Spiritual Insights from the Movies

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Concepts: Circumstances and Faith; Complaints; Difficulties; Experiencing God; Guidance; Hearing God; Prayer; Waiting on God
Scriptures: 1 Kings 19:11-13; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 95:7-8; Hosea 4:1; Luke 11:28; Romans 11:8; Hebrews 3:8-9, 15; Hebrews 4:7
The Scene: from the beginning of the credits, 00:21:03 to 00:23:25; DVD track 5

Bruce Almighty raises sobering questions about how God works in the world.

Bruce (Jim Carey) is a reporter who made a fool of himself on national television, lost his job, was accosted by street toughs, and had an emotional blow-up with his girlfriend, Grace (Jennifer Aniston). With his world falling apart, Bruce takes a midnight ride to clear his head and begins a pleading conversation with God.

"Okay, God, you want me to talk to you? Then talk back. Tell me what's going on. What should I do? Give me a signal."

As he utters these words, a glowing road construction sign, directly in front of him, flashes: "Caution Ahead."

But Bruce doesn't notice. "I need your guidance, Lord," he begs, "please send me a sign."

Immediately a large road-crew truck pulls in front of him. The back of the truck is filled with street signs in plain view: "Stop." "Dead End." "Wrong Way." "Do Not Enter."

Again Bruce is oblivious. In fact, he becomes irritated to be stuck behind the slow, rumbling truck. In frustration he recklessly swerves to pass the truck and grumbles, "Lord, I need a miracle. I'm desperate. I need your help, Lord."

Losing control of his car, he spins off the road and rams into a lamppost. Jumping out of his hissing, mangled, steaming vehicle, Bruce flings his arms into the air in utter disgust. He rages at God.

"Fine, the gloves are off. Come on, let me see a little wrath. Smite me, Almighty Smiter. You're the one who should be fired. The only one around here not doing his job is you. Answer me."

With precise timing, Bruce's beeper goes off. He pulls it out, and sees the numbers: 555-0123. [In a following scene we discover that God is paging him.] Deadpan, he says, "Sorry, don't know you. Wouldn't call you if I did."

Wrapped up in his own demands for how God must work, Bruce can't see or hear that God is answering.

Bruce Almighty (Universal, 2003) directed by Tom Shadyac, written by Steve Kornen and Mark O'Keef; is rated PG-13 for language, sexual content, and crude humor. Illustration submitted by Winn Collier, Seneca, South Carolina.

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Every week, we'll bring you a new nugget of spiritual or biblical truth in a particular film—great for family discussions, for Bible studies, or for teaching or preaching. These insights come courtesy of PreachingToday.com, which has almost 9,000 sermon illustrations—including more than 300 from movies, most of which are available at your local video store.

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