIM every day!
amen
AMEN
His faithfulness to me. I belong to Him!
AMEN
Amen.
AMEN
About an hour and a half ago,amen
Praise be to my Lord and King who brought me from my suffering.
Praise god for his mercy amen
Amen
AMEN
Amen
It is no one else’s business when I last worshiped God. I do it for myself and for Him. Not for how it looks to people period!
Undying love for us
I Truly Believe God Forgave Me.
amen
AMEN!!!
AMEN
AMEN
Praise Jesus
AMEN
AMEN
amen
Amen.
I was watching that star last night..It IS the Star of Bethlehem!!
The Lord is good and His lovingkindness endures forever….
AMEN
I took have come to worship.
AMEN
I choose to worship Him in the morning as I wake and in the evening before I sleep to thank HIM for all that He has done for me and my family everyday until the day I can fall to my knees at HIS feet and tell HIM I LOVE Him always. AMEN!
daily
Everyday of my “Life”…..amen
Amen!!
Amen
Amen
amen lord !
Simply for my quality of breath! Everything I do, see, have, love is because He died for me.
Amen
Hey we will be at Wendy’s this weekend
amen
The word worship means to give “great honor and respect” – – – I feel that for The Lord EVERY day when I think of Him.
This is common in churches that are preaching a cotton candy gospel! But, I am guilty as well.