Disagreeing with God is Okay? (see details)?

Question

When God wanted to destroy Sodom and Gommorah, He had a chat with His pal Abraham. Abe thought it was a lousy idea, and asked God to reconsider, providing a number of decent people could be found in these towns. God didn't smite Abe, but instead agreed.

When God wanted to smack down the Chosen People led out of Egypt by Moses, for worshipping other gods, Moses thought this idea was really poor. He disagreed, and talked God out of it, urging God to consider His reputation. God was so impressed (and concerned) He changed His mind and witheld the holy smackdown.

So is it okay to disagree with God? Humans can teach God wisdom?

Answer 1

I love this conversation that God had with Abraham!! When you read the entire context you will see that God spoke with Abraham and called Him His friend. Abraham never changed God's mind, and neither did Moses, but they spoke freely with Him as God wants us to speak freely with Him. He wants us to ask Him questions, and to ask Him for reasons and blessings. These are beautiful example of how God desires to have a relationship with us. He knew what was going to occur all along because He sees our world in a different way, in the same way as we see the Bible. He knew what was going to occur, but He gave those men the opportunity to ask Him for a favor. He was going to save Lot and His family from Sodom and Gommorrah the entire time, but He knew that Abraham would ask Him too also, and so He showed us through His word, that a man, like Abraham, could question God, as we can. A lot of the Old Testament is meant for us to learn from and understand who are God is. A great novel never tells the plot, it shows it. God's word doesn't just tell us how to live or how He is, He shows us.

Answer 2

No. You are wrong in both examples.
1. God was testing the heart of abraham in the example of Sodom and Gommorah. God wanted to see what kind of value Abraham put on human life. Abraham asked if there was one righteous person in Sodom and Gommorah that God wouldn't destroy it. God agreed. But there was no one who was righteous and the city was destroyed.

2. In the example of Moses, Moses didn't think the idea was poor as you said. Moses had those who rebelled against God killed. God was not happy with Moses that he destroyed the tablets the 10 Commandments were written on. But God was merciful and didn't kill all the Israelites by Moses' pleading.

Both examples show one thing. God is merciful even when he has the full right to punish. Even when he is right, his nature is to forgive. So, it's not ok to disagree with God. That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Only an idiot would think this. Second, only a real moron would think that they could teach God something. If you are this moron, pray to God, maybe he'll have mercy on you too.

Answer 3

Those famous biblical figures that disagreed with the Almighty had different outcomes. Lot helped to convince God that if he could find just one righteous person in Sodom and Gommorrah, God would spare those cities. Also Lot begged God in a humble way, with a loving heart. God seems to give you the benefit of the doubt when you humble yourself in this way.
Of course, once God is angry and makes up his mind, changing his course can be difficult at best. When the Almighty punishes, that usually means all options are up. No if, ands, or buts. Hence, since Lot could'nt find anyone righteous, that was it, and the cities were finally destroyed for all time.

Answer 4

It has always been my practice to question God when something didn't ring true to my gut feeling of what I know God's character to be like from my own experience of "Him". (What was really happening...was I misunderstanding his directive in the first place, was he testing me to see if I was ready to take a stand ???)

In my opinion the point of those stories is that we each have an opportunity for an interactive relationship and that just as we as parents, find ourselves wanting to help our children learn...not only by telling them what to do and enforcing rules on them...but by giving opportunities to try out their own ideas (after all, aren't we trying to help them to develop into confident, independent adults)...in just this same way, God listens to his children and gives many opportunities to test their ideas, to live out the character of God that is now growing within themselves.

I don't know if humans teach God wisdom or not. I do think about this, about whether God grows right along with us, intricately linked. I know that I was taught that we are being groomed/raised/perfected to be one with him forever.

But yes, I argue with God. Sometimes my ideas seem to be reinforced as a "YES, you get it"...sometimes my ideas are shot down.

Answer 5

As long as it's OK to disagree with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny as well.

Answer 6

That wasn't wisdom.That was melting His heart so that He would act out of Mercy instead of Judgment. It is definitely OK to beg for Mercy.

Answer 7

quite the other way around, by being harsh God can determine the love that mankind has for his fellow man, charity. IT is through that, that he teaches us wisdom.

Answer 8

i think it is inevitable that we will dissagree with or be angry at God at times. but the idea is to be faithful, and go to Him with our feelings. God listens and understands, and we mustn't be afraid to go to him, even with disputes. Look up Psalm 88.

Answer 9

God is all knowing, all powerful, he can do anything he wants to, he can even turn someone inside out with a snap of one of his fingers. its wrong to disagree with God.

Answer 10

its ok to disagree with GOD, remember GOD is intelegence of intelegences ( if he exists)
But its not ok to disagree with christians. Dust ( geneses 2:13) can't have wisdom therefore christians are not flexible.