If I Were God

The story of Exodus is the story of God’s patience. That’s the story of your life—mine, too: God has been so patient toward us. What if today you spent some time reflecting on how long-suffering he has consistently been toward you. Think of specific ways the Almighty has endured your immaturity and griping by showing you his kindness and giving you his grace instead. Now, in light of that, translate God’s patience into human patience by extending some to someone in your world in need of your mercy and grace. And if you can’t think of anyone, call me!

The Journey// Focus: Exodus 16:6-8

So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”

If I were God, it is likely that one of two extremes would happen: I’d either wipe out the human race and create a species of robots who never questioned my authority but only obeyed quickly, unquestioningly and joyfully. Or I become a pushover, unable to muster the moral fortitude to do what was required, never get around to punishing sin, and earth would be overrun with wrongdoers doing wrong things.

Anyway, aren’t you glad that I’m not God? I sure am!

That aside, do you not find this chapter, and the many like it in Scripture, so amazing, given the patience and mercy of God? In this case, after delivering Israel by his mighty hand from Egypt with one miracle after another, and after giving them water by healing the poisoned waters at the Marah oasis (Exodus 15:22-27), the Israelites have turned right around and griped yet again about God’s lack of care for their needs.

Now actually, they are complaining about Moses, but he rightly ascribes their griping as, in reality, grumbling against God: “the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him” (the line is repeated twice, in Exodus 16:7 and 16:8) and again in Exodus 16:8, “You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.” Yet God graciously, patiently, mercifully responds to their grumbling with grace—he gives them what they don’t deserve: manna in the morning and meat at night.

If I were God, would I have been so gracious? From my perspective sitting on my loft moral perch thousands of years after the fact, no. But when I think about my own children and grandchildren, it is very likely that I would have endured the Israelites’ immaturity and offered grace in order to bring them to growth in their character. Paul talks of this kind of radical patience with a redemptive purpose in Romans 2:4,

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

Again, I am glad I am not God, and that God is God. Neither you nor I would be around if the equation were changed and I were put in charge. But thank God for his grace, mercy, patience and loving-kindness to us. As King David wrote in Psalm 103:13-14,

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

In light of that, I think there are a least three critical takeaways that we should consider:

1. We must remember that grumbling ultimately is grumbling against God. So, let’s not—ever!
2. We should be grateful that God overlooks our immaturity for a while. So let’s grow up—fast!
3. Given God’s undeserved patience and unmerited grace toward ingrates like us, how much more tolerant should we be in enduring those who test our patience. So, let’s chill—with everyone!

There is a Hebrew tradition that Abraham was sitting by his tent when he saw a weary, old man walking his way. Abraham rushed out to greet him and invited him into his tent. He washed his feet and gave him food and drink. The old man immediately began eating without saying a blessing, so Abraham asked him, “Don’t you worship God?”

He replied, “I worship fire only and reverence no other god.”

Abraham was indignant, and grabbed the old man by the shoulders, and threw him out his tent into the cold night. After the old man was gone, God called out to Abraham and asked where the stranger was. Abraham replied, “I forced him out because he did not worship you.”

God answered, “Abraham, I have suffered him these eighty-three years, although he dishonors me. Could you not endure him one night?”

We who have been the recipients of the patience of God, how can we do no less than to allow the patience of God to liberally be extended to others through our lives?

Thank God for his extreme patience. And yes, thank God I am not in his place!