THE DIVINE PREROGATIVE

   Exodus 8:1-9:35; Matthew 19:13-30; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 6:1-5

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.  The world and all its people belong to him.  For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.”

“I will prove to you that that there is no one like me in all the earth. By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth. But I have spared you for a purpose—to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”      

“The disciples were astounded. ‘Then who in the world can be saved?’ they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.’”

“God, I’m not terribly pleased with You right now.  The bad guys are taking advantage of the system – again!  Why do you continue to allow it?  Why do those who do right always have to cover or pay for others?  They certainly don’t care about our rights, or what this will cost us.  If they did, we would never have come to this point.  We’ve gone way past turning the other cheek and way past sacrifice.  Where is the justice?  Why do the evil prosper?  Now would be a great time for You just to take over.  Why are You still standing on the sidelines?”

It’s a good thing God is big enough to handle our impatience and frustration.  The important points, though, are how we handle our impatience and frustration, and how they affect our relationship with God.  Here’s what I get from today’s Scriptures: 

1) God made everything, and it is His, not ours, to control.  (We may claim perks of ownership, but it is a hollow, temporary and ultimately unenforceable argument.)

2) God does not answer to us.  He can do, and does, as He pleases.  (Like it or not, experience indicates this is a good thing.  At least, it’s a very good thing God isn’t controlled by my will!)

3) That last point is frustrating as heck!  (OK, that’s not Scriptural, just true.)

It would be very easy to get disillusioned.  God doesn’t seem to be running a very tight ship. 

Oh…, wait a minute.  There is one more thing.  I’ve made mistakes.  I’ve hurt others.  I deserve punishment, too.  So, I know what it is like, how wonderful it is, to have had a lifeline tossed to me.  Especially one I did not deserve.  And I’m darn glad God did not have to justify His decision.  Because there was no justification.  He just saved me.  One act of grace – unmerited favor – made all the difference. 

The next time I get on my high horse about the injustice of it all, maybe I’ll just give thanks for divine prerogative instead….