When It's OK to Argue With God

All scripture references, unless otherwise noted, are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Is it ever alright to argue with God? The Bible says in Isaiah 1:18,  "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." The Lord Jesus is a reasonable God! One outstanding Bible example is the Apostle Paul's request for the Lord to take away the thorn in the flesh he had from Satan. The Bible says in 2nd Corinthians 12:7-9,  "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Three times the apostle sought to have, "...the messenger of Satan..." removed. Finally in verse 9 the Lord said, "...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness..."  This is the reason Paul could rejoice in the things he suffered for the Lord's sake. He went on to say, "...Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

I wonder how we would rejoice if the same trials and tribulations came on us as came on Paul. God speaking through Isaiah, said in Isaiah 1:16-20,  "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." God's ways are always best. In Isaiah 55:7-9 the Lord gave us the reason why we can be satisfied with His arguments,  "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." 

The Bible says in James 1:5-7,  "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." The Lord Jesus is not being cruel here, He wants us to ask, "...in faith..." because what ever is asked not in faith the Bible says is sin. (see Romans 14:23)  And as that old song says, sin will bar you at the door because sin can never enter there. Do you have something you want to argue with God about? 

I remember one time at family camp in Oregon where the day speaker spoke on forgiveness, I went to the altar and frankly forgave everyone for any real or imagined sins against me. Oh it felt good! That night the evening speaker also spoke on forgiveness. He said that the day he got a call from the district board about being the evening speaker at camp that year, the Lord laid upon him the subject of forgiveness and he was to preach it that very night. During the altar call I knelt down and ask the Lord who it was I hadn't forgiven because I felt the conviction I had not forgiven everybody. The Lord Jesus said to me, you haven't forgiven Me for allowing you to go through what you've gone through. Needless to say I immediately forgave the Lord.

Christian friend of mine, is there some real or imagined thing you'd like to argue or even question God about? He doesn't mind you asking. There are many things we don't understand but God does. It's OK to question the Lord Jesus. But as the LORD God He knows what is best for us.