The idea of man fighting against God is at best described as futile. Many have tried throughout human history to assume the role of God. Perhaps it is some evil ruler bent on ruling the world, some man bossing his employees, an elder trying to lord over God’s heritage or some man or woman in marriage trying to dominate. Each in their own way place themselves over God and over God’s way. The world, humanity, the church, individuals and homes have been destroyed by those who give up on God’s way and strive to establish their own righteousness (Romans 10:3).
Isaiah forty-five discusses Cyrus, the ruler of the Persian empire. God declares in the chapter that He alone is God and there is no other (verse 5). Beginning in verse 9 the discussion is about God who is over creation. The statement in verse 9 pronounces a woe upon those who strive with their Maker. How does the created thing argue with the One who created him? The verse concludes by using the example of the potter and the clay. The vessel created by the potter cannot argue with the potter. Neither can man argue with God.
On day six of the creation week, man is created. He is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26,27). What if a man does not prefer nor care for the image and likeness of God? Romans 1 concludes by showing that the ungodly person knows at the beginning that all who live this way are worthy of death (Romans 1:32). As time continues to move on, the ungodly may so violate his conscience that he no longer cares about God. Before he reaches that point, he knows that what he is doing is wrong. He continues to associate with those who see things as he does with the end result being the crushing of his conscience.
Individuals raised with a moral background must give thought at some point about the image and likeness that is present in his own soul. Why does a person know that stealing is wrong? Where does that come from? It is a futile effort for a person to deny the image and likeness of God and try to find happiness in this life. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John10:10). There is no promise here for an abundant life to those who are outside of Christ. To strive to achieve happiness at the expense of fighting against what God has said that makes a man happy is a destination no man will ever reach.
Those who mature in their faith and walk with God come to learn that the commands of God are not grievous (I John 5:3). They cease fighting against God because they come to understand that God’s commands are for our good and, hence, in our own best interest to obey those commands. Those who imbibe the Word of God from the view of the “meat of the Word” do so by continual practice of that Word (Hebrews 5:14). They continue to practice that is by “reason of use” the commands of God. Those who point men away from the commands of God by slurring statements about legalism will pay the price both in this life and in the life to come. How so in this life? They forfeit the very happiness that God planned for man to have through obedience. When this life is finished, there is a life that has been wasted and then an eternity with no hope.
Job earlier on in his defense of his own life replies to his friends about what he understands about God. Job raises the question, who can say to God,“…what doest thou” (Job 9:12). No man can council God or argue with Him. Some commands of God may be harder than others to obey but name me one command that does not have in it the seeds of happiness as a man bends his will to God. As Jesus said to Paul it is hard for thee to “…kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5). God is right, surrender to His will.