Why did you let this happen God?
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me." Psalm 23
This week, two postal workers died from inhaled anthrax. The television news report on their deaths included an interview with the wife of one of the workers that I don't think I'll ever forget. This dear lady seemed oblivious to the questions she was being asked by the reporters. She just kept repeating, over and over again, all the ways her husband was a "good" man. I couldn't help thinking about how senseless was the loss of this "good" man. And I couldn't help but hear the unasked questions in the recital of her husband's virtues, "Why did this have to happen to such a good man - to MY man? Why did you let this happen God?" I'm sure there are thousands of families asking the same kind of questions right now about the loved ones they have lost.
I think God must find the majority of us to be terribly frustrating children. Christians and non-believers alike. When things are going well, we're so quick to claim the credit for ourselves. During the recent economic prosperity of this nation, did anyone hear God mentioned as the source of that prosperity? Not likely. If anything, we were a nation intent on pushing Him away; on making sure God couldn't get into our schools, our courthouses, our legislative assemblies or anywhere else near the boundary we enforce between church and state. But when things go bad, the finger of blame is immediately extended by so many of us in His direction. Some people, I'm sure, blame Him because they're not prepared to admit their own responsibility for the fatal events. Others blame Him because they sincerely believe He's a very stern judge who, when we do something wrong, loves to jump on us with both feet. And still others blame Him because they just don't know who else to blame. Whatever the logic, we've really missed the mark and I'm sure it's breaking our Father's heart.
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:27-28 (NIV)
God said to His children - subdue (conquer, vanquish, control) the earth.
God said to His children - rule (exercise authority) over every living thing. (Parenthetical words from Webster's Dictionary).
God is most certainly the final judge of us all. He is most certainly omnipresent, so He sees everything we do. He judges us fairly according to the law and our choices. But He's not the one doing the jumping. The devil is. He's the prosecutor and the punisher. God left us in control of this planet with authority over all living things in it (including the serpent). If we are foolish enough to bow before sin, as Adam and Eve did, the devil demands his due and God must release His covering over us while the devil inflicts on us the consequences of our choices. It's not what God wants. But He gave us our free will and if we use it to make bad choices then the consequences are ours as well.
Sickness and suffering entered into this world when those in authority sinned and let the devil in. Sickness and suffering came in with him. The same sickness and suffering that can drive someone to fly a commercial jet liner into the World Trade Center or mail a germ filled letter to an unsuspecting official. The same sickness and suffering the devil will use to drive you away from God if you'll let him. Sickness and suffering were never God's will. God's will was obedient and abundant life in the Garden of Eden. God - the just Judge is also God - the loving Father. Even while we suffer at the devil's hands for our sins or the consequences of another's sin, God is moving on our behalf, working within the self imposed limits He placed on Himself as a condition of our free will and within our hearts to teach us and recover us back under His protective and loving care.
Sometimes good people get hurt simply because they're the victim of another person's poor choices. We chose to ignore poverty and oppression in the world and "good" people suffer and die. Someone, overcome by those hurts and injustices, chooses to inflict their pain on others and those "good" people become additions to the growing list of victims. We chose to ignore the dangers of pollution in our environment. Poisons are ingested and inhaled until loved ones contract deadly diseases. More suffering and death. Not because of God's will, but because of our failings in exercising the free will He has given us.
It seems like every day the news is filled with violent crimes where innocent victims suffer or die. Or the news of some precious person who has succumbed to a deadly disease leaving a host of friends or loved ones mourning their loss. Roughly 2,000 years ago, the headlines read "Jesus is Dead! Nazarene crucified for claiming to be the Son of God!!" The prophet that had been welcomed with cheers and Hosannas just days before was gone. The one who had done so many miraculous things among the people and taught with such wisdom and authority was no more. His disciples were scattered and in hiding, their hopes and dreams shattered. Those who followed Christ, who had heard Him teach and had believed, lifted their eyes towards heaven and asked the question "Why?" They did not want Jesus to die. But if He hadn't, where would we be today?
And therein lies our lesson for the tragedies that confront us in life: No matter how dark or senseless things may seem - God is always in control and will always keep His promise to lead us safely home. At various times in our lives, all of us will ask the pain-filled question, "Why God?" In response, the devil will offer the bitter fruit of anger and unforgiveness. The Father offers the sweet, healing power of His love and grace. He intends for us to be the messengers of that offer.
