Where Was God?
The nature of God as
portrayed by many believers as being a loving, caring, concerned God many times
gets tested by manifold asperities, myriad adversities, multiplied
difficulties, multitudinous perplexities, and mega complexities. Several tragedies
strike through helpless hearts like no man’s business, and we are left
wondering what on earth is going on. But is there a reason why evil things
happen?
The question of why God
allows evil has been asked and addressed by more eminent persons than myself; yet
on occasion, I do not hear the position I intend to present. I plan to consider
the gamut of answers in a later book I have titled, "God of Summer: He’s Also God of Winter". But in this particular
piece, the focus is on personal responsibility rather than divine providence. Are
we responsible for the things that happen to us?
Treating a subject like this
demands great care and overarching empathy for the many souls who are suffering
in diverse ways. And for many—like the patriarchs Joseph and Job—we may assert
or believe that they are not responsible for the things that happen to them. In
view of this truth, this article is handled with refreshing gravitas and an
indisputable awareness of existential concerns and consequences.
Nonetheless, the question
arises and indeed will arise where we find ourselves asking, “Where was
God...?” “Yes, where was He when I needed Him most and He remained silent.” “Where
was He when my marriage was failing and I kept calling on Him to no avail?” “Where
was He when my house was being burgled?” “Where was He when my business was collapsing?”
Many other stinging situations or harrowing issues spring up leaving us asking
where God was. Perhaps we have all asked, or we are about to ask such a question, soon.
Is it not quite astonishing
that even staunch and devoted believers find themselves asking such questions
and more? In a book, "The Guaranteed
Secret", the author mentioned and revealed that important secret that can help us get through
anything life will ever throw at us. One of the
reasons that frustrate the workability of this secret, and which may very well
be the reason why many people continue to face a distressing chain of issues
with no respite in view is discussed here. Now, lest we think any of us is exempt, we have to
think again. We all have our fair share of issues; although it very much
appears that some have more troubles than we would expect or imagine.
For the many reasons that may
be given for why things occur, and when they do; one potent reason surely has to
be personal responsibility. Yes, on occasion, we are responsible for what
happens to us. The world has wholly accepted this postulation. And this truth
of personal responsibility cannot be restricted to only persons; it can be
extended to communities and even nations in general. This truth has sound
basis.
Humankind will continue to
seek answers to some of these baffling questions, and while it will have its
own reasoning and formulate its own conclusions, Christians subscribing to the
truth of the Bible can equally turn to it not only for prescriptions but also a
diagnosis of the issues we encounter.
To state it as bluntly as
possible, one of the most puissant reasons why we have plethoric tragedies and
continue to ask the question of “Where was God,” or in another way, “Where is
God?” is down to our disobedience! Yes, our disobedience as believers is a
cardinal point we need to consider. In truth and candour, we do not like to do
what God wants us to do, but still expect what He has promised for obedience to
His commands. And making a point like this will irk and ache many people. They
may even go further and rebuke me for being legalistic. To them, we are under
grace and I should not be saying something like this. But in a way, they forget
Scripture.
Such may cite what Jesus
brought to be in contrast with what Moses gave to the people. Indeed, they may
reference this: “For the law was given by
Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). There is equally
a mention of the word truth; and truth, many believers do not like to hear