Why, Lord, Why?
by Robert E.
Gentet
"O taste and see that the LORD is good:
blessed is the man that trusts in him." (Psalm 34:8, KJV).
The Bible from cover to cover expresses God's great
goodness, love and forgiveness. For us mortals who have need of His constant
forgiveness, care and comfort, we can know that His love endures forever.
Yet, around us in the world, and sometimes
dangerously close, is chaos and calamity! This seeming ignominy between God's
goodness and the disaster that befalls us mortal humans is an age-long
question.
Some say this is not the time to give
"theological" reasons for how such horrible things can be occurring
in the light of our professed belief in a good God. When a plane crashes, there
are both condolences and a fervent search for answers on the "whys."
It is not just a matter of comforting those in
grief, but a need to understand why God would allow such things to happen in
the first place. Only then can we truly begin to understand how such evil can
be lessened in
Answers are in the book, not just any book, but the
book – Holy Scripture. What can be known of God is revealed there.
And it should not pass unnoticed that the second
sin recorded in the Bible is a murder. It was a family murder. Cain murdered
his brother Abel. All this happened in the life of the first family on earth!
Why would the good Lord who had just created
mankind allow such a thing? A careful reading of the murder account reveals
some insights we need yet today:
The two brothers, Cain and Abel, had different
occupations. It seems that Abel was a "cattleman" and Cain was a
"farmer."
Their offerings to the Lord indicate this
difference.
"Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the
soil. In the course of time Cain brought some fruits of the soil as an offering
to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his
flock"
(Genesis 4:3b-4a).
A problem arose with the two sets of offerings by
the two brothers. While accepting Abel's offering, God did not accept what Cain
had brought:
"But Abel brought fat portions from some of
the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his
offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was
very angry, and his face was downcast" (Genesis 4:4b-5).
This anger on Cain's part was not generated by any
unfairness of God. Rather, the problem was that of Cain's relationship with the
Lord.
Cain's offering was not done from a willful heart,
out of gratitude for God's goodness and mercy.
"Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Why are you
angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be
accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it
desires to have you, but you must master it'" (Genesis 4:6-7).
Cain's murder of his brother did not happen without
God warning
him first. Cain's hate of his brother was not of God. His jealousy was very
dangerous. It would soon get totally out-of-control if he did not master it.
.
God-fearing
Abel would be his victim. The first family who had been thrust out of the Garden
of Eden for the first sin was now about to witness a horrible murder within the
family!
This precedent of God's warning humans of right and
wrong is a theme throughout the Scriptures. His written Word, and verbal warnings
through His messengers, has continued to be there for those who have ears to
hear. The blame that Abel was slain was not the Lord's, but Cain who did not
listen.
Did Adam and Eve wonder why God did not prevent
Cain from murdering his brother? Scripture does not tell us. But, perhaps they
thought back to the Garden of Eden and their sin.
God had also warned them what not to do, and they
did it anyway. Perhaps the answer for them was still fresh and engraved in
their minds: we have the free will to do or not to do what God says. We can't
blame Him when we don't and it's obvious that He allows us to be tested to see
what is in our hearts.
There is often a paradox within our human
reasoning. God is blamed when something goes wrong, but at the same time, He is
told to keep out of human affairs! We can't have it both ways!
It is bad enough
when humans don't heed God's warnings, but worse when His ways are no longer
allowed to be taught.
We have choices to make. We are responsible for our
actions. And, plainly, God does not always intervene to prevent ugly events
from happening. Rather, He makes clear that everyone is to give an account of
his actions before the throne of God.
Besides whatever judgment those who do evil deeds
receive in this life, a greater and longer lasting judgment will come to all
who do not turn to the Lord in repentance.
Hebrews 11 is often called the "faith"
chapter of the Bible. It begins by defining what faith is:
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see" (Heb. 1:1).
The reminder of the chapter lists the lives of many
of the faithful and how in all that happened to them they lived out lives of
faith. These lives of faith were not a bed of roses:
"Others were tortured and refused to be
released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and
flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned;
they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in
sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated – the world was
not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves, and
holes in the ground" (Heb. 11:35-38).
