When God Disappoints on Purpose

 

When God Disappoints on Purpose

A study of John 11:1–44

John 11 begins with a problem that should have been solved quickly.

Lazarus is sick.
Jesus loves him.
The message reaches Jesus in time.

Everything in the story points toward an immediate miracle.

And then comes one of the most unsettling sentences in the Gospels:

“Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.”

This is not delay due to ignorance.
This is not delay due to inability.
This is deliberate.

Love Does Not Always Hurry

John is careful with his words. Before telling us Jesus delayed, he reminds us:

“Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.”

The delay is framed inside love.

That is deeply uncomfortable for anyone who equates love with speed, relief, or rescue. We instinctively believe that if God loves us, he will intervene quickly and clearly.

But Scripture refuses that equation.

Jesus allows the situation to worsen.
He allows hope to decay.
He allows death to arrive.

Not because he is absent, but because he is doing something larger than preventing pain.

Faith That Knows When God Should Act Is Still Immature Faith

Martha meets Jesus with a sentence that sounds theological and wounded at the same time:

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

She is not wrong.
She is just early.

This is one of the great pastoral moments in Scripture. Martha believes in Jesus’ power. She just cannot reconcile that power with his timing.

Many believers live here.

They believe God can.
They struggle that God didn’t.

Jesus does not correct Martha with a lecture. He moves the conversation from explanation to revelation.

“I am the resurrection and the life.”

Not I will fix this later.
Not I promise better circumstances.

But I am.

Jesus Weeps — Not Because He Lacks Power

Shortest verse. Longest echo.

“Jesus wept.”

He weeps knowing the miracle is minutes away.
He weeps knowing death will be reversed.
He weeps knowing victory is certain.

Why?

Because divine power does not cancel human compassion.

Jesus does not stand above grief explaining it. He steps into it and absorbs it. This matters pastorally. God’s answer to suffering is not emotional distance—it is presence.

He does not rush tears away. He sanctifies them.

Resurrection Is Not Just About Life After Death

When Lazarus comes out, he is alive—but still bound.

Jesus’ final command is not “Live,” but “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Resurrection creates life.
Community restores freedom.

This is a quiet rebuke to individualistic faith. God raises the dead, but he uses people to remove grave clothes. Healing is often communal, slow, and messy—even after a miracle.

The Hard Truth This Story Teaches

Sometimes God delays not because he is absent, but because he is preparing a deeper revelation of himself.

If Jesus had arrived earlier, Lazarus would have been healed.
By arriving later, Jesus reveals something greater.

Not healer.
Resurrection.

Not problem-solver.
Lord of life and death.

A Word for Pastors and Leaders

This passage dismantles performance-driven ministry.

You cannot rush God’s timing without shrinking God’s glory.
You cannot demand explanations without missing revelation.
You cannot bypass grief without cheapening resurrection.

Some delays are not obstacles to faith.
They are invitations to deeper faith.

The Question the Text Leaves Us With

Do we trust God only when he meets our expectations—
or also when he rewrites them?

Lazarus’ story reminds us that God is rarely late.
But he is often unwilling to be small.

How to Create Amazing Images with AI: A Simple Guide

Introduction: Your New Creative Partner

• AI tools like Midjourney, DALL-E, or Stable Diffusion are incredible for making images.
• But just typing a few words won't always give you a masterpiece.
• This guide will show you how to "talk" to the AI effectively, using tools like GPT to help, so you can create truly great images.

Be Specific! The Art of the Prompt

• What it means: The more detail you give the AI, the better it understands what you want. Think of it like giving directions – "go down the road" isn't helpful, but "go two blocks, turn left at the red building, then right at the coffee shop" is.
• How to do it:
  • Start with the main subject: What's the core of your image?
  • Add details: Describe colors, textures, emotions, actions.
  • Set the scene: Where is it happening? What's the lighting like?
  • Choose a style: Do you want it to look like a painting, a photo, a cartoon?
  • Use keywords: Think like a search engine.
• Examples:
  • Bad Prompt: "A house." (You'll get a very plain house.)
  • Good Prompt: "A cozy hobbit house, round green door, smoke curling from chimney, surrounded by lush garden, golden hour sunlight, whimsical, fantasy art, highly detailed."
  • Using GPT to help: If you're stuck, tell GPT: "I want an image of a futuristic city. Give me some detailed prompt ideas for an AI image generator." GPT might suggest: "A neon-lit cyberpunk city at night, flying cars, towering skyscrapers, rain-slicked streets, reflections, cinematic, Blade Runner style."

