Ron Writes

An atheist was told by his Christian friends that if he prayed, he would believe. However, the atheist reported that what he prayed for didn’t happen. His Christian friends said, “it was the will of God.” The atheist concluded that if God was going to do what He wants to do anyway, why pray. When tragedy strikes some Christians respond, “God must have a reason for it.” Every time tragedy comes or evil wins, some Christian is going to blame it on the will of God. What kind of a God wants these terrible things to happen to us?

Isaiah’s song of the vineyard (Isa. 5:1-7) gives us an amazing insight into God. It’s clear that God is the owner who has done what was needed to protect His vineyard. He put up a wall, He removed the stones, and He erected a tower. And He has provided everything a productive vineyard needs. He planted it in fertile soil, chose the best vines, and anticipated the harvest by putting in a wine vat. He put in planning, time, effort, and investment and clearly envisioned what the results would be. 

But there are 2 vineyards. There was the one God wanted and envisioned. Then there was the vineyard He got that produced worthless grapes. How can this be? That God wouldn’t or couldn’t get what He wants or expects doesn’t fit into the concept of God many have embraced. Isaiah makes it clear that not everything that happens is the will of God. How can this be? If God is all powerful, can’t we conclude that He will get what He wants. The idea of God’s unrestrained sovereignty doesn’t fit in Isaiah (or anywhere else in Scripture). Not everything that happens is the will of God. 

God has given man free-will. Sometimes bad things happen because we make evil choices. Sometimes we’re the victim of other’s bad choices. Sometimes bad things happen because of the cycle of life. We live in a fallen world filled with sickness and death. 

The song of the vineyard reminds us, that just like us, God experiences disappointment and heartbreak. When sorrows come, we need to see God, not as the cause of our heartache – but as one who knows what we’re going through. A God who cries with us and wants to bring us comfort.