The God Who Reasons: Learning to Listen from the Almighty
Base Texts: Isaiah 1:18; Genesis 3:9–13
Proposition: Although God is perfect and never errs, He chooses to listen to human arguments to teach us the paths of humility and justice.
Introduction
The Perfection of God: We know from Scripture that God is infinitely wise and perfect. As Job 9:3 suggests, no human can truly argue against Him and win on the basis of sheer intellect or righteousness.
A Common Misconception: Many people view God as a divine tyrant—a cosmic dictator who imposes His will through force without regard for the human heart. However, the Bible paints a drastically different picture.
The Divine Invitation: God is not threatened by our questions. He listens, He asks, and He permits us to state our case. If the King of the Universe humbles Himself to listen to us, we must ask ourselves: Why are we often so unwilling to listen to one another?
I. God Listens Even After the Fall
Text: Genesis 3:9–13
One might expect that the moment sin entered the world, God would have appeared only to strike a blow of judgment. Instead, He appeared with a question: “Where are you?”
• He Knew the Answer: God didn't ask because He was lost; He asked to give Adam and Eve the opportunity to speak.
• Listening to Weak Arguments: Adam blamed the woman (and God for giving her to him). Eve blamed the serpent.
• Divine Patience: Even though their arguments were flawed and shifted the blame, God listened to both of them completely before executing His judgment.
Key Lesson: God listens even when we are wrong. He values the process of dialogue over the speed of execution.
II. God Listens to Arguments of Intercession
Text: Genesis 18:23–33
The dialogue between God and Abraham regarding the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah is one of the most remarkable "negotiations" in history.
• Appealing to Justice: Abraham argued based on God’s own character: "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
• The Six-Step Prayer: God allowed Abraham to move the "requirement" from 50 righteous people all the way down to 10.
• Patience in Dialogue: God knew the final outcome, yet He patiently attended to every one of Abraham’s pleas.
Key Lesson: God values our intercessions and allows us to reason with Him based on His promises.
III. The Invitation to Reason
Texts: Isaiah 1:18; 43:26; Job 23:4–6
God’s preferred method of interaction is not a monologue, but a conversation.
• “Come now, and let us reason together”: This is a legal invitation. God is inviting humanity to the table to discuss the "case" of our sin and His grace.
• Open Court: In Isaiah 41 and 43, God repeatedly asks His people to "present their cause" and "state their case."
• The Example of Job: Job desperately wanted to "lay his case" before God. When God finally spoke, He addressed Job directly, showing that a just God never closes the door to a sincere seeker.
IV. The Danger of Closing Our Ears
Texts: John 7:51; Acts 7:54–57
The Bible contrasts God's listening heart with the closed-mindedness of religious legalism.
The Righteous Response |
The Tyrannical Response |
John 7:51: The Law requires hearing a person before judging them. |
Acts 7:57: The crowd "stopped their ears" while Stephen spoke. |
John 8:4–7: Jesus listens to the case against the woman but looks deeper into the hearts of the accusers. |
John 9:34: The Pharisees heard the healed blind man but cast him out because his testimony challenged them. |
Warning: To "stop one's ears" is a physical manifestation of spiritual pride. When we refuse to hear another's argument, we are acting like a tyrant, not like our Father.
V. Application for the Church
Text: James 1:19
How do we take this divine attribute and live it out in our pews, our homes, and our workplaces?
1. Be Quick to Hear: Before forming a conclusion, ask questions. Imitate the "Where are you?" approach of God in Eden.
2. Avoid Fallibility Bias: Only God is never wrong. Because we can be wrong, we must listen to the "other side" to find the truth.
3. Healing Relationships: Most conflicts are sustained by a refusal to listen to arguments. Listening doesn't always mean agreeing, but it always means valuing the person.
- The stability and faithfulness of a Christian: What Is Your Foundation?
- The Character of a Leader: Lessons from Paul’s Conduct
- Presenting a Defense of Our Hope
Conclusion
God is the absolute authority, yet He is the ultimate listener. He is not a tyrant; He is a Father who invites us to "reason together."
If we want to grow spiritually, we must abandon the pride that says, "I already know everything," or "I don't need to hear your side." Instead, let us be humble, let us be patient, and let us be quick to listen—remembering that our ability to hear others is a reflection of how well we have heard the voice of God.
