When God Isn't Working

We have some interesting passages in Scripture that seem to point to a failure on the part of God. You find, for instance, the claim that

the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened (Rom 1:18-21).

You would think that a strategy to make Himself known within them would guarantee a following, but the text itself says "Even though they knew God, they did not honor Him." A failed policy.

Take, as another example, Isaiah's commission from God.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!" He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.' "Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed." Then I said, "Lord, how long?" And He answered, "Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, Houses are without people And the land is utterly desolate (Isa 6:8-11).

God called Isaiah to be His representative and to fail to get His message across effectively. His plan was to tell them to listen and for them to fail to listen. A failed plan.

Oh, here's one. This is one that you'd think would be a sure success. I mean, what do unbelievers tell you all the time? "If God would do a miracle in front of me, I'd believe." And yet,

In the Law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to Me," says the Lord (1 Cor 14:21).

So God's plan was to give them the miraculous -- speaking in tongues -- and they would not listen. That is, that they would not listen was part of the plan. Talk about a failure.

Of course, it's not a failure. It is the same concept in all cases that is listed in the first: "So that they are without excuse." No one will be able to say, "I didn't know." No one will be able to stand in front of God and complain, "You didn't give me enough reasons." The failure of the proofs will be proof of their failure, not God's failure. You see, there is no time when God isn't working. It's just not always as obvious as you might think.