Diversity

The other day my daughter and I were discussing various ways of doing something. Either way was neither right nor wrong, just different. While talking, I could feel tension rise inside me and see anxiety fill her face. Why? 

Why didn’t God make everyone the same? Not only in the area of race, but also between spouses and children. Wouldn’t life be so much easier if we all viewed life from the same perspective? If God created man to fellowship with Himself, wouldn't He save Himself a whole ton of headache to create less diversity? 

I know God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (John 1: 3), but I get frustrated at God for making life so complicated. Why didn’t He create people to do what He says is right?  He could’ve created us less opinionated and diverse; we’d have peaceful families, marriages and societies. Yet, as I’m sitting here, a police siren blares through my neighborhood and the question “why?” consumes me. 

God and I did some working through “why” on my morning walk. Here’s my take aways. 

Every sin derives from a false belief of who God is, what He’s done and who He says we are. Because of this fact, we need to figure out what’s true about God? (Proof of fact found in Genesis 3:1-7)

 Diversity is a characteristic of God. He has no beginning or no end. He’s the creator of darkness and light, male and female. Genesis 1 and 2 are filled with examples of diversity. God is I Am, the embodiment of all. God’s power and wisdom is the giver and sustainer of all abilities and accomplishments. The human mind, even the most intelligent, can’t comprehend His magnitude. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says;  

“What no eye has seen,     what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”[a]—     the things God has prepared for those who love him—” 

Here’s some conclusions I’ve drawn from God’s characteristic diversity. 

God created all things and declares all He created as good (Gen. 1). Therefore, God doesn’t take sides because all He creates is good. 

Joshua 5:13-15 “Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" 14"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my LORD have for his servant?" 15The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.” 

What a fascinating story. Here Israel is in the promise land. They’re waiting for God’s go signal to overtake Jericho. To Joshua and the Israelites, the “Jerichoites” were enemies.  To the “Jerichoites”, the Israelites were enemies. An unfamiliar warrior appears. Joshua asks him the obvious question; which side are you on? 

Because I know the warrior is “the commander of the army of the Lord” (vs. 5:14), and God wanted the Israelites to take possession of the land, (Joshua 1: 1-6), it seems logical to me for the warrior to be on Joshua’s side. No, the Commander’s response is “neither”.   

Wow! Let’s dig deeper into what just happened. 

The Commander's answer reshaped the entire situation. What started out being a “your side vs. my side” situation, disappeared. The fact of who he was turned the entire focus on God. Joshua immediately caught this. He said no “Yeah but you said...” or made no declaration of his rights. Instead Joshua fell face down on the ground in reverence and asked what message God had for him.  

Diversity isn’t about me, it’s about God. God created diversity to reveal Himself and our dependence on Him. 

 Diversity not only gives us a glimpse of God’s character; it also allows us to experience His power. For example, when a husband and wife face a situation with different opinions, in order to save the marriage, both need to ask God for wisdom. Waiting for God’s response develops trust in Him. Truths about God’s character becomes the strengthening agent growing their trust. God’s answer requires submission of self (Galatians 2:22), and the choice of obedience. A battle over their own wants or wisdom changes. Unity develops as the desire for God’s will develops. The desire comes out of gratitude for who God is and what He has done to prove He is whom He said He is. When we “fall to the ground” in honor and respect before God, arguments melt, life change happens, God is experienced!  (John 15:7). 

John 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” 

Yes, God did destroy Jericho. God didn’t destroy it because the people were a different race or had different ways of doing things. God destroyed it because He knew the people’s heart. God was for the “Jerichoites” just as He was for Joshua and the Israelites, but they rejected God. Rumors of a whole nation of x-Egyptian slaves and their God, wandering around a dessert, eating weird food which fell from the sky reached many ears over forty years. The people of Jericho both mocked the Israelites and feared their God. But instead of moving towards and discovering this strange, powerful God of unusual people, they shut up their walls against Him and His created people (Joshua 6:1) and were destroyed. 

So how do we face diversity today? Move towards God. Learn truth about God and speak truth about Him. Remain in Christ and ask Him to guide. Listen for God. When He prompts, don’t argue, step forward in obedience even when it may not make sense. Remember Whom you serve and only God can see the heart. 

1 Samuel 16:7 “But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 

A question to ask ourselves, If God is the only solution to the fighting and unrest facing our world, marriages and relationships today, what am I doing to help rectify the problem?