(…continued…) For yet another option, we could say God steps in where and when he wants to deliver people, in order to reward and punish people according to what they deserve. Well, sometimes the Bible says that, as in the Old Testament books of I and II Kings where we are always reading about how this king obeyed God and was rewarded, and then the next king disobeyed God, and then he and all his people got a thrashing because of it. Many of the prophets also said that, and they saw the decline of the nation as a result of God’s angry judgment upon their many sins.
So, sometimes the Bible does describe God as rewarding and punishing us as we deserve. But then again other times, we find a different story. Job, for example, was declared by God himself to be the most righteous man in the East, yet he suffers more than anyone. The story makes it clear that this was not at all what Job deserved, but that there was something more going on behind the scenes. And not only Job, but many of the Bible’s best and most faithful people ended up suffering the most: Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Paul, to name just a few; not to mention Jesus himself. The Bible makes it clear that the good and the bad which happens to us is not necessarily doled out in precise measure to what we deserve.
Here’s what I think, and this much I believe we can say, for now. Other meditations say more. The Bible seems to say that God can and will intervene in this world and in our lives, when and where he so desires, and for different reasons, reasons which are seldom explained or made clear to anyone. God does say in Isaiah 55 “My ways are NOT your ways and my thoughts are NOT your thoughts,” and leaves it at that. Jeremiah was just as confused by this as we are, and one time said to God, “Will you be to me like a deceptive stream with waters that are unreliable?” (Jeremiah 15:18 NASB).
The best verse I know of on the subject is Jonah 3:9. There the king of Nineveh has just been told exactly what God was going to do. God had decided to destroy Nineveh in 40 days, and no other options were offered. There was no ambiguity. But, said the king to his people, let’s all repent and change our ways and call upon God, and WHO KNOWS, perhaps God will change his mind and have compassion and turn away from his fierce anger so that we will not all perish.” WHO KNOWS, said the king, WHO KNOWS what God will do and why? How can we know? God says he will not always tell us all what is on his mind, and who are we to think we can figure it out on our own? We can’t. And God, by the way, then did have compassion and did not destroy the king of Nineveh and his people.
“Who knows?” That is the very best Biblical response to the question of how exactly God is active in the world, and who and how and when he will deliver and save. The Bible tells us a great deal about God and how to live and how to save our souls, but it does not give a full answer and explanation to those other kinds of questions.
Bob and Beth were a wonderful young couple. They loved Jesus, were active in the church I was serving, and had a couple of adorable kids. One day, Bob got a little sick, and for a long time, did not get better. Then his condition worsened rapidly, and he was hospitalized. Many desperate prayers were said, and then Bob died.
In the same congregation were Hilda and Henry, both in their late 80’s, and both plagued by endless health problems. Henry was once again taken to the hospital and was not expected to live. If he would have died, many would have said, “It is a blessing that his suffering is over.” But Henry did not die, and to everyone’s surprise, he started to improve. One Sunday after church I saw Hilda and asked about Henry. “Oh,” she said, “he is doing fine. In fact, he is coming home tomorrow. Isn’t it wonderful how God always answers all our prayers?” It was not the time for a discussion about the complexities of God’s will and answered prayer, so I just said, “Yes, Hilda, it is wonderful”
Then I turned to shake hands with the next person, and I said, “Oh… Good morning, Beth.”
Who knows? (continued…)
*****************************
Jonah 3:1-10–
Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
******************************
O Father of all mercy and God of all comfort, strengthen and uphold me by your Spirit, until you reveal to me the purpose of my tribulations. For it is your will that we, at times, be troubled and grieved. Indeed, you do not permit any evil to be done, unless you can make it serve a good purpose. You see my distress and weakness. I pray that you help and deliver me. Amen.
–Martin Luther (1483-1546)
————
O Lord, we know not what is good for us. Thou knowest what it is. For it we pray.
–Prayer of the Khonds in North India
Related Posts
