Is it wrong to blame God?

Response

Blaming God is a common reaction when life doesn’t unfold as expected. The belief is that since God is in control of all things, He could have prevented the events, altered the circumstances for our benefit, or averted the disaster. His lack of intervention leads to assigning blame.

In a way, these assertions hold truth. Isaiah 45:7 appears to support the notion that God is accountable for all occurrences: “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.” Additionally, Isaiah 46:9–11 states: “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. . . . I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ . . . What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.” If God is willing to accept responsibility for everything, is it unjust to fault Him when tragedy or sorrow befalls us?

The term blame entails “finding fault with.” Blaming surpasses recognizing God’s supremacy. Blaming God suggests that He erred, that a flaw exists within Him. By blaming God, we position ourselves as His judges. However, mere mortals have no authority to pass judgment on the Almighty. We are His creations; He is not ours: “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’? Woe to the one who says to a father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to a mother, ‘What have you brought to birth?’” (Isaiah 45:9-10). To help avoid blaming God, we must first understand why heartache and pain are part of our lives. Sin is at the root of every harsh and evil act. God did not design the human body or soul to live in a sinful world. We were created perfectly to dwell in a perfect world (Genesis 1—2). However, the sin of Adam brought devastation and disaster into God’s perfect world. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, droughts—ultimately, all natural disasters are here because of sin (Genesis 3:17-19). Our own sinful choices create a ripple effect that echoes throughout our lives. Also, the sin of others affects us. Earthly trouble is a reminder that sin has terrible consequences. Therefore, before we blame God for a crisis, we must examine our own lives and be honest about choices that could have led to it.

Secondly, we need to examine our relationship with God. It is puzzling that many people who never consider God while pursuing their own desires become very religious when disaster strikes. They live for themselves 99 percent of the time, as if there were no God. However, when tragedy strikes, suddenly it is God’s fault. Not only is this irrational, but it is also insulting to the Creator, who has already provided everything we need to have a relationship with Him.

Of course, having a right relationship with the Lord does not exempt us from experiencing terrible heartaches. What should we do when disaster strikes? Often, Christians are tempted to blame God when suffering occurs. There is a tendency to heed the advice of Job’s wife to her suffering husband: “Curse God and die!” «Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. », (Job 2:9).

Instead of blaming God, Christians can seek comfort in Him (Proverbs18:10; Psalm 34:18). Christians possess a promise that the unbelieving world cannot claim. Romans 8:28 states that “all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Some individuals quote this verse and halt after the word good, but that is a misinterpretation of Scripture. God included two qualifiers after this promise that establish its boundaries: the promise is “to those who love God” and to those “called according to His purpose.”

Instead of accusing God, those who love Him can confront tragedy with the confidence that nothing can harm them that God did not permit for a good and loving reason. He permits challenging circumstances, even suffering and death, for His own higher intentions. When we seek God’s will for our lives, prioritizing it over our own will, He wastes nothing. No suffering, heartache, loss, or pain is squandered in the lives of God’s own people. He transforms our sorrow and loss into a foundation for future ministry. He utilizes the challenges to fortify us, providing us with greater opportunities to accumulate treasure in heaven than we would have had without the pain «but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: », (Matthew 6:20). Instead of accusing God, we “give thanks in everything” (Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18).

We recognize that God can intervene in any situation; when He does not intervene, and tragedy occurs, we should refrain from blaming Him for wrongdoing. Despite all that Job endured, “he did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” «In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.», (Job 1:22). Instead of blaming God, who had permitted such overwhelming loss, Job said, “Though he slay me, yet will I

Hope in Him” “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: But I will maintain mine own ways before him.”, (Job 13:15). God honored Job’s response and blessed him mightily after he passed the test. God wants to bless us as well with greater understanding, deeper devotion, and eternal reward that can never be taken away. When we are tempted to blame God, we can choose Job’s response and trust that He knows what He is doing (see Psalm 131).