Job 38:1-11
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Dress for action like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
When bad things happen most people want to know why. Why ask why? Knowing the details of a situation may give a person a feeling of security. We can reason that if we avoid doing this or that, the “bad thing” won’t happen to us. But, there is another reason.
Sometimes asking why is about getting some kind of justification for what has happened. Job was a good fellow by all accounts and he had some really bad things happen in his life. He wanted to know why. Why ask why? He wanted an explanation.
God’s answer to Job makes us look at the very substance of faith. Instead of giving Job an explanation, God directed Job to consider who God is, the creator of all things. If you trust in God, you trust in Him even when you can’t possibly understand. Through faith you know that God does understand and will act in your best interests.
God proved this in Jesus, when He sent His only begotten Son to offer Himself on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. Through faith in Jesus you have peace with God and eternal life. Jesus could do this as true God. But, in an interesting proof of Jesus’ humanity, Jesus also asked “why?” As he was suffering the substance of our punishment on the cross Jesus cried out “Why have you forsaken me?” In that cry, we know that Jesus suffered as we do, yet without sin.
God’s answer to Jesus, and His answer to us, is the resurrection from the dead. We are not God and ultimately don’t want just an explanation. We want the perfect deliverance of resurrection. This is what God has given to the world in Jesus. For all of the times we are at the end of our rope and cry out “why?” God shows us His Son and calls us to repentance and faith. In Jesus we have God’s answer, we have the resurrection.
Let us pray,
I thank you Lord for hearing my prayers during the most difficult days. I repent of my weakness of faith and reaffirm my trust in your divine wisdom and love in guiding my life. Help me to remember Jesus’ faithfulness and your gift of eternal life through Him. Please strengthen all who are struggling this day. Grant us faith and peace through Christ Jesus your Son. AMEN
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.