These tests of faith were received by them as God
intended. They did not question God's goodness. But, they did feel the wrath of
those who rejected God. They looked forward to the time when the final
perfection would come at the resurrection of the body at the last day (Heb.
11:39-40).
So, we, too, should never blame God for the
wickedness of men. Nor should we expect a carefree life because we trust in
God.
The great reformer, Martin Luther, said this
clearly in his famous hymn "A Mighty Fortress is our God":
"The Word they still shall let remain, nor any
thanks have for it;
He's by our side upon the plain, with His good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life, goods, fame, child, and wife,
Let these all be gone, they yet have nothing won;
The Kingdom ours remaineth" (verse 4).
He's by our side upon the plain, with His good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life, goods, fame, child, and wife,
Let these all be gone, they yet have nothing won;
The Kingdom ours remaineth" (verse 4).
Our losses now, no matter how great they seem,
can't overcome God's eternal purpose for those who love him. He is greater than
them all. And even though He allows hardships and trials to afflict even those
who seek Him, Scripture tells us that:
"Later on, however, it [trials] produces a
harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 'Make level paths for
your feet.' So that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed" (Heb. 12:11b-13).
Early on Sunday morning, June 20, 1981, while fast
asleep, I heard these words spoken very clearly by a beautiful male voice:
"God does not willingly afflict or grieve the
children of men."
Upon suddenly awakening, I realized that I had
heard a voice from God, and I soon discovered it was a quote from the Book of
Lamentations 3:33. I puzzled as to its meaning and why it should have been said
to me.
In the many years since that morning, I have begun
to understand more and more clearly the reason. Human suffering in the face of
God's greatness is something we humans constantly wrestle with. The two are not
contradictions but compliments.
God's plan and purpose is based upon our
willingness to follow His will even in adversity. Evil is the result of man's
rebellion. And this truth is revealed from the very beginning of the Bible.
But a merciful God will put an end to the tragic
history of man's rebellion. Someday, and Christians pray it will be soon, a
loud voice from Heaven will say:
"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he
will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them
and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no
more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has
passed away" (Revelation 21:3-4).
To this the whole Christian Church prays: "Come, Lord Jesus. Amen."
Would you want to have a
deeper relationship with God?
God has made it possible
for you to know Him and experience
an amazing change in your own life by
receiving His Son, Jesus Christ, and have eternal life.
Say the following
prayer:
I am truly sorry. I now want to turn
away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid
sinning again.
I believe that Your son, Jesus Christ
died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of
my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank You that
according to Your Word, I am now born again.
Please send your Holy Spirit to help
me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. I promise to study
Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner
and my sins have separated me from You.
I am truly sorry. I now want to turn
away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid
sinning again.
I believe that Your son, Jesus Christ
died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of
my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank You that
according to Your Word, I am now born again.
Please send your Holy Spirit to help
me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. I promise to study
Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
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Why Do Bad Things Happen
to Good People
Why does life seem unfair even
for Christians? Why do bad people have good things happen to them?
“God
Makes No Mistakes”
lyrics
My life I give to you oh Lord use me I pray
May I glorify Your precious name in all I do
and say
Let me trust You in the valley dark as well as
in the light
Knowing You will always lead me
Your will is always right
I know God makes no mistakes
He leads in every path I take
Along the way that's leading me to home
Though at times my heart would break
There's a purpose in every change He makes
So that others would see my life and know
That God makes no mistakes
And when some day in heav'n above I see His
dear face
May I then be counted faithful as a runner in
this race
But now I'm trusting in the Savior to show me
the way
In His righteousness He guides me
as I seek to please Him day by day
I know God makes no mistakes
He leads in every path I take
Along the way that's leading me to home
Though at times my heart would break
There's a purpose in every change He makes
So that others would see my life and know
That God makes no mistakes
God makes no mistakes
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