It is remarkable that God accepts his children’s wrestle with his commands or the way he leads our life. He is not a dictator who tolerates no contradiction. He discusses with Abraham his plan to punish Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:16–30). He discusses with Moses his call (Exodus 3:11 – 4:17), and with Jonah about Nineveh (Jonah 4:1–11). Twice Moses is the intercessor for Israel when God threatens to destroy the people (Exodus 32:14; Numbers 14:20). In many Psalms the writers wrestle with God, inspired by the Holy Spirit! And Jesus wrestles with God’s plan in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39, Matthew 26:42), but in faith, for he says, May your will be done.
And most of the psalms also end with trust in God or worship.
It is important to know why people discuss with God. Abraham pleads for God’s righteousness (Genesis 18:23). Moses pleads for Israel, after they worshipped the golden calf. He appeals to God’s special relationship with Israel, the glory of God’s name, and his promises to the fathers. In Numbers 14:19, after Canaan is explored and Israel rebels, Moses appeals for the glory of God’s name, but also his patience and will to forgive. But God criticizes Jonah who criticizes God because he is a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
In the discussion with Moses in Exodus 3:1 – 4:31 God is patient, but in the end he becomes angry with Moses’ unwillingness (Exodus 4:14).
1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.