Counterexamples in the Bible Challenging God's Character and Ways
The Bible records numerous instances where individuals and groups challenge God's character and ways, often through direct opposition, rebellion, or questioning His actions. Such challenges are presented as contrary to God's law and character [1].
One prominent form of challenging God is through rebellion. This can manifest as outright disobedience to His statutes, as seen in Psalm 78:56, where the people "tested and rebelled against God Most High and did not keep his statutes" [3]. Rebellion also includes unbelief, rejecting God's government, despising His law and counsels, distrusting His power, murmuring against Him, and refusing to heed His word [4]. The prophet Isaiah describes this as "revolting from him" [4].
Another way God's character is challenged is through speaking against Him. Psalm 78:19 records people saying, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?" [5], questioning His ability and provision. This can extend to blasphemy, where adversaries reproach God's name, His divine persons and perfections, and His providences [8]. The concept of "Antichrist" itself signifies an adversary to Christ [2], one who opposes Him in His kingly, priestly, and prophetic offices [12].
Selfishness and ambition are also presented as challenges to God's ways. Selfishness, characterized by being lovers of oneself, pleasing oneself, and seeking one's own gain, is contrary to God's law and the example of Christ [1]. God condemns ambition, as seen in the builders of Babel, Miriam and Aaron, and Absalom, among others [6]. Such ambition is often connected with pride and covetousness [6].
The Bible also highlights instances where human traditions or actions contradict God's law. Jesus, for example, pointed out how the Pharisees' traditions allowed them to sidestep God's requirements [9]. Furthermore, individuals are depicted as stretching out their hand against God, acting as enemies to Him through wicked works and audacious sins [10]. This opposition can be seen as "contradiction," encompassing unbelief and various forms of resistance [11]. The kings and rulers of the earth are also described as taking a stand "against the Lord, and against his Christ" [7].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Antichrist — an adversary to Christ”
- Psalms “Psalms 78:56 (LEB) — But they tested and rebelled against God Most High and did not keep his statutes.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Rebellion Against God — Forbidden -- Nu 14:9; Jos 22:19. Provokes God -- Nu 16:30; Ne 9:26. Provokes Christ -- Ex 23:20,21; 1Co 10:9. Vexes the Holy Spirit -- Isa 63:10. Exhibited in Unbelief. -- De 9:23; Ps 106:24,25. Rejecting his government. -- 1Sa 8:7; 15:23. Revolting from him. -- Isa 1:5; 31:6. Despising his law. -- Ne 9:26. Despising his counsels. -- Ps 107:11. Distrusting his power. -- Eze 17:15. Murmuring against him. -- Nu 20:3,10. Refusing to hearken to him. -- De 9:23; Eze 20:8; Zec 7:11. Departing from him. -- Isa 59:13. Rebellion against governors appoi”
- Psalms “Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? -- Psalms 78:19”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ambition — God condemns -- Ge 11:7; Isa 5:8. Christ condemns -- Mt 18:1,3,4; 20:25,26; 23:11,12. Saints avoid -- Ps 131:1,2. Vanity of -- Job 20:5-9; 24:24; Ps 49:11-20. Leads to strife and contention -- Jas 4:1,2. Punishment of -- Pr 17:19; Isa 14:12-15; Eze 31:10,11; Ob 1:3,4. Connected with Pride. -- Hab 2:5. Covetousness. -- Hab 2:8,9. Cruelty. -- Hab 2:12. Exemplified Adam and Eve. -- Ge 3:5,6. Builders of Babel. -- Ge 11:4. Miriam and Aaron. -- Nu 12:2. Korah, &c. -- Nu 16:3. Absalom. -- 2Sa 15:4; 18:18. Adonijah. -- 1Ki 1:5. Sennacherib. -- 2Ki 19:23. Shebna. ”
- Acts “The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take council together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.’ -- Acts 4:26”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 74:9: O God, how long shall the adversary reproach?.... The name of God, as in the next clause, the divine Persons and perfections, the purposes and providence of God, his people, ways, worship, truths, and ordinances: shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? The "adversary" and "enemy" being in the singular number, may intend some particular one, as antichrist; who is emphatically and eminently "the enemy" of God, he opposing himself to, and exalting himself above, all that is called God; and the adversary of Christ, as his name shows; not only setting himself in his”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 7:9: 7:9-13 Next, Jesus provides an instance where the Pharisees’ traditions contradicted God’s law and allowed them to sidestep its requirements.”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 15:24: For he stretched out his hand against God,.... Being an hater of him, an enemy to him, yea, enmity itself against him; an enemy in his mind, which appears by his wicked works, which are so many acts of hostility against God; all sins are against God, his nature, his will, his law, and all his remonstrances, exhortations, cautions, and instructions; but some are more daring and impudent than others, or are committed in a more open, bold, and audacious manner, as were those committed by the inhabitants of Sodom, and those who are similar to them; especially such as strike”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 12:3: For--justifying his exhortation, "Looking unto Jesus." consider--by way of comparison with yourselves, so the Greek. contradiction--unbelief, and every kind of opposition (Act 28:19). sinners--Sin assails us. Not sin, but sinners, contradicted Christ [BENGEL]. be wearied and faint--Greek, "lest ye weary fainting." Compare Isa 49:4-5, as a specimen of Jesus not being wearied out by the contradiction and strange unbelief of those among whom He labored, preaching as never man did, and exhibiting miracles wrought by His inherent power, as none els”
- 2 Thessalonians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Thessalonians 2:4: Who opposeth,.... Or is an opposer, an adversary of Christ, the antichrist; who opposes him in his kingly office, styling himself the head and spouse of the church, assuming to himself all power in heaven and in earth, taking upon him to dispense with the laws of Christ, and to make new ones; who opposes him in his priestly office, by pretending to offer him up again in the sacrifice of the mass, and by making angels and saints departed, intercessors and advocates; and also in his prophetic office, by teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, and setting”