No, it’s not an accusation by a skeptic or atheist. It’s from an essay by James Walters, who wonders if God sometimes “tricks” people into doing something for one reason, only to later reveal that He has an entirely different purpose in mind. Walters describes a bewildering experience from his own ministry:
From the perspective of hindsight, the whole thing is almost comical. We moved cross-country in order to begin a new worship service, waited nearly three years to do that, only to realize that in the end it wasn’t really what we wanted to do after all….As I reflect more on my own story and listen to those of others, it seems to me that God does this a lot: from our perspective, he “tricks” us into doing something or going somewhere under the guise of some project or relationship, and then when we get there we find he has much deeper purposes than said project or relationship.
In support of this idea, he points to an obscure verse in Hosea.
Usually when Christians experience disappointment or run into closed doors like this, we chalk it up to having misunderstood God’s call in the first place—the fault lies with us, and not with God. But have you ever felt that God “deceived” you in some sense, prompting you to follow a certain path only to later reveal that he had something else in mind? Was it a humbling and inspiring experience, or a frustrating and bitter one?
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January 23, 2008 at 15:55
“But have you ever felt that God “deceived” you in some sense, prompting you to follow a certain path only to later reveal that he had something else in mind? Was it a humbling and inspiring experience, or a frustrating and bitter one?”
Oh yeah. Once thought I was headed for the ministry. All the doors opened. Felt the leading of the Holy Spirit. Good counsel from Godly mentors. Only to find myself unemployed in Greenland!
Was pretty angry at God for a long while after that. Took many years to reconcile what I felt was a divine bait-and-switch. Now I look at it as something I may never find out the reason “why”?!
He’s God. He can do what He wants.
January 24, 2008 at 02:54
This whole concept is simply a way to prevent a critical analysis of the idea of God having anything to do with a particular pathway. No matter what happens, it was God’s will?
What happened to taking personal responsibility for our choices and learning from our mistakes? I think this is far more effective than trying to decode what some invisible god has in mind.
January 24, 2008 at 08:41
Does God really ever lay out his future plans for us in detail? I wonder where the biblical basis is for that? We sure would like to know what the future is going to be so I think that desire is projected upon God and we “feel his leading” out of a desire of wanting to know what the future holds. All we are promised is the present and the next step perhaps. I don’t know, but I think there’s a good chance that what looks like God’s deception was really our own self deception all along. Perhaps we are too future oriented for our own good. We put conditions on God’s call when we want to know the details of his plans for us.
January 24, 2008 at 08:51
Eric makes a very statement in that last sentence that makes anything that God could ever do understandable to me.
“He is God, I am not”
It matters little why He does something. Why He closes a door bears little weight on the fact that He closed it. I don’t need to spend 6 months being angry or confused.
After I figured that out, life got a little easier.
January 24, 2008 at 09:36
For many years I didn’t know if God even cared what I did. I didn’t know him and yet things happened throughout my life which lead me to this little church on the hill not far from my new home. I’ve lived all over this country and earth and finally settled somewhat reluctantly in Missouri. I didn’t go to church nor did I want to, until my youngest asked if I would go. Things have changed since that time and I now see it doesn’t matter how close you are to God in your own walk or choice. God has been close to me, (and you as well) all my life using others and situations to guide me towards the path that will lead me home. He loves us and has choosen to be with us even if we don’t know or want him. Face it we all have a Father who loves us so much it would take a pry bar and axle greese to keep him from our side. In God’s Grace John.
January 24, 2008 at 09:45
@Richard
That doesn’t sound like the faith that I follow. If the God you know is invisible in your life then I think there are other issues. Who defines something as a mistake? If we define something as a mistake by human standards does that mean that it was a mistake by God? I doubt it, so therefore what gives us the ability to say God made a mistake.
@Paul
Jer 29:11 is my quick answer. There are other places as well. Without getting into the whole “Free Will” debate…I don’t think either side would argue that it’s all random.
January 24, 2008 at 11:58
What Jason and Eric said above is very ministering to me. For weeks I have been trying to figure out the WHY of my recurrent pregnancy loss (8 miscarriages)... I mean, God is the CREATOR and I LOVE HIM… why create only to destroy and why all the pain…why the dream to be a mom only to not be able to conceive? I have been really angry and have felt deceived and confused…but maybe it is just not for my understanding. The comments from these two brothers really hit home for me. Thank you.
“He is God, I am not” (Eric)
It matters little why He does something. Why He closes a door bears little weight on the fact that He closed it. I don’t need to spend 6 months being angry or confused.
After I figured that out, life got a little easier. (Jason)
January 24, 2008 at 13:33
@Kate
While I believe it’s a true statement to say that we don’t have to understand why God does/allows something to happen…I don’t think we should lose sight of it all having a purpose in His plan.
The pain you are going through right now is not worthless, and however God uses it I would think it be good to know it’s to further His Kingdom.
Just my .02
January 24, 2008 at 13:42
I agree that sometimes is our own doings when we think it’s God. However, all answers have not been given. Take Kate’s situation for example. I don’t have an answer. I am reminded of Job and what happened to him. God never gave Job an answer of why he was chosen to suffer. Job never knew he was the pawn in a game of chess between God and satan. His answer was simply, “I am God and who is there to tell me what to do and how to do it” (paraphrase).
Our sinful, simple minds can’t understand the wisdom of the almighty. We see as far as our eyes and minds allow us to. God sees all things and all falls in his perfect plan. I’m just glad I’m his child. Aren’t you?
