Disobedient God: Trusting a God Who Goes Off-Script

The Israelites made a calf of gold and worshipped it instead of waiting for Moses. We all long for God, but we often reach for things that don't conform to His schedule and expectations. Disobedient God helps us understand and love the God we've misunderstood, leading us to discover the relationship with God we were always meant for.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: Time Warner Trade Publishing

When the people of Israel, those who had witnessed the most abundant and inexplicable acts of God, grew tired of waiting for Moses to come off the mountain, they made a calf of gold. It was easier for them to make a new god than to continue serving a God that didn't conform to their schedule and expectations.

Just like the Israelites in the desert, we are all fundamentally longing for God, but who and what are we actually reaching for and serving? Disobedient God addresses the things we do when we feel ignored, inconvenienced, and frustrated by God. What things are we reaching for in our life? Are we reaching for porn when we long for intimacy? Reaching for success when we long for security? We would never say that we have replaced God, but our actions tell a different story. Whether we are trying to replace God, trying to run away, or trying to perform for Him, we have no mindset to deal with a disobedient God.

Disobedient God is a book for people dealing with this disappointment and interested in properly understanding and loving the God they have misunderstood. This is not a step-by-step instruction manual for how to react when things are difficult; rather, it is a way of understanding God that leads people to discover the relationship with God that they were always meant for.

The Israelites were a people who had been blessed by God with many miracles and wonders. They had seen the plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the daily provision of manna from heaven. Yet, despite all of these blessings, they became impatient and frustrated with Moses, their leader. They wanted a god that they could see and touch, a god that would conform to their own desires and expectations.

So, they made a calf of gold and worshiped it as their god. They sacrificed animals to it and performed rituals in its honor. But their disobedience angered God, and He punished them with a series of plagues. The first plague was a disease that struck down the cattle of the Israelites. The second plague was a swarm of locusts that devoured everything in their path. The third plague was a darkness that covered the entire land for three days. The fourth plague was a killing of firstborn sons.

Despite these punishments, the Israelites continued to worship the calf of gold. They refused to repent and turn back to God. Finally, after many years of suffering, Moses led the people out of Egypt and back to the land of Canaan. They were finally able to worship God in the way that He had intended, and they were blessed with prosperity and peace.

The story of the Israelites is a warning to us of the dangers of disobedience and the importance of seeking God's will. We may be blessed with many things in life, but if we become impatient and frustrated with God, we may end up worshipping idols and suffering the consequences of our disobedience.

In Disobedient God, author John Ortberg explores the reasons why we may become disobedient to God and offers practical advice on how to overcome this temptation. He explains that we often seek God in the wrong places and in the wrong ways. We may seek Him for personal gain or success, or we may seek Him to give us what we want rather than what He wants for us. We may also seek Him to be our source of comfort and security, rather than seeking Him to be our Lord and Savior.

Ortberg also explains that we may become disobedient to God because we are afraid of Him or because we don't understand Him. We may be afraid of His judgment or His wrath, or we may not understand His ways or His plans. We may also be afraid of the consequences of our disobedience, or we may be afraid of the loss of our own self-control.

To overcome these fears and understand God better, Ortberg offers practical advice on how to seek God in the right way. He encourages us to read the Bible regularly, to pray regularly, and to attend church regularly. He also encourages us to seek the guidance of other Christians and to be involved in ministry and service to others.

In conclusion, Disobedient God is a powerful and important book for anyone who is struggling with disobedience to God. It offers practical advice on how to overcome this temptation and understand God better. It is a reminder that we are all sinners in need of salvation, and that we can only find true happiness and fulfillment in a relationship with God.

Weight: 384g
Dimension: 237 x 161 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781546000563