Stephen J. Hall
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me." Psalm 23
This week, two postal workers died from inhaled anthrax. The television news report on their deaths included an interview with the wife of one of the workers that I don't think I'll ever forget. This dear lady seemed oblivious to the questions she was being asked by the reporters. She just kept repeating, over and over again, all the ways her husband was a "good" man. I couldn't help thinking about how senseless was the loss of this "good" man. And I couldn't help but hear the unasked questions in the recital of her husband's virtues, "Why did this have to happen to such a good man - to MY man? Why did you let this happen God?" I'm sure there are thousands of families asking the same kind of questions right now about the loved ones they have lost.
I think God must find the majority of us to be terribly frustrating children. Christians and non-believers alike. When things are going well, we're so quick to claim the credit for ourselves. During the recent economic prosperity of this nation, did anyone hear God mentioned as the source of that prosperity? Not likely. If anything, we were a nation intent on pushing Him away; on making sure God couldn't get into our schools, our courthouses, our legislative assemblies or anywhere else near the boundary we enforce between church and state. But when things go bad, the finger of blame is immediately extended by so many of us in His direction. Some people, I'm sure, blame Him because they're not prepared to admit their own responsibility for the fatal events. Others blame Him because they sincerely believe He's a very stern judge who, when we do something wrong, loves to jump on us with both feet. And still others blame Him because they just don't know who else to blame. Whatever the logic, we've really missed the mark and I'm sure it's breaking our Father's heart.
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:27-28 (NIV)
God said to His children - subdue (conquer, vanquish, control) the earth.
God said to His children - rule (exercise authority) over every living thing. (Parenthetical words from Webster's Dictionary).
God is most certainly the final judge of us all. He is most certainly omnipresent, so He sees everything we do. He judges us fairly according to the law and our choices. But He's not the one doing the jumping. The devil is. He's the prosecutor and the punisher. God left us in control of this planet with authority over all living things in it (including the serpent). If we are foolish enough to bow before sin, as Adam and Eve did, the devil demands his due and God must release His covering over us while the devil inflicts on us the consequences of our choices. It's not what God wants. But He gave us our free will and if we use it to make bad choices then the consequences are ours as well.
Sickness and suffering entered into this world when those in authority sinned and let the devil in. Sickness and suffering came in with him. The same sickness and suffering that can drive someone to fly a commercial jet liner into the World Trade Center or mail a germ filled letter to an unsuspecting official. The same sickness and suffering the devil will use to drive you away from God if you'll let him. Sickness and suffering were never God's will. God's will was obedient and abundant life in the Garden of Eden. God - the just Judge is also God - the loving Father. Even while we suffer at the devil's hands for our sins or the consequences of another's sin, God is moving on our behalf, working within the self imposed limits He placed on Himself as a condition of our free will and within our hearts to teach us and recover us back under His protective and loving care.
Sometimes good people get hurt simply because they're the victim of another person's poor choices. We chose to ignore poverty and oppression in the world and "good" people suffer and die. Someone, overcome by those hurts and injustices, chooses to inflict their pain on others and those "good" people become additions to the growing list of victims. We chose to ignore the dangers of pollution in our environment. Poisons are ingested and inhaled until loved ones contract deadly diseases. More suffering and death. Not because of God's will, but because of our failings in exercising the free will He has given us.
It seems like every day the news is filled with violent crimes where innocent victims suffer or die. Or the news of some precious person who has succumbed to a deadly disease leaving a host of friends or loved ones mourning their loss. Roughly 2,000 years ago, the headlines read "Jesus is Dead! Nazarene crucified for claiming to be the Son of God!!" The prophet that had been welcomed with cheers and Hosannas just days before was gone. The one who had done so many miraculous things among the people and taught with such wisdom and authority was no more. His disciples were scattered and in hiding, their hopes and dreams shattered. Those who followed Christ, who had heard Him teach and had believed, lifted their eyes towards heaven and asked the question "Why?" They did not want Jesus to die. But if He hadn't, where would we be today?
And therein lies our lesson for the tragedies that confront us in life: No matter how dark or senseless things may seem - God is always in control and will always keep His promise to lead us safely home. At various times in our lives, all of us will ask the pain-filled question, "Why God?" In response, the devil will offer the bitter fruit of anger and unforgiveness. The Father offers the sweet, healing power of His love and grace. He intends for us to be the messengers of that offer.
Stephen J. Hall
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