It’s not unusual for people to claim that “God hates” them. It usually comes on the heels of a trying time, where people are struggling health-wise, financially, with family, with emotions, or one of any number of issues that plague humanity.
Often, I don’t even think people really mean it—they just say it because it gives them someone to blame.
Or they say it out of pride. Elevating yourself to the position of God’s favorite bullseye puts you on par with the Creator of the world; you would have to assume you’re a match for Him, somehow.
The facts don’t even add up. The gift of life is proof enough that God loves you, and everyone has been afforded some measure of blessings. Not to mention the gift of His Son. Why would anyone think that God has a specific vendetta against them?
Perhaps this argument is best looked at objectively. In Deuteronomy 1:27, Moses tells the people that the land of Canaan was good, the fruit was better, but that the Amorites (and other Canaanites) were too overpowering.
At this, Moses reminds them that God carried them through the wilderness “as a man carries his son”—gently, and with care. Did they not think that God would do the same here?
Apparently not, because they argue that this whole thing must’ve been a trap. A sham! A plot to annihilate them all! And Moses was in on it!
Never mind that it was their own hand-picked scouts that made their hearts melt—a fact Moses reminds them of in Deuteronomy 1:28. It had to have been God. Had to have been!
It’s such a childish attitude to create a plan (“let’s go spy out the land”), pick the men themselves, then blame God for the results. It’s something I expect from my six-year-old, not a bunch of grown-ups eating manna that literally fell from Heaven.
When you look past the very obvious logical flaws in their argument, which has more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese, you’re left with one question: Why? What caused these people to disbelieve God, and then accuse Him of treachery?
I’m not a therapist, but I do think that sometimes, love can feel like danger.
We teach our kids to walk on their own so that they can grow up into adults. For toddlers, this is scary, but just about every parent on earth holds them by the hand as they take their first steps. Once they get more confident, the parent releases the hand, but is never too far from their them.
If the parent isn’t there holding their hand, sure, that can be dangerous. It feels like a setup.
But once your child feels the hand, they’re reminded of a greater strength that ensures their safety.
That’s how the Israelites would be with God; the metaphor between father and son in Deuteronomy 1:31 is intentional. They needed to take the steps, while also believing that God was there.
God would never set up Israel to fail, but their own lack of faith meant that they couldn’t feel God’s hand anymore. They were with Him, but they didn’t recognize Him.
This new generation learned to hold God’s hand in the tough times. As such, Canaan wouldn’t be dangerous at all.