When God Doesn’t Make Sense (Part 2)

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When God Doesn’t Make Sense (Part 2)

1. This study derives its name and a lot of its content from James Dobson’s excellent book, When God Doesn’t Make Sense.

I.        God doesn’t always tell us why He does what He does and allows what He allows.

1. The secret things belong unto God (Deut 29:29; Pro 25:2).
2. There are things that God does that we cannot comprehend (Job 11:7-10; Job 37:5; Isa 45:15; 1Co 2:16).
3. There are some things in life that we are not going to understand, nor get answers to (Rom 11:33; Ecc 3:11; Ecc 8:17; Ecc 11:5; Act 1:7).
4. While on this earth, we see through a glass darkly (1Co 13:12).
5. God’s thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways (Isa 55:8-9).
6. Even if God did explain why He let painful suffering into our lives, we often would not understand.
   1. Little children can’t understand why pain is necessary for their good, such as painful medical procedures.
   2. If you tried to explain the necessity and purpose for such things to a toddler, he will not understand, but will just wail.
   3. We likewise can’t understand why God allows severe hardship into our lives.
   4. Just as parents pity their children and want the best for them, even if that means allowing them to suffer pain for future benefit, so God pities us when we are suffering (Psa 103:13-14).
   5. God cares for us (1Pe 5:7).
   6. In our affliction, He is afflicted (Jdg 10:16; Isa 63:9).
7. We must trust God, acknowledge that He is right, and lean not on our own understanding to try to comprehend why God allowed calamity into our life (Pro 3:5-6).
   1. Consider the example of Joseph.
   2. “Look at the experience of Joseph, one of the patriarchs of the Old Testament. His entire life was in shambles until the triumphal reunion with his family many years later. He was hated by his brothers, who considered killing him before selling him as a slave. While in Egypt, he was imprisoned, falsely accused of attempted rape by Potiphar’s wife, and threatened with execution. There is no indication that God explained to Joseph what He was doing through those many years of heartache, or how the pieces would eventually fit together. He was expected, like you and me, to live out his days one at a time in something less than complete understanding. What pleased God was Joseph’s faithfulness when nothing made sense.” (Ibid, pp. 35-36)
   3. The word of the Lord tried Joseph while in prison (Psa 105:17-19), but we don’t read of God explaining His plan to him during his affliction.
   4. He only later understood God’s purpose in it (Gen 45:5-11; Gen 50:20).
8. Confusion is more difficult than pain and suffering.
   1. “In fact, the majority of us will someday feel a similar alienation from God. Why? Because those who live long enough will eventually be confronted by happenings they will not understand. That is the human condition. Let me say it again: It is an incorrect view of Scripture to say that we will always comprehend what God is doing and how our suffering and disappointment fit into His plan. Sooner or later, most of us will come to a point where it appears that God has lost control―or interest―in the affairs of people. It is only an illusion, but one with dangerous implications for spiritual and mental health. Interestingly enough, pain and suffering do not cause the greatest damage. Confusion is the factor that shreds one’s faith.” (Ibid, p. 13)
   2. “Jim Elliot, one of the five missionaries who were speared to death by Auca (now Waorani) people in Ecuador, best described this ultimate investment. He is quoted in Elisabeth Elliot’s book Through Gates of Splendor: ‘He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.’ That biblically based understanding turns martyrdom into a glorious victory. By contrast, Christians who become confused and disillusioned with God have no such consolation. It is the absence of meaning that makes their situation so intolerable. As such, their depression over a sudden illness or the tragic death of a loved one can actually be more severe than that experienced by the nonbeliever who expected and received nothing. It is not uncommon to hear a confused Christian express great agitation, anger, or even blasphemy. This confused individual is like a little girl being told by her divorced father that he will come to see her. When Daddy fails to show up, she suffers far more than if he had never offered to come. The key word here is expectations. They set us up for disillusionment. There is no greater distress in human experience than to build one’s entire way of life on a certain theological understanding, and then have it collapse at a time of unusual stress and pain. A person in this situation faces the crisis that rattled his foundation. Then, like little Chris, he must also deal with the anguish of rejection. The God whom he has loved, worshiped, and served turns out to appear silent, distant, and uncaring in the moment of greatest need. Do such times come even to the faithful? Yes, they do, although we are seldom willing to admit it within the Christian community.” (Ibid, p. 14-15)

