An entire community grieved for Rajaan and the tragic ending to his life.  My heart still aches for his mother.  And when situations like his arise, I think… ‘Why does God allow this stuff?’  But then I remember that “God’s ways are not my ways” (Isaiah 55:8).  In fact, when we try to look at life from God’s perspective, we usually see a very different picture.  For example,  Rajaan became a follower of Jesus through the ministry of an FCA missionary.  (btw… WCC helped sponsor this missionary.)  And even though we grieve when someone dies, for believers death is the beginning, not the end.  Isaiah 57 actually calls death a reward from God, as God spares us from more evil.

Now jump for a moment to today’s story about Gideon – another time when I don’t understand God’s ways.  You tell me.  Do God’s army recruiting techniques make sense to you, turning away able-bodied recruits???  What’s God thinking?

But let’s face it.  God’s like that.  He sees life so differently than me and you.  Our earthly goals and daily worries keep us from understanding why God works the way He does, especially in tragedy.   God can do more with less???  Death is the beginning???  God brings good out of the most awful situations??? Come on… do we really buy that stuff?

My heart aches for Rajaan’s family and friends, as they deal with a tragedy that makes no earthly sense.  But I want to be more like Gideon, trusting God especially when life doesn’t make sense.  Here’s what I’m learning…  God’s ways are not only different than my ways; they’re better.  And when I join Rajaan in heaven, I’ll understand why.

What’s God saying to you through this passage?

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.