Is God the Cosmological Puppeteer?

Only one of us in this relationship described as husband and wife had drummed into them from a young age the importance of turning up five minutes before parade time. That importance was reinforced regularly for twenty years and has plagued me for the last thirty. It's not only my wife, but most people I know who live with a different concept of punctuality.

Recently we had tickets for a concert in the Sydney Town Hall. I had worked out what train we needed to catch and what time to leave home. By the time we left I knew it was tight, especially as finding a parking spot would be difficult. Of course I said a prayer or two. There was no delay at the end of our street as there often is, no delays at traffic lights, a parking spot waiting, and we made the train with two minutes to spare. ‘Thank you God’ I said.

Sydney Town Hall

I know I’m not the only believer who can tell a similar story. It can be a good feeling that God is looking out for you, perhaps reassuring to believe you are still in His good books. If that is the case, then how do we explain the times we were late because of a traffic jam, we were too absorbed in something else only to realise we had an appointment too late, or whatever reason? Then there are the times non-believers or sceptics can tell similar stories without seeing any evidence of God’s intervention on their behalf.

I am not saying there are not those times when God intervenes in our daily affairs to our advantage. It may be that overwhelming feeling to go a different route, to talk to someone, or a clear reminder that we do have an important appointment. Sometimes there may be an apparent reason, sometimes not. If He does, why not for others? How do we know when He has intervened and when it is simply a matter of luck or coincidence? Would He do it for something as trivial as a concert, sporting event or other inconsequential thing?

I do not see God as the cosmological puppet master, pulling the strings controlling the affairs of this planet to the benefit of believers. Think about it. If every time we got it wrong because we failed to plan, made poor decisions, were distracted or whatever, God bailed us out of the mess of our our creation would that really help  us? We may do that for young children, but as they grow good parents let their children learn from their own mistakes. While God calls us His children He expects us to grow in maturity, to be responsible for what we may or may not do. Remember the saying we reap what we sow? It is in my view insulting to both God and us to believe He mollycoddles us through life.

Then there is the impact on others. Should we expect God to save us a parking spot, disrupt traffic, interfere with the weather or whatever at someone else’s expense? What if providing a parking spot for us makes someone with more pressing needs late for an important appointment? What if He delays traffic and slows an emergency vehicle on a life-saving mission? The very idea is selfish, uncaring for the needs of others. If that is what we expect of God we can’t claim to be like Him.

True evidence of God’s interest in our lives is seen in the development of character, of us becoming more loving, patient, tolerant, forgiving, understanding of others and focused on their needs, not ours. Maybe the only reason for thankfulness in an experience like I had the other day is because it reminds me to be better prepared, more disciplined and to plan my time more effectively.