II.     God allows affliction and suffering in our lives to try our faith.

1. The trial of our faith works patience (Jam 1:2-4).
2. We are blessed when we endure temptation (trial of faith) and are promised a crown of life from the Lord (Jam 1:12).
3. Tribulation works patience, experience, and hope (Rom 5:3-5).
4. Temptations need to come into our lives from time to time (1Pe 1:6).
5. The trial of our faith is more precious than gold (1Pe 1:7).
6. “Apparently, most believers are permitted to go through emotional and spiritual valleys that are designed to test their faith in the crucible of fire. Why? Because faith ranks at the top of God’s system of priorities. Without it, He said, it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). And what is faith? It is ‘the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, KJV). This determination to believe when the proof is not provided and when the questions are not answered is central to our relationship with the Lord. He will never do anything to destroy the need for faith. In fact, He guides us through times of testing specifically to cultivate that belief and dependence on Him (Hebrews 11:6-7).” (Ibid, p. 17-18)
7. “Our message boils down to this very simple understanding: there is nothing the Lord wants of us more than the exercise of our faith. He will do nothing to undermine it, and we cannot please him without it. To define the term again, faith is believing that which has no absolute proof (Hebrews 11:1). It is hanging tough when the evidence would have us bail out. It is determining to trust him when he has not answered all the questions or even assured a pain-free passage.” (Ibid, p. 221)
8. “The biblical account tells us, ‘about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea’ (Mar 6:48). From the early evening to the fourth watch is a seven-hour passage of time. For seven hours, Jesus watched the disciples do battle with a severe head wind before He came to assist them. Yet they were in His vision and under His care throughout the night. Obviously, He permitted them to experience their need before coming to their rescue.” (Ibid, p. 157) (the text quoted was changed to the KJV)

III.  Sometimes our troubles are due to our own sin and foolishness.

1. Ultimately, all suffering, sorrow, trouble, and death are due to sin.
   1. When Adam sinned, he brought sin and death upon all of his posterity (Gen 3:6, 17-19; Rom 5:12).
   2. The whole creation is under the curse because of sin (Rom 8:20-23).
   3. The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23).
   4. It comes sooner for some than others.
   5. Sometimes “innocent” people are like the unfortunate fish that get caught in the evil net (Ecc 9:11-12).
      1. They might not have done a specific sin which caused their suffering or calamity.
      2. They are just part of the collateral damage of a sinful world.
   6. But sometimes hard times fall on people as a result of their own sin.
      1. Fools are afflicted because of their sin (Psa 107:17).
      2. The way of transgressors is hard (Pro 13:15).
      3. Sin brings forth death (Rom 6:23; Jam 1:14-15).
      4. Sin has natural consequences.
         1. It doesn’t take much imagination to see how the following sinful or foolish things will lead to suffering and death at times: abortion, fornication, adultery, sodomy, rage, disrespecting spouses, disrespecting bosses, disobeying parents, marrying the wrong person, not disciplining children, going into debt, excessive drinking and eating, drugs, smoking, foolish decisions, and driving recklessly.
         2. “…I believe many of the trials and tribulations that come our way are of our own making. Some are the direct consequence of sin, as we have seen. In other cases, the pain we experience is a result of unwise decisions. We make such a mess of our lives by foolishness and irresponsibility. When one considers the range of sheer nonsense that human beings can generate, it is understandable why author Mark Twain once said, ‘At times it does seem a shame that Noah and his party didn’t miss the boat.’” (Ibid, p. 192)
      5. When fools do stupid things, they often complain to God for allowing trouble into their lives which they brought upon themselves (Pro 19:3).
      6. They wonder why God doesn’t make sense. But they fail to see that they don’t make sense.

IV.  Feeling forsaken by God

1. When experiencing suffering, affliction, loss, sorrow, or troubles, it is not uncommon for Christians to feel like God has forsaken them.
   1. David asked God how long He would forget him and hide His face from him (Psa 13:1).
   2. God will hide His face from us at times to humble us (Psa 30:7).
   3. Asaph wondered if God would cast him off forever, be favorable to him no more, and forget to show him grace and mercy (Psa 77:7-9).
   4. “When the heat is on and confusion mounts, some believers go through a horrendous spiritual crisis. They “lose God.” Doubt rises up to obscure His presence and disillusion settles into despair. The greatest frustration is knowing that He created the entire universe by simply speaking it into existence, and He has all power and all understanding. He could rescue. He could heal. He could save. By why won’t He do it? This sense of abandonment is a terrible experience for someone whose entire being is rooted in the Christian ethic. Satan then drops by for a little visit and whispers, “He is not there! You are alone!” (Ibid, p. 18)
2. God will sometimes leave us for a time to see what is in our heart (2Ch 32:31; Deut 8:2), but He will not forsake us utterly (Psa 119:8; Isa 54:7-8).
3. God hears our prayers, even if it doesn’t feel like it (1Pe 3:12).
4. God knows our sorrows, even if it doesn’t seem like it (Exo 3:7).
5. God considers our trouble and knows our souls in adversities (Psa 31:7).
6. God is near the brokenhearted (Psa 34:18).
7. God’s mercy is great toward them that fear Him (Psa 103:11).