It's a Conversation, Not a Command (Iterate!)

• What it means: You won't always get it perfect on the first try. AI image creation is a back-and-forth process. You try something, see what happens, and then adjust.
• How to do it:
  • Generate a few options: Most AI tools give you multiple images from one prompt. Look at them all.
  • See what worked (and what didn't): Did the AI get the colors right? Is the mood what you wanted? Are there weird extra limbs or blurry parts?
  • Adjust your prompt:
    • Add more detail: If something is missing.
    • Remove words: If the AI is adding things you don't want.
    • Change keywords: Try different ways to describe the same thing.
    • Use "negative prompts": Tell the AI what not to include (e.g., "ugly, deformed, blurry, text").
• Example:
• First Try Prompt: "A cat wearing a hat." (You get a cat with a hat on its head, but you wanted it next to the cat.)
• Analysis: The AI interpreted "wearing" literally.
• Refined Prompt: "A fluffy ginger cat sitting on a wooden table, a stylish fedora hat resting beside it on the table, cozy cafe background, soft lighting, photorealistic." (Much better!)

• AI isn't just for making your exact vision. It can also help you come up with new ideas you never thought of!
• How to do it:
• Quickly test concepts: Want to see a "robot cowboy" or a "steampunk wizard"? Type it in and see what wild ideas the AI generates.
• Break creative blocks: If you're stuck on a design, ask the AI to generate variations.
• Explore new styles: Try combining unexpected things (e.g., "ancient Egyptian astronaut," "impressionist painting of a spaceship").
• Use GPT for concept building: Ask GPT to describe a character, a scene, or a world, and then use those descriptions in your image prompts.
• Example:
• You're stuck on a fantasy creature.
• Ask GPT: "Describe a unique forest creature that is both cute and a little bit magical."
• GPT might say: "A 'Glimmerwing,' a small, furry creature with large, iridescent butterfly wings, glowing antennae, and eyes like polished emeralds. It feeds on moonlight and leaves trails of sparkling dust."
• Your Image Prompt: "A cute Glimmerwing creature, iridescent butterfly wings, glowing antennae, emerald eyes, sitting on a mossy branch, dappled moonlight, sparkling dust, enchanted forest, highly detailed, fantasy illustration."

Grace is the inexhaustible theme of the journey

A seasoned Christian kneels in quiet prayer, marveling that grace grows deeper with time. It was grace that met us at the cross, utterly undeserved and freely given. But now, after many steps on the journey, we see that grace is not merely the doorway into faith—it is the ground we walk on. Grace is God’s unmerited favor, yes, but also His daily divine enablement that empowers our sanctification. We never "move on" from grace; we only move deeper into it.

This growing awareness of grace produces true humility. The longer we journey, the more clearly we perceive that every good in us is from God’s hand. There is no room for pride or self-congratulation, for grace by its nature undercuts all boasting. The apostle Paul, reflecting on a life of labor, confessed, "By the grace of God I am what I am... yet not I, but the grace of God with me". Any spiritual victory is not a trophy of our effort but of God’s grace – a realization that keeps us humble and grateful.

Grace also proves to be our sustenance and strength through every trial. We inevitably face weakness, loss, and perplexity that reveal our constant need for God. In those moments, we hear again the Lord’s promise to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness". When we come to the end of ourselves, grace carries us onward. In despondent valleys it whispers hope; in sorrow it births joy; in suffering it imparts strength to endure; even in the shadow of death it assures us of final victory. Looking back, we marvel that through “many dangers, toils, and snares” we have already come, and ’twas grace that brought us safe thus far, and grace will lead us home.

Yet grace does not only comfort; it also transforms. God’s grace is an active force in our sanctification, shaping us into the likeness of Christ. Scripture teaches that the same grace which brought us salvation now trains us to renounce ungodliness and live godly lives. Thus, grace is not a free pass to remain as we are, but the very power by which we grow: "It’s the grace of God working in us that empowers us to live godly lives". By grace, the Holy Spirit convicts us of lingering sin, subdues our old habits, and kindles new Christlike virtues. This grace-driven growth may be gradual, but it is effective. Over time, even our desires shift and our faith deepens—evidence of grace working within us.

