An Untamed God

Introduction

Job and His Friends READ JOB 8)

The Friends’ argument:

Hope of the pious

Doom of the Wicked

Everything’s fine, God is safe, you just have to trust God.

What’s wrong with that?

Nothing, if we’re talking about characteristics of God.

But they are talking about a concrete situation—and they’re wrong.

The friends turned God’s CHARACTER into RULES he must follow. (Job 8)

We do this all the time:

We defend the orderliness of the universe

If I’m fine, then everything must be fine

Or we say, God must not be good.

We say a lot more than we know about what a good God would or must do.

Job points out their hypocrisy:

Job 13:7–12 NIV

Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him? Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God? Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal? He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality. Would not his splendor terrify you? Would not the dread of him fall on you? Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

They used the rules made themselves feel SAFE and IN CONTROL. (Job 13:7-12)

If people have control, then people must be blamed.

If I get credit for winning, other people must be blamed for losing.

Job 9:1-13

Job is afraid to stand before God.

Job understood that God is not SAFE—he is WILD and DANGEROUS. (Job 9:1-13)

Why does this matter?

Exile

They were tempted into the friends’ way of doing things.

Laws give control

Sinners could/must be blamed.

Finding Jesus

Then Jesus showed up, and they didn’t recognize him.

If you're looking for a TAME God, you won’t RECOGNIZE Jesus. (Mark 3:1-6)

Jesus wasn’t following their rules.

He was undermining their sense of control.

In fact, Jesus was downright terrifying.

Mark 4:41 NIV

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Mark 6:48–50 NIV

He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Job 9:8 NIV

He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” ~Mr. Beaver

Jesus isn’t SAFE, but he is GOOD. (Mark 2:1-12)

Let me show you what I mean.

Mark 2:1-12

Why did Jesus heal the man?

To prove he had authority to forgive sin.

Why did he choose to forgive the man’s sin?

Because of the friends’ faith.

That does not fit anyone’s plan of salvation!

Jesus broke rules all the time—because he’s wild.

But he always broke good.

Conclusion

We have a choice: safe, or good.

A safe God is predictable. He does just what you expect. He keeps order, he follows rules, NO MATTER WHAT.

A safe God is comforting, as long as you’re on his good side.

Jesus is not a safe God.

He will lead you out into storms.

He will flip tables.

He will take you all the wrong places.

But he is good.