Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of the God of all knowledge. God knows and understands everything, even when we are left in a muddle of confusion.
Lesson #32. God doesn't have to explain. When life goes wrong, people naturally want to know why. They want to know the reasons. But there is no reason why God has to give those explanations.
Elihu presented this probing question: "Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters" (33:13). God is above man. He does not have to give answers to man, any more than the person in control in any realm has to give an explanation to those under him. The common people are likely not to understand the explanation even if the expert or leader gives it. Beyond the aspects of whether we deserve or would understand an explanation, God's failure to supply the reasons does not make Him any less God. Not explaining does not mean that He does not have very good reasons. Not explaining detracts nothing from His wisdom, His power, His love, His compassion, or any other aspect of His character.
Actually, withholding the explanation emphasizes God's sovereign control. God knows what He is doing. God knows why He is doing it. God knows how to best accomplish His objectives. Each of those are independent of man's help, input, understanding, or approval. Without man's being aware of what God is doing or why, God is able to independently accomplish every objective precisely in the way He determines best.
In fact, sometimes God tries to give some insight, but men don't comprehend. "For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not" (33:14). The Scriptures contain many verses that do provide understanding of God's difficult actions (Romans 8:28, James 1:3-4, for example). A full knowledge of the Bible clearly reveals the reality of pain and imperfection in a fallen world. In the midst of their challenge, however, people often fail to take God's revelation into account, or they deem it insufficient to fully answer their questions. They struggle to make general concepts personally applicable. Some people are so engulfed in the intensity of their trial that they cannot absorb anything else, and frankly, some are just so dull that they do not or will not hear.
Sometimes God reveals some of His purposes, but limits the revelation. "In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the beds; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction" (33:15-16). God knows best when to reveal Himself and who is ready for what knowledge. Maybe the revelation is partial or not completely clear. Maybe it is only for select people. God decides if, when, and how He will give revelation, and that may not correspond to human demands or desires.
Interestingly, Satan was right about one thing. Following God only when life is pure blessing is not really a test of following God (1:9-10; 2:4-5). Anyone can do that, and the following (or appearance thereof) can be very shallow. God wants to know, Will you trust Me when life goes horribly wrong? Will you trust Me if you never understand? Will you continue to follow Me in faith? That's what shows a genuine relationship with God.
God recently instructed me through consideration of the Hebrews 11 heroes. Those heroes had promises and direction from God. Nevertheless, they still suffered along the way, and they did not always see the answers or fulfillment. Some saw miraculous answers, but others died first. The same thing happens in our world today. Why are some healed but some die too young? Why are some delivered but some lose everything? Why are some protected but others die in tragic accidents?
How do we reconcile the differences? How do we reconcile "Ask, and it shall be given unto you," "Ask anything in My name," and "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" with situations in which our prayers are not answered? What God showed me this week is that that's not my job. I might never be able to reconcile them, but I don't have to. God Himself is the only one who fully understands all the dynamics and the precise way in which everything dovetails to accomplish His work.
God understands how He can keep His promises and be true to Himself, while doing things that humans think fall short of that. God understands how different verses in His Word complement rather than contradict each other, and more practically, how negative life circumstances interact with His promises. The bottom line is that for all who follow God, even if they do not see the answers they desire in this life, eternity awaits. That's what those Hebrews 11 heroes focused on. "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city " (Hebrews 11:13&16). There might be confusion and disappointment in this life, but one day all of that will disappear, and we will be united with the God who has always understood.
May our wise God accomplish all His plans in your life this week, and may you follow Him in forward-looking faith.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
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