WHY HAS ALL THIS HAPPENED TO US?

Recently, two of my close friends have been diagnosed with cancer and have been told that in the natural, there is no chance of recovery. Along with members of their families, I ask the question, “Why?”

Repeatedly, in response to unexpected circumstances, we’ve asked the question, “Why?” Of course, there are no simple answers to why bad things happen to us, but we still ask, “Why?”

I’ve always been fascinated by the question, “Why?” In one university, the only question on a philosophy exam was the word “Why?” Some students wrote nothing. Some students wrote pages and pages in desperation, but did not really answer the question. The student who got the highest mark simply answered, “Why not?”

I recently came across these questions. Why isn’t “phonetic” spelled the way it sounds? Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii? Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways? Why, when you send something in a vehicle is it called a shipment but when you transport something by ship it’s called cargo? Why is it that when you are looking for an address, you turn down the volume on the car radio?

WHY?

The Greek philosopher, Socrates was considered wise, not because he knew all the right answers, but because he knew how to ask all the right questions. One of his favorite questions was “Why?”

Questions come in all sizes and shapes. Friends ask us difficult questions. Children ask questions that are tough. No one has to teach a child to ask “Why?”

Some questions are easy to answer; some questions make us think and some questions are impossible to answer. Questions that start with “why?” are often the most difficult to answer.

We’ve all asked “Why?” at one time or another. Why me? Why my family? Why now?

Interestingly, we usually ask the question “Why?” when things go badly; we don’t usually ask the question when things go well. When someone wins $10M in a lottery, he doesn’t ask “Why?” Rather, people ask “Why?” when the doctor uses the “C” word.

Sometimes our friends try to answer the question “Why?” for us and at times friends can help. But often friends don’t have all the facts. This was the case with Job and his friends.

Sometimes, the question “Why?” doesn’t have any answer at all and we simply have to go on without knowing why things have happened the way they did.

The question “Why?” is repeatedly asked throughout the Bible. Many individuals asked the question “Why?” and at times God asked people “Why?”

GIDEON

Perhaps the big question is the question Gideon asked. “But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.” (Judges 6:13).

The year was 1256 BC, about 200 years after Joshua had entered the Promise Land and conquered Jericho. During those 200 years, Israel had gone from one extreme to another. They would follow God for a while and then turn away from God. God would punish the people and times would be tough. God raised up a series of outstanding individuals, most of whom were called “judges” and these judges led the people back to God. The people would repent, call on God and God would restore them. Then the cycle would start all over again.

When Gideon appeared on the scene, things were tough for Israel. God was judging them. For seven years, Israel had been dominated by the Midianites. The Midianites were ruthless, wild and cruel. They were the people who first domesticated the camel and as a result were able to move quickly militarily. The people of Israel were living in caves, dens and underground fortresses.

One night Gideon was threshing grain in a winepress, deep in a hole in the ground. As he secretly worked, trying to hide his grain from the Midianites, God appeared to him as the angel of the Lord. The angel of the Lord said, The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.  This didn’t make sense to Gideon. He knew he wasn’t a mighty warrior for he was as fearful as anyone.

Gideon had questions. Gideon couldn’t understand what had happened to his country. It seemed like the Lord had abandoned them. They were living under the control of the Midianites. Gideon couldn’t understand why, if God was so great and powerful, so much trouble was happening. Gideon’s reply was sarcastic. If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about …? The Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.

Each of us has asked, Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is God inactive, when I need him the most? Why doesn’t God do something? Why doesn’t God intervene? Sometimes we know the answer to our “Why?” questions but sometimes we don’t and we’re perplexed and confused.

We can learn how to handle our “Why” questions from how God handled Gideon’s questions.

GOD DOESN’T ANSWER ALL OUR QUESTIONS, BUT HE DOES SPEAK WITH US

At no time did the Lord answer Gideon directly.

Often, that’s the way it is with us. We ask our questions and they are real, sincere, honest. But there are no answers. It’s frustrating. We’d like to shout:  “God, where are you? Why don’t you do something?” We may get angry with God or even be tempted to throw away our faith.

At times God answers our “Why?” questions but frequently, he does not. There was no answer from the heavens when Jesus cried, My God, why have you forsaken me?. Sometimes there are no meaningful answers to our questions. Sometimes God simply says, you don’t need to know the answer. That doesn’t mean he is silent. We may be so busy looking for an answer to the “Why?” question, that we don’t hear what God is wanting to say to us in the midst of our difficulties.

God may not answer our “Why?” question, but he does want to speak with us. God may have more important things to say than the answer to our “Why?” questions.

God never answered Gideon’s “why?” question.

It’s not wrong to ask “Why?” but remember that God isn’t always going to answer that question.

MOVE FROM “WHY?” TO “WHAT NEXT?”

God didn’t answer Gideon’s question, but he did speak with him. The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14).

While Gideon was struggling with, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? God points Gideon in an entirely different direction. God said, Gideon, don’t ask “Why?” ask, “What next?” Gideon, you are asking the wrong question and looking backwards. You have to decide whether you are going to live in the past or the future.

Gideon, instead of asking why, needed to become part of the solution. Instead of complaining, he needed to be part of the answer. Go in the strength you have and save Israel. Be part of the solution. Go and make a difference. Am I not sending you?

It’s easier to ask “Why?” than “What’s next?” It’s easier to complain than to ask God “What do you want me to do?”

Many have gone through difficult experiences. There is shock, dismay and  confusion. There may be deep grief and sorrow. It takes time for emotional healing and to get your feet on the ground but at the same time, you have to ask, How do I go forward from here? I may have been through a difficult experience, but I still have to live the rest of my life, so where do I go from here? You stop asking, “Why?” and start asking “What next?”

God told Gideon, Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?  God says the same thing to us. Go in the strength you have. You may not have much strength, but use what strength you have. Step out in faith. You are part of the solution. And don’t forget, I’m sending you.

God still has a plan for the rest of your life.

GOD PROMISES TO BE WITH US IN OUR WEAKNESS

“But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”  The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.” (Judges 6:15-16).

A lot of people have said what Gideon said. But Lord, how can I? I’m nobody. No one will listen or pay attention to me. I have no strength. I have no ability.

We have all said something like that to the Lord. We particularly ask that question when going through difficult times. It’s easier to ask, “Why?” than to obey. God may be saying that you are part of the solution.

The Lord gave Gideon a two-fold promise. First, the promise of his presence:  I will be with you. Second, the promise of victory: you will strike down all the Midianites.

God imakes the same two-fold promise to us. We may be bewildered by what has happened, we may be questioning God’s steadfast love or his power, we may not understand what’s been happening, we may feel inadequate about carrying on and may feel weak and helpless but God speaks to us. He says it’s time to go forward, The time for asking “Why?” is over. God promises to be with us and give us victory.

GOD WANTS US TO RESPOND TO HIM WITH WORSHIP AND TRUST

Gideon had a choice. Would he go on asking “Why?” or would he say, “OK, let’s go forward. I trust you. I accept the challenge. I will obey you!

So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. That same night the Lord said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.  Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering.” (Judges 6:24-26).