03.07
“But Why???” I constantly asked that question growing up. I wanted to understand every request from my parents, and if their answer didn’t make sense to me, I kept asking them “Why?” until I understood their request… or they gave up.
Now, fast forward to when I’m 15 years old and learning to drive. One afternoon, I started to pull out into traffic and my mother told me, “Stop, Ken. Don’t go!” But instead of listening, I asked “Why?” and lunged the car forward. Needless to say, my mother was right. We were almost blindsided by a truck. Of course, when we made it through the intersection, I told my mother, “Chill out, mom! Anyway, it’s that guy’s fault, not mine. He was driving too fast.” That’s when my mother told me – using very animated expressions – that I’d better start listening to her and stop blaming others for my mistakes. Truth is… my arrogance almost got us killed.
In Judges 6, there’s two times that people ask God “Why?” In verse 7, the Israelites ask “Why the hardship?” God answers them, “You’re not worshiping Me. You’re worshiping the gods of the Amorites.” And even though the Israelites ask the question, evidently they didn’t like God’s answer because they didn’t change anything. They just lunge into traffic and say, “Chill out, God! There’s nothing I need to change. It must be someone else’s fault.”
We also see another “Why?” in verse 13. Facing the same circumstances, Gideon asks, “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” Evidently, Gideon is following close to God and he’s frustrated that he has to endure the same tough times as those rebelling against God. But do you notice God’s answer to Gideon? He says, “Gideon, you are the answer to this problem. I’m sending you to make this world a better place.” (vs. 15, my paraphrase). Interesting… Same problems. Same questions. Different answers.
Right now, our world is experiencing tough consequences from our rebellion against God. And many of us are asking, “Why???” Well, here’s God’s answer: For those of us who are running from God, He says, “I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of (this world).” But to those of us who are following God, He answers, “Go. I am sending you to change this place.”
Same problems. Same questions. Different answers. Which answer is for you?
btw…God’s answers aren’t as animated as my mom’s, but they’re every bit as right.
