Most people are familiar with the story of Aladdin and his lamp. It has most recently been reintroduced to people by the Disney movie, first as an animated film and then with live actors. The story is of a young man who lives on the streets until he finds a magic lamp. Living inside the lamp is a magic, powerful genie who will grant three wishes to the owner of the lamp. In the movie, the genie sings a song to explain the situation to a confused Aladdin. The genie explains all the different types of things he can do in the song, telling Aladdin, "You ain't never had a friend like me!" It is a fun song with a catchy tune, but it also makes me think about how we view God today.
“Genie” of the universe
It seems to me that there is a tendency to view the God of the universe to be more like a genie. We seem to look at Him as the One who not only will fulfill our fondest desires but one whose job it is to do so. We would never say that, but we tend to act like that is the case. When things don't go the way we want them to go, we often get mad and blame or complain to God. Much of our conversation with God may be a litany of complaints or a recitation of things we want. While the scripture does tell us to "forget none of His benefits," we are never told to seek those benefits but rather to seek who God is in all of His majesty and glory.
God is Omnipotent not Obligated
We are encouraged to seek the face of God, that is, to know Him personally and intimately, and not to simply desire the things that God can do to bless our lives. God is not our genie, who does what we ask, whose wish is our command.
He is, in fact, "the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, to whom honor and glory belong forever." He does not exist to serve us. His job description does not include providing everything we want or ask for. He is the Shepherd, and we are His sheep. He is the Master, and we are His servants.
He is not obligated to come when we "rub the lamp," but we all do have an ultimate obligation to obey Him, as we will stand before His judgment one day. For all God's power and for all the marvelous ways He blesses us, He is definitely not a genie!
A Friend Like God
However, the song from Aladdin does make a statement about the genie that applies even better to God. The genie sings, "you ain't never had a friend like me," but that is not true. Not even a powerful genie can compare to our God. The truth is, "we ain't never had a friend like God." The genie served out of compulsion. He had no choice. This is not the case for our God.
God is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. God is the One who took on human flesh to redeem the world to Himself. Jesus, God incarnate, is the One who willingly chose to lay down His life for us. No one could compel Him to, but He did so willingly. The God that spoke the world into existence divested Himself of His glory, becoming human, coming as one who served, and one who gave His life as a ransom for many.
God loves us enough to not be our genie, enabling us to drown in our shallow desires. He loves us enough to be our redeemer, friend, and Lord, leading us in the way that leads to life. He is a friend like no other.
As Lent commences on Ash Wednesday, we are entering a time of introspection and prayer leading to Easter. Let us reflect on the significance of death preceding resurrection, urging readers to embrace a daily practice of surrendering self in preparation for our spiritual transformation.