John 7:45-53, 2 Peter 1:12-21, Job 2, Ezekiel 4-8

Recall:
Job 2:10 Shall we receive the good at the hand of God and not the bad?

Ezekiel 5:9 And because of all of your abominations, I will do to you what I have never yet done, and the like of which I will never do again.

Ezekiel 8:6 He said to me "Mortal, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me from my sanctuary?"

Reflect:
Two different books, two different views of why God messes with people. Ezekiel we're ok with--the fact that God punishes us and causes bad things to happen to us when we screw up fits into a (probably the) common view of God. But then there is Job who had horrible things happen...because he was being good?! Because God wanted to show him off like a horse in a race?! So, it would seem you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Now, neither of these are a true reflection of God as I know God. But man, are they a good reminder not to put God in a box.

The claim that God has been chased out of God's sanctuary is one that struck a nerve. How often have we done that?

Respond:
You are not completely understandable, God, but to whom else do we turn? What other choice is there but to take the "good" and the "bad"? In everything God, I want to turn to you, cling to you, move farther into you.