In what ways might we mistakenly assume God is "just like us"? Recognizing the Warning in Psalm 50:21 “You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face.” God’s rebuke exposes a common human error: projecting our own traits, limits, and attitudes onto Him. Below are several frequent ways we do this—and the corrective truth Scripture gives. Mistaken Assumption #1: God Shares Our Moral Leniency • We downplay sin, so we assume He will too. • Truth: “God is not a man, that He should lie” – Numbers 23:19. • His holiness never wavers; every sin matters (Habakkuk 1:13). Mistaken Assumption #2: God Is Limited by Time and Space • We are stuck in the present; we imagine God reacting moment-by-moment like us. • Truth: “From everlasting to everlasting You are God” – Psalm 90:2. • He sees the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). Mistaken Assumption #3: God’s Knowledge Is Partial Like Ours • We forget, overlook, or stay uninformed and assume He might as well. • Truth: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight” – Hebrews 4:13. • Even our unspoken thoughts are fully known (Psalm 139:1-4). Mistaken Assumption #4: God’s Emotions Fluctuate Like Ours • Our feelings rise and fall; we picture God caught in mood swings. • Truth: “I, the LORD, do not change” – Malachi 3:6. • His love, wrath, and mercy are steady and perfectly balanced. Mistaken Assumption #5: God Relates on Our Merit System • We earn favor from people, so we try to earn God’s. • Truth: Salvation is “by grace…not by works” – Ephesians 2:8-9. • He delights in mercy freely given through Christ (Titus 3:5). Mistaken Assumption #6: God Must Explain Himself the Way We Do • We demand rationale and think silence equals approval. • Truth: “My thoughts are not your thoughts” – Isaiah 55:8-9. • His reasons are higher, even when hidden. Clearing the Misconceptions with Scriptural Truth • God’s holiness sets the moral standard (1 Peter 1:16). • His omnipresence and eternity anchor His sovereignty (Jeremiah 23:24). • His omniscience means nothing escapes judgment or care (Psalm 147:5). • His immutability guarantees every promise (James 1:17). • His grace supersedes human effort (Romans 11:6). Living in Light of God’s True Character • Approach Him with reverent awe, not casual familiarity. • Trust His timing and purposes when they differ from ours. • Confess sin promptly, knowing He sees and judges rightly. • Rest in His unchanging love and the certainty of His Word. |
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