Does God ever get tired? I know. I know Isaiah 40:28-29 says God does not grow tired or weary. Even though Jesus was tired and fell asleep in a boat (John 6), our infinite God never runs out of power. In fact, he gives new strength to those who wait on him (Isaiah 40:28-31). But God does grow weary of sin.
Isaiah told Ahaz he was making God tired by refusing to ask him for help. Now Malachi says that God’s people weary God when we call evil good. The people of Malachi’s day said, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord and he is pleased with them.” This sounds like our day. Even some theologians say, “God just wants everyone to be happy so he blesses whatever people want to do.” By contrast, a friend of mine says, “I can never condone what my Lord has condemned.”
What are followers of Jesus to do in a world that increasingly says, “Anything goes”? We wait before the Lord, consecrating ourselves to him. God is being patient because he doesn’t want anyone to perish. Still, Malachi says God will come down and set the world right. Four hundred years before Christ arrived, Malachi predicted that the Lord himself would someday show up in the temple. What would the Lord’s return be like? He would be like a refiner’s fire purifying his people like silver and gold. How do we know precious metals are fully refined? When the artisans can see themselves in silver or gold, then the metal is ready. When God can see himself in us then we have been fully refined.
Are we tired of sin, yet? God is more tired of sin than we know, but he is not too tired to help us. Good news: we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2). Our God is a consuming fire. We should take fire seriously. God’s fire can purify us to be more like himself, or it can consume us forever (Malachi 4:1). Which will we choose?