For the mature Christian, grace is the inexhaustible theme of the journey, and we never outgrow our need for it. Those furthest along are the first to admit their dependence, knowing that every prayer, every act of love, every victory over temptation is a testimony to God’s all-sufficient grace. This truth invites us into deeper contemplation: to sit quietly and reflect on how grace has carried us thus far and will carry us still. We are sustained by a love we cannot deserve and transformed by a power we cannot muster. Ultimately, grace will lead us into the presence of the One who is Grace Himself. Until that day, we walk on—humbled and upheld by the grace that will never let us go.

Judges and Jesus: One Gospel Story of Deliverance

Introduction: Judges in the Gospel Narrative

The Book of Judges chronicles a dark and chaotic period in Israel’s history, yet it is not an isolated tale. It fits strategically into the one gospel story that runs through all of Scripture. Jesus Himself taught that “all” the Scriptures bear witness to Him (John 5:39; Luke 24:44)​

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– and this includes Judges. For advanced believers, our task is to discern how Judges, with its cycles of sin and flawed heroes, points forward to Jesus Christ. This guide will trace theological and typological linkages, showing that even in Judges’ turmoil, the gospel of a coming Savior-King shines through. We will examine the recurring historical pattern of sin and deliverance, identify typological foreshadowings of Christ in the judges, highlight messianic themes and echoes, and draw practical applications for today. Throughout, we maintain canonical coherence and a disciplined focus on Scripture.

Historical Pattern: Cycles of Sin and Deliverance

Judges presents a repeated cycle that structures the entire book. Understanding this cycle is key to seeing the gospel pattern embedded in Israel’s history:

1. Rebellion: “The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD” (e.g. Judges 2:11). They abandoned God for idols, falling into sin.

2. Retribution: God “gave them into the hands” of surrounding enemies as judgment (Judges 2:14). Oppression by foreign powers brought misery.

3. Repentance: Under distress, Israel “cried out to the LORD” (Judges 3:9). They acknowledged their sin and turned back seeking God’s help.

4. Rescue: “The LORD raised up judges who saved them” (Judges 2:16). God graciously sent a deliverer (judge) to rescue His people from bondage.

5. Rest & Relapse: A period of peace followed, but after the judge’s death, “they turned back and were more corrupt” (Judges 2:19). The cycle began anew.

This cycle of sin → suffering → supplication → salvation repeats throughout Judges. It highlights two truths: human depravity (left to ourselves we continually fall into sin) and divine mercy (God is faithful to forgive and save when His people repent). However, each deliverance in Judges is temporary – the nation soon falls again. This historical pattern creates a longing for a permanent solution to sin. The cycle exposes the need for a greater deliverer who can break the cycle once for all. In the framework of the unified gospel, the pattern in Judges prepares us for Christ, who delivers us not just from earthly oppressors but from sin itself permanently (Hebrews 9:26). The judges could save Israel from enemies, but they could not save Israel from itself – from the sinful heart. This sets the stage for Jesus, the Savior who “will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

Typology: Judges Foreshadowing Christ

Theologically, the judges in this book serve as types (foreshadows) of Christ – imperfect saviors raised up by God that prefigure the perfect Savior to come. Scripture explicitly calls these leaders “deliverers” or “saviors” given by God (Judges 2:16, 18). Each judge, in their God-appointed role, casts a shadow of the full and final Savior, Jesus​

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. Consider a few key examples of how judges point to Christ:

• Othniel – The Lion from Judah: Othniel, the first judge (Judges 3:7–11), was from the tribe of Judah. His very name means “Lion of God.” Empowered by the Spirit of the Lord (Judg. 3:10), he delivered Israel from oppression. This anticipates Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5), upon whom God’s Spirit rests fully (Luke 4:18). Othniel’s victory inaugurated hope for Israel, just as Christ’s victory over sin and death brings ultimate hope for humanity.

