Hear It on Sunday, Use It on Monday: Can I Change God's Mind?

“If I could write a sentence like that, I’d be happy; I’d be done,” she declares. I glance down at the hand-out and read it again. It’s a single sentence, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist William Faulkner, about 200 words long, brimming with symbolism, one clause running into the next, a blur of nouns and verbs.

I hate it. I think it’s a terrible sentence. I read it three times, slowly and deliberately, and I still can’t make any sense of it. “How in the world is that a great sentence?” I wonder.

I say nothing. After all, who am I to criticize William Faulkner? And who am I to disagree with the workshop leader, an esteemed writer herself? If Lauren Winner – published novelist, ordained minister, creative writing professor at Duke University – makes a proclamation about writing, who am I to argue?

I remembered this moment when I read the story from the Book of Exodus this week. God is steaming mad – his people have betrayed him yet again. They’ve created a golden calf and are worshipping it as an idol, and God’s had it. “Leave me alone,” he fumes to Moses, “so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them.” (Exodus 32:10, NLT).

Now. If I’d been in Moses’ shoes, I certainly would have let God do his thing. He is the authority, after all – the be-all-and-end-all authority. I’m not about to question God, to challenge his authority. That’s not my place, right? My job is to accept God’s will, no questions asked.

But Moses doesn’t do that. Instead, he counters God with this suggestion:

“Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people.” (Exodus 32:12)

God, upon hearing Moses’ plea, reacts unexpectedly: “The Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.” (Exodus 32:14). Moses convinced God to change his mind.

I’m not saying these verses give us free reign to disobey God or even to challenge his authority. But I do think this story demonstrates the fact that God is open to dialogue. Yes, God is the be-all-and-end-all authority. Yes, God is omniscient and omnipotent. Yes, we are commanded to obey him. But that doesn’t mean we have to like his decisions.

That doesn’t mean we can’t ask him to change his mind.

The lesson for me in this story, as in my experience with Lauren Winner and William Faulkner, is this: I should respect, but not fear authority – not God’s, nor the writing expert’s.

I was not brave like Moses in that writing workshop. I was afraid to speak in the face of authority. I was afraid to question, afraid even to open my mouth. But I suspect that if I’d had the courage to begin a respectful conversation about the Faulkner sentence that day, Lauren Winner would have listened.

And I’m beginning to think that God wants to listen to me, too – even when I tell him that I disagree.

Do you think there is room to question God without crossing the line into disobedience?

Looking for a short but impactful daily devotional? My church, Southwood Lutheran, recently launched a daily e-devotional written by 25 writers, and, no bias of course, I happen to think it's pretty great. Interested? You can read samples and sign up here. You don't need to be a member of Southwood or even a resident of Nebraska to sign up! Devotions will delivered to you email in-box Monday-Saturday at 6L30 a.m. CT.

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