“Why God Why?”

I wanted to convey to everyone that I’m now sending out a group email almost weekly, to the church. So, I won’t be updating this blog site very often. But, I know we have people who visit our webpage frequently, so I do desire to update the Diary from time to time.

We have a gentleman in our church that was recently diagnosed with very serious carcinoma cancer which originated in the kidneys and has spread to his brain. He’s still young and has a beautiful family. It’s been a very difficult thing for his family to accept and hard for their church family as well. How are we to understand and react when bad things happen to good people? Doesn’t the Bible teach that God will not place more on us than we can bear? Actually, it doesn’t say that. We’ve often misquoted 1 Corinthians 10:13 which states: “…God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able….” But, the question still remains as to “why” God would allow such a tragic disease to infect a godly husband and father and not some thug who deserts and abuses his family. I recently read an article by Dr. James Dobson entitled “Why God Why?” Dr. Dobson spoke on the sovereignty of God. We can never grasp all of infinite God with our earthly finite minds. The Bible gives us insight into God’s sovereignty. For example, 1 Corinthians 2:11 states, “No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” Also, in Deuteronomy 29:29 we read that “the secret things belong to the Lord our God.” Even the wisdom of Solomon speaks of God’s infinite being in Ecclesiastes 11:5 “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” And probably the most recognizable text on God’s sovereignty is found in Isaiah 55:8-9 which teaches, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways says the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Truly, the scriptures remind us of our lack of capacity to fully grasp God’s omnipotence or His ways of doing things. The scripture declares to us that God’s judgments are “unsearchable” and His ways are “past finding out” Romans 11:33. Often times we desire to question God as to why trials happen to us. I think this is the natural response for most people faced with sudden tribulation. Paul gives some scriptural insight in his Epistle to the Corinthian church: “Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” 1 Corinthians 2:16. Unless God chooses to explain Himself to us, then His purpose and plan are far beyond the reach of mortal man. Finally, the Apostle Paul expresses the reasoning of faith when we face an insurmountable trial without answers. In 1 Corinthians 13:12 we read: “Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” In other-words, we don’t have the total picture of all that happens. But, we exercise our faith in the One who not only sees the “big picture” but created it! I’m reminded of a song I once heard that kind of sums things up for me personally. This song is an expression of our faith: “When answers aren’t enough, there is Jesus; He is more than just an answer to our prayers!” And as the old favorite song, ‘Beulah Land’ promises, one day “our faith will become sight.”

 Pastor Dusty

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