Why?

February 17, 2025 AdminLeave a comment

Jeremiah 22:1-8

There are many difficult questions arising from scripture. For example: Why did God put trees in the middle of the Garden of Eden that He did not want man to touch? We might imagine what was in the mind of God, but really there is no concrete answer to this question. This is why we need to talk about faith.

What defines our faith? Is it a temporal thing such as believing a chair will hold us when we sit down on it, or is it something much deeper? In the instance of the chair, how would we explain why we believe the chair will hold us? Is it because we can see it has 4 evenly positioned legs? Is it because it is made of sturdy material that we feel will support our weight? Is it what some would describe as blind faith, believing that anything in the form of a chair was made for the purpose of weight-bearing, and therefore we can trust it?

Think about it. What do we actually see that proves there is a God? How does God impact our hearts, our feelings? How do we know there is a God whom we can trust?

Back to the garden….Adam and Eve walked and talked with God in the perfect place He had created to be their home. Visually, audibly they knew God. Suddenly they demonstrated the reality of a new knowledge – the knowledge of evil. For the first time they experienced guilt and fear after disobeying God, a significant change from their previous pleasure in His presence. Sadly, removed from their beautiful garden home their faith was no longer visual or companionable. Their social contact with God was limited. Why?

They were separated from Him by their sin. And they knew it. By virtue of eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they now recognized evil. They had experienced perfection, but that was gone forever. No wonder God was so upset by their independent thinking, their desire for control, their disregard for His wisdom and plan. Now living in different circumstances the question asked by King David applied to their situation: “Why do the heathen rage?” (Psalm 2:1). David unveiled the resolution of world leaders to rebel against the Lord. How like today this is!

Jeremiah poses the same question “Why”? In context the Lord was warning the Israelites that people of other nations will ask “Why has the Lord done such a thing to this great city?” (Jeremiah 22:8), when God destroys it. “If” – that big little word so full of meaning, is used twice in this chapter to discuss the consequences of obedience or disobedience.

Reflection:

God gave humankind the ability to choose. Why? That ability distinguishes us from other created beings. Our “will” identifies us with the God in whose image we are made. Capable of kindness, compassion and forgiveness, man is indeed unique. Why then is man, through scientific research today trying so hard to identify us with the animal kingdom? Is it not another ploy of the Evil One? Why do we choose to grieve the Holy Spirit by our indifference to His direction, by our rejection of Jesus’ love, by our disobedience of God’s laws? Many questions remain beginning with “Why?”

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

Devotional

Where Were You?

July 31, 2023 AdminLeave a comment

Job 38:4-41

I enjoy learning about nature from programs on television. God has given us the means to see mountains and seas, stars in outer space, and minute details of the unborn in a mother’s womb! The knowledge of Creator God is past human understanding, yet He blesses us with glimpses into various realms, for which He has some wonderful eternal plan.

Elihu, one of Job’s friends ended a long speech into the mysteries of God’s ways with these words: “The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power!” (Job 37:23). Elihu assumed Job has offended God so he took the position that he must defend God (Job 36:2-3). One of Elihu’s themes is that God is beyond our understanding (36:26). This is so true, even today when technology has advanced our understanding of science, medicine and astronomy.

Finally God speaks! Newspapers and television are full of the great discoveries being made by man. God warns us to stop flapping our gums! “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2). How dare the creature take the glory belonging to the Creator! God has been patient with Job’s counsellors, and even with Job himself. Now they must listen. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?” Scientists may yet have to answer that question, when face to face with God.

Back to Job….in exasperation, riddled with pain and sorrow, he had cried out “If only there were someone to arbitrate between us….someone to remove God’s rod from me”. In Chapter 9 Job speaks about his God, who is not a man like himself. He wished that they might confront each other, so he could get an explanation for his suffering (9:32-34). He speaks out of the bitterness of his soul (10:2). Have you ever been at that point in your life?

Now God thunders from out of a storm. Quite often in scripture we read that God speaks out of the power and terror of stormy circumstances. Perhaps when the storm clouds rise over our lives we should prepare our hearts for a message from God!

God asks some difficult questions. “Who marked the dimensions of earth” (:5) or fixed the limits of the sea? (:8-9). Have the gates of death been shown to you? (:17) What is the way to the abode of light? (:19) Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons? (:31-32) Who endowed the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind? (:36)…and His questions continue into Chapter 40 “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?” (:1).

Reflection:

When we are struggling we ask a lot of why questions, but here we have God asking where, who, what. The contrasts between the knowledge of God and the understanding of man is vast indeed! No wonder we fall down in worship when we see Him. Job gained the right perspective when he exclaimed “Now my eyes have seen You. Therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes!”(Job 42:5-6).

Where were you when Creator God planned the marvellous details of your earthly existence? The important question is – Where am I now, in the plan of God? Have I accepted the arbitrator of my soul, Jesus Christ the Lord? Thank God for the plan which included one for my salvation and yours!

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

Uncategorized

Why?

February 22, 2022 AdminLeave a comment

Reflections on Job

“Why” is a little three-lettered word that sometimes gets us into trouble. Children sometimes exasperate their elders as they use it to learn about the world around them. If we question the established order of things, as adults, we may irritate others. Sometimes it is a word used when we fall into desperate circumstances. Often we question God with “Why?” when things are hard to understand, such as natural disasters, or the death of a loved one or a pandemic!

God understands our query more than we know. He too might ask “Why” questions. As His people wandered away from His goodness, His will and His ways, we might wonder why? However, an omniscient God knows all. He knows the end from the beginning. Why? Because He is God. Look at God’s declaration to Isaiah:

“I am God and there is no other [god]!

I am God and there is none like Me!

I make known the end from the beginning!

I say: My purpose will stand! And

I will do all that I please” (Isaiah 46:9-10).

Why then does God allow trouble and violence and death? Job is the Bible character outstanding for his suffering. Yet he was a man described by God Himself, as blameless. From this we learn that trouble does not always perform as a punishment in our lives. Yes – there are consequences for our poor choices, but what did this blameless man learn from his woeful experience?

He did ask “Why” questions: “Why have You made me Your target?” (Job 7:20).

“Why did You bring me out of my mother’s womb?” (Job 10:18).

It seems Job’s faith passed the test because he concludes:

“I could only plead with my Judge for mercy” (Job 9:15).

“Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges even the highest?” (Job 21:22).

“In His hand is the life of every creature, and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10).

“To God belong wisdom and power, counsel and understanding are His…..He pours contempt of the nobles and disarms the mighty…..He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason” (Job 12:13, 21, 24).

Reflection:

These reflections may not be encouraging, but Job gives us some very beautiful and up-lifting reasons to trust in God. “He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 32:10).

“The fear [reverence] of the Lord – that is wisdom and to shun evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).

Job longed for those days “When I was in my prime…God’s intimate friendship blessed my house!” (Job 29:4). However, Job also looks to the future “I know that my Redeemer lives…and after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God!…How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27).

Does your knowledge of God, your experience of His mercy and His loving faithfulness prompt this same response when you face sorrow and struggles, when you ask “Why?”

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)