January 24, 2008 at 15:01
It’s a funny question to think about. But I think that a lot of times, God uses our thoughts to guide us where we need to be, and think that rarely actually looks the way we expect it to. I would say in my life that it NEVER looks the way I expect it to. That’s because we only have a myopic view of the world, while God can see everything that we need to go through, lessons we need to learn, people we need to meet, to help mold us into the people that reflect Him and His heart. I will admit that I have questioned God’s motives toward me before, though. It’s easy to do that when things go wrong. But, Jeremiah 29:11, I agree, is the thing to stand on when things just don’t make sense.
January 24, 2008 at 16:57
I think for me the simple answer is that, no, he would never decieve us, that is a negative and dishonest thing to do and that does not fit what I believe to be Gods character. Without a doubt he does lead us into things or places but if we are open to him and trust that he has our best interest at heart all will work out.It’s our own interpretation or expectation of things, the way we think it should be that disappoints us.
I know many people who’ve believed that God wanted them to go into ministry only to find out later that it’s not what God wanted. We sometimes tend to overlay our desires onto things and misinterpret Gods leading and this often leads to disaster.
There’s a church near us that has it’s own Bible college training up pastors. They get churned out like sausages and chewed up like them as well. Not all of them but a lot of them crash and burn within a couple of years. Very sad for them but I blame the church for not recommending each person at least has a “cooling off” period before they begin their training. This churches leaders love looking out over the large congregation they have each Sunday and saying look how successful we’ve become. (But that’s another subject for discussion isn’t it?)
Most of those in training have quit their jobs and even moved here to live while training. How many blame God? Who knows? Some I’ll guarantee.
January 25, 2008 at 02:36
Why did he use quotes from Hosea when there is the story of Abraham and Isaac.
God wanted to see if Abraham was faithful enough even to sacrifice his promised child. Abraham took his son to the place. Had the knife out ready to stab Isaac, and then God stops him right there and provides a ram instead.
I don’t think deceive is the best word as in our english language this is something tied to Satan “The Deceiver”. But the Lord does use misdirection. In fact the crucifixtion was just that!
1 Corinthians 2:8 (NIV)
None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
God misdirected Satan and his cronies. Satan thought he could kill God since he was in human form. Satan thought HE was the one who won on Calvary. Only to find out that the very act he thought would defeat God was the very act that God had orchestrated in so many facets throughout all time to redeem mankind and give all authority in Heaven and Earth to His Son. Defeating death and Satan.
From a human perspective that whole idea doesn’t make much sense. Kill Son of God…save mankind…defeat death…Son is resurrected and becomes the single source of eternal life. Its crazy! We don’t always understand what God is doing.
I don’t think God is deceiving us, but I think that since we can’t possibly understand what’s going on God has to work in ways we don’t understand.
Maybe God was leading that church to do more where it went…but the church was focused on one thing when God was focused on another and they misunderstood what God was telling them, but God in His sovereign power still managed to bring them to where He wanted them to be.
January 26, 2008 at 11:21
@Jason #6
Look at the context of Jer. 29:11. It’s a specific promise to the people of Judah to bring them back from exile in Babylon. I have seen this verse on plaques and cards and many places where people have appropriated it in a manner that suggests that God will bless them according to some plan that they have discerned as revealed to them by God. To me that’s a leap. I can’t but my personal dreams for the future in that basket.
I do take comfort in that passage because of what it reveals about Gods character and affection for those he loves. It’s a general statement. I don’t think we’re justified in applying it to the success of specific future plans that we may have. But, with God, “all will be well” in spite of circumstances and failures.
I think God has plans for our welfare and wellbeing and our lives can be guided by him. He hasn’t left us to random chance, but he does give us the power of choice. I don’t think he has committed to revealing his plans for us in any detail in advance. We see them most clearly in hindsight.
January 26, 2008 at 18:20
I’ve stopped trying to explain God and try my best to just understand the mysteries of God (Proverbs 25:2).
I also know that I cannot obtain wisdom without having a deep and profound respect for the God who created me and everything else. Wisdom is doled out to me when I need it. Wisdom is a by-product of my obedience to God and my walk with God.
I will never undertand the mind (or actions) of Almighty God and I never hope to. He’s sovreign, He’s omniscient and I’m not. I am not I AM and neither is anyone else. Stop trying to be and just worship Him in total humility and awe.
January 27, 2008 at 13:51
Thanks Kate for those kind words.
“After I figured that out, life got a little easier. (Jason)”
Jason hits it here. I have a friend who gets all wound up on the issues of the day. She is so worked up over this, that and the other, wondering why God allows “X” to happen and that it really must have been the Devil’s fault. She’s becoming more frustrated with my “He’s God. He can do/allow whatever He wants” answer.
Some things I just won’t understand, even after someone has tried to explain them to me. Why floods? Why earthquakes? Why miscarriages? I don’t know. My Mother would say, “Sins of the father”. I don’t know. I’m not my Dad. I make my own choices, I live with the consequences.
@Paul…”I think God has plans for our welfare and wellbeing and our lives can be guided by him. He hasn’t left us to random chance, but he does give us the power of choice. I don’t think he has committed to revealing his plans for us in any detail in advance. We see them most clearly in hindsight.”
I like that! I do see the hand of God in hindsight and, sometimes, feel pretty foolish for asking, “What the…?”
Sometimes it’s the forest and the trees. Sometimes it’s just the trees.
Eric
February 22, 2008 at 13:07
I wouldn’t place so much emphasis on this business of being “led”, “called”, or other subjective feelings. The Bible doesn’t teach we should make decisions based on these inner feelings.