• Gideon – Victory Through Weakness: Gideon (Judges 6–8) delivered Israel from the Midianites in a startling way. With only 300 men armed with trumpets and torches, he routed an innumerable army – so that Israel would know the victory was God’s doing, not man’s (Judg. 7:2, 7). Gideon’s story echoes the gospel pattern of God using apparent weakness to triumph: it points to Christ’s cross. Jesus conquered sin not by worldly might but through the “weakness” of crucifixion, “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23–25). As Gideon refused kingship by saying the LORD is ruler (Judg. 8:23), we see a hint that God Himself must ultimately rule – fulfilled when Christ, God Incarnate, takes the throne of His people.

• Samson – Victory in Death: Samson (Judges 13–16), though a flawed man, was a Spirit-empowered judge who began to save Israel from the Philistines. Notably, Samson’s greatest victory came through his sacrificial death. By pulling down the pillars of a Philistine temple, he destroyed more enemies in his death than in his life (Judg. 16:30). This deed foreshadows Christ’s triumph at Calvary: Jesus achieved the decisive victory over Satan, sin, and death by His own death on the cross​

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  . Like Samson, Jesus was betrayed for pieces of silver, mocked, and chained (cf. Judg. 16:5, 21; Luke 18:32–33). Yet unlike Samson, who stayed dead, Jesus rose again – securing an eternal deliverance. In Samson we see a glimpse of a strong deliverer who lays down his life to save his people, a clear pointer to the Messiah’s mission (Hebrews 2:14).

Each judge – imperfect and mortal – points beyond himself. Their courage and victories anticipate Christ’s greater deliverance, while their flaws and the transience of their success accentuate that they are not the ultimate savior. The judges are saviors “sent from God to deliver His people”, but only Jesus Christ is the sinless Savior who delivers forever​

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Messianic Themes and Echoes in Judges

Beyond individual heroes, Judges contains broader messianic echoes that link to Jesus and God’s redemptive plan:

• “No King in Israel”: A recurring refrain in Judges is, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25). This refrain is a lament for godly leadership and order. It creates a longing for a righteous King to lead the people in covenant faithfulness. Historically, it prepares for the coming of the Davidic kingship. Theologically, it echoes the ultimate hope for God’s King – fulfilled in Jesus, the Son of David and King of kings. Jesus is the true King Israel (and all humanity) longed for, who leads not into chaos but righteousness​

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  . Where “everyone did what was right in their own eyes” led to moral anarchy, Christ calls us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33), providing the wise, just rule that Israel lacked.

• God’s Compassionate Deliverance: Repeatedly, we read that despite Israel’s infidelity, “the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning” (Judges 2:18). God’s mercy in raising up deliverers foreshadows the greatest act of compassion – God sending His own Son to save a sinful world (John 3:16). Each judge was a gift of grace to undeserving people, prefiguring the grace embodied in Jesus Christ.

• The Spirit of the Lord: Several judges are explicitly filled or empowered by God’s Spirit (e.g. Othniel in Judg. 3:10, Gideon in 6:34, Jephthah in 11:29, Samson in 14:6). These instances point to the Messiah, upon whom the Spirit would rest fully and permanently (Isaiah 11:1–2, Luke 4:18). The judges needed the Spirit for their momentary acts of deliverance; Jesus is the Spirit-anointed Deliverer par excellence, who gives the Spirit to us without measure.

• Angel of the LORD: In Judges, the “Angel of the LORD” – often understood as a manifestation of God – appears to commission deliverers (e.g. to Gideon in Judges 6:11–24, to Samson’s parents in Judges 13:3–5). Many theologians see these appearances as foreshadowings of Christ’s presence and active role in salvation even before His incarnation. At minimum, they signal God’s direct intervention to rescue His people, which culminates in Christ personally stepping into history to save us.

• Head Crushing Victories: In Judges, God’s deliverance sometimes involved literally crushing the enemy’s head (for example, Jael driving a peg through Sisera’s head in Judg. 4:21, or a woman dropping a millstone on Abimelech’s head in Judg. 9:53). These dramatic victories echo the primeval prophecy that the seed of the woman would “crush the serpent’s head” (Genesis 3:15). Such narrative details whisper the messianic promise of Satan’s defeat. At the cross, Jesus fulfilled this, crushing the serpent’s head by nullifying the devil’s power (Colossians 2:15, Romans 16:20). What is hinted in Judges is ultimately accomplished by Christ.

Through these themes, the author of Judges shows that Israel’s problem was deeper than foreign oppression – it was a lack of godly leadership and faithful hearts. And the solution hinted at is a godly King and Savior endowed with God’s Spirit and power to crush evil. This prepares us to recognize Jesus as the answer to the questions Judges raises.

One Gospel Story: From Judges to Jesus

Reading Judges in light of Christ reveals a unified gospel thread from Old to New Testament. The deliverances in Judges are mini-gospels – good news of God saving His people – that collectively point to the one great Gospel of Jesus. The pattern is consistent: God’s people need saving, God provides a savior. As the narrative of Judges progresses, the insufficiency of these saviors becomes painfully clear, whetting our appetite for the true Savior.

By the end of Judges, the refrain of “no king” leaves us looking for the Davidic king to come (fulfilled initially in David). But even David and his sons would fail in various ways, further pointing to Jesus Christ, the Son of David who would establish an eternal kingdom of righteousness. Thus, Judges contributes to the canon’s forward momentum toward Christ: “Like all of Scripture, the message of Judges bears witness to Christ”​

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. The redemptive-historical progression is evident – God’s saving actions through the judges are part of the larger story that culminates in the cross and resurrection​preachingtoday.com.

Importantly, the gospel in Judges is about God’s grace to the undeserving. In Judges, Israel repeatedly sins, yet God repeatedly saves when they turn back. This is the same gracious character of God fully displayed in Christ, who “while we were still sinners” died for us (Romans 5:8). The judges could only provide temporary, incomplete relief. Jesus provides eternal, complete salvation. He breaks the cycle: rather than peace ending with His death, His death and resurrection ushered in a peace that will not end (Isaiah 9:7). He is a judge who doesn’t die and leave us to fall again; He “ever lives to intercede” for us (Hebrews 7:25) and keep us by His power. In summary, Judges belongs to the one gospel narrative by which God proves that human saviors are not enough – we need God Himself as Savior, which is exactly who Jesus is.

Practical Application: Living in Light of the True Deliverer

For the believer today, studying Judges with Christ in view offers strategic lessons and purposeful insight:

• Recognize Our Repeated Need for Christ: Israel’s cycle of sin and deliverance mirrors our own hearts. We too fall into recurring sins or forgetfulness of God. Judges urges us to repent quickly and cry out to Jesus, our Judge and Deliverer, rather than remain in bondage. We learn that no human leader or personal effort can break sin’s cycle – only Christ can.

• Submit to Jesus’ Kingship: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judg. 21:25) describes moral relativism that leads to ruin. In contrast, Christians are called to do what is right in God’s eyes. Surrender to Jesus as King in every area of life, rather than following selfish impulses. The chaos of Judges without a king warns us never to live without the rule of Christ in our daily decisions.

• Hope in God’s Deliverance: Judges shows God’s faithful compassion – He heard Israel’s cries and raised saviors time and again. This assures us that “the arm of the LORD is not too short to save” (Isaiah 59:1). No matter how deep the fall or severe the bondage, we have hope: Jesus will rescue those who earnestly seek Him. In dark times, remember how God delivered Israel and know that in Christ, He will ultimately deliver you from every evil (2 Timothy 4:18).

• See Christ Throughout Scripture: An advanced Christian should train themselves, as Jesus taught, to see Him “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets” (Luke 24:27). When reading books like Judges, practice viewing the text through a Christ-centered lens – discerning patterns of redemption that find their completion in Jesus. This enriches your understanding of the Bible’s unity and strengthens your faith in God’s sovereign plan. Judges will no longer seem merely like tales of long ago, but a crucial part of your gospel story.

In conclusion, the Book of Judges, with its dramatic stories of sin and salvation, is an essential chapter in the one unfolding gospel. It brutally portrays humanity’s need and brightly prefigures God’s provision. In the judges we see glimpses of the Christ to come; in the failures of Israel we see our need for His grace. By studying Judges in the light of Jesus, mature believers gain a deeper awe at the coherence of God’s redemptive plan and a more fervent desire to follow our perfect Judge and King – Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory.