Does God will the misery of his Creation?

In the Bible we are given numerous commands to obey. If we are honest, we disobey most of what God commands us to do. God being omniscient knows what we will do or think before it happens.

So that being the case, why does God command us to do something He already knows we are incapable of doing?

Is God somehow playing with our fragile emotions because He is infinitely more powerful than we are and wants to see us fall into sin?

Is God some type of Cosmic-killjoy who delights in frustrating His creation with overbearing commands?

These are rhetorical questions of course, but to those of us who are struggling to remain on the narrow road of life often feel like God’s commands are too much to bear. When we read God’s word and understand what it says, and look at our lives, we often want to give up because we are not meeting God’s standard.

Why can we not do what God has commanded us? We should all know the answer. Simply because we are sinners, and our natural tendency is to rebel against what is right. We are trapped because of our sins. What can break the chains of our bondage? The all powerful Word of God.

            

Let’s review some texts that will provide us with some relief.

In Micah 7:18-19 we read these words, “Who is a God like You who pardons iniquity (italics mine), and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depth of the sea.”

This text proves God does not delight in our failures, but rather is the only one that forgives our sins despite our disobedience to His word. This text is extraordinarily comforting.

Jeremiah 29:11 speaking to the nation Israel says, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope.”

This verse declares God’s love and good will toward His people. God is not in the business of torturing and inducing grief on them. Yet again God is declaring His heartfelt love for His people by pronouncing good fortune on our lives instead of doom which we deserve.

Here is powerful text that insures our success in performing God’s will. Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fools despise wisdom and understanding.”

In order to succeed in our pursuit of God, we must begin wisely at the start. We must reverence and worship our creator. Failure to do this will certainly bring misery upon us and prove we are evil and foolish.

Isaiah 1:18-20 says, “Come now let us reason together says the Lord, though your sins are as scarlet, they will be white as snow. They are red like crimson, they will be like wool. If you consent and obey (italics mine), you will eat the good of the land, but if you rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Truly the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

God speaking through the prophet declares He wants to sit down with the children of Israel to work out their situation so that they can be restored to a right relationship with Him. It is obvious from these texts of scripture and countless others that God is interested in blessing and bestowing abundant mercy on His creation not judgment.

So back to the original question, does God will the misery of His creation? No. Just because God commands us to obey and we don’t, and He knows we are unable to obey Him perfectly is not God’s problem. It’s ours!

God is a perfect demanding being. He cannot lower His standard of demanding perfect obedience because we are imperfect. So in actuality the misery we suffer is the misery we bring upon ourselves due to our sin nature. Praise God a perfect sacrifice was made in the person of Jesus Christ when He died a sinner’s death for our sins, and removed them from us when we believed.

Sin always has to be punished due to the Lord’s perfect justice so He sent His only begotten Son to pay the price for our treachery. This way God’s perfect justice and holy wrath is appeased, which then allows Him to extend grace, mercy and salvation to whomever He chooses and to those who will believe.