WHERE ARE YOU, GOD?

Sunday devotional, 6/2/13

With so many detestable and devastating things that occur here on earth, at times it is hard to comprehend why God does not intervene.  How can a merciful and loving God stand idly by as innocent children cry out in anguish and pain?  Why would God allow abuse, rape, torture or agonizing death for his faithful flock?  When defenseless animals are treated horribly and left in squaller at the hands of sick individuals, who is there to protect them?  What is going on when we hear of the great destruction from wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis and tornadoes? Where are you, God?

These questions are nothing new. Even God-fearing people in Biblical times had the same burning questions.  

How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?  Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed,  and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous,  so that justice is perverted... Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? Habakkuk 1:2-4, 13 NIV

Some things we may never fully understand while we are still on this earth.  We may understand that God does not cause the suffering, and that it is because of Satan and our sinful world that these things happen.  But God has promised to do what we ask in Jesus' name.  Explanations of God not interfering with man's free-will, or of suffering producing certain blessings, or of retribution coming in the end times seem inadequate to our human minds.  But those are the things to which we must cling.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  Romans 5:3-5 NIV

[God's answer in Habakkuk:]

“Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."  Habakkuk 1:5 NIV

The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.  He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.  According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due.  Isaiah 59:15b-18 NIV

At least we know that in all the misery of the world, God submitted his only Son to the worst suffering of all.  A totally innocent life not even capable of ever sinning was tortured and sacrificed for us, in our place, so that we might receive eternal life.  And while we are still here on this planet in distress, God is with us to help us through anything this world can throw at us.  How awesome is that?  We can confidently say, "You are here, God!  Thank you!"

written by Jan Andersen