God Said “NO”

 As a minister and therapist I have often been confronted by members and clients who posed questions about God, doctrines, faith and life.

 I, too, have had questions about the same subjects. Some times, well meaning clergy, but ignorant, have chastised believers for having doubts or questions.

 Obviously such chastisers have not studied the Bible. It is filled with the records of those who questioned God. Atheists and agnostics are not among them. We would expect those two groups to throw out questions. But believers? Yes, believers, even Jesus.

 Since the Bible is the best seller every year, and the least read, let me remind everyone what a few so-called heroes said.

 Consider Abraham the father of all Jews and all Arabs, and the beginning of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. He really argued and confronted, in Genesis 18, God over the future of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham questions God. “Shall not the Ruler (Judge) of all the earth do right?”

 He goes round and round with God and God seemingly doesn’t get angry with him. WOW!!

 Moses even questions the intelligence of God. He feels inadequate and feels God has chosen the wrong person to lead the Jews out of slavery.

 David is a real case. In Psalm 13 he asks, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”

 Consider Job. His miseries have been well recorded. It is filled with questions about “why?” “Why do the righteous suffer?” is the basic theme of the book.

 Mary, the mother of Jesus, responds to the information that she has been chosen answers with astonishment, “How can these things be, seeing I’ve never been with a man?” Of course it was addressed to an angel, but he was God’s representative.

 Jesus, on the cross, uttered the question of all question, “My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?”

 You and I, we are not the first ones to question God. Why do the righteous suffer? Why are there earthquakes and tsunamis? Why are there Alzheimer’s, cancer, pre-mature deaths, and even arthritis?

 Questions, questions and even more questions.

 I must confess, though, I’ve received very few answers. I can identify with the Apostle Paul when he questioned God about his thorn in the flesh. God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

 Perhaps the following anonymous bit of verse will bring some insight.

AND GOD SAID “NO”

 I asked God to take away my pride, and God said, “No.”

 He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.

 I asked God to make a handicapped child whole, and God said, “No.”
 He said her spirit is whole, her body is only temporary.

 I asked God to give me patience, and God said, “No.”

 He said patience is a by-product of tribulation: it’s not granted it’s earned.

 I asked God to give me happiness, and God said, “No.”

 He said He gives blessings, happiness is up to me.

 I asked God to spare me pain, and God said, “No.”

 He said, “Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to Me.”

 I asked God to make my spirit grow, and God said “No.”

 He said I must grow on my own, but He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God to help me love others, as much as He loves me,

 And God said, “Ah, finally, you have an idea.”

Amen. Selah. So be it.

 

WORDS TO THINK ABOUT:
G. W. Abersold Ph.D