The rules of the game
Through careful study (and the Holy Spirit’s help), we gain understanding into difficult Scripture while maintaining reverence for our Sovereign Lord.
“16 million,” my son places his rent card on the discard pile. Grandpa’s brow furrows. “How did you get that?” My son points to his colorful wild cards. “I’m charging you for this property.” Grandpa shakes his head, “It doesn’t work like that.” I smirk from across the table. As an offspring of my competitive father, I’m amused at my son’s futile attempt to change the game rules. My childhood was filled with games and laughter … mixed with a bit of angst. My son has a slim chance of rule alteration while competing against this seniormost card player.
I remembered this incident while reading about the impact of On the Origin of Species. In 1910, philosopher John Dewey noted Darwin’s influence in how we now handle unsolved and perplexing mysteries. “We do not solve them: we get over them. Old questions are solved by disappearing, evaporating, while new questions corresponding to the changed attitude of endeavor and preference take their place” (The Influence of Darwin on Philosophy and Other Essays in Contemporary Thought). Changing goal posts, shifting ideas—try that on Game Night (you won’t get far with my father!). How much less with the Creator of your every breath and the One who knows your words before they are formed. It’s fascinating that humans reach for new questions rather than grapple with God’s revealed truth. Aware that God’s answer isn’t what we like, sinful nature exchanges the truth for a lie (Romans 1:25).
Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash
Consider the account of Achan stealing from the Lord. While Israel was busy storming the fallen city of Jericho, Achan violated God’s direct orders of devoting the precious possessions to himself (Joshua 7). After Achan’s punishment, God tells the Israelites to attack the next city and says, “You may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves” (Joshua 8:2). Wait, God! You burned with anger at Achan’s disobedience, then your instructions for the next city is an allowance to collect treasure! I attempt the role of official rule keeper. No, God, that’s harsh and cruel!
Are we to interpret this account as a shifting goalpost, a breech in God’s constancy? We do not understand all that God has decreed, but we also do not have the authority to question what he orchestrates (Isaiah 45:9; Romans 9:20). God has no score card that we dare write upon. We boast no authority to call a foul.
For the Israelites’ situation, Matthew Henry offers a reasonable explanation that God took the first fruits of Jericho, then blessed the remaining Israelites (who had denied themselves) with the land’s wealth. Through careful study (and the Holy Spirit’s help), we gain understanding into difficult Scripture while maintaining reverence for our Sovereign Lord. “God is His own interpreter” writes Cowper echoing the psalmist, “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him” (“God Moves in a Mysterious Way,” 1774; Psalm 115:3).
Though cultural pressure demands that we join in the exploration of fanciful hypothesis and shifting definitions, Christians remain rooted on God’s Word. We rest in the sweet promises of our Shepherd, who guards our souls through perplexing doubts and challenges (1 Peter 2:25). The end results? Our good and his glory (Romans 8:28; 1 Peter 5:10)! “Judge not the Lord by feeble sense / But trust him for his grace / Behind a frowning providence / He hides a smiling face” (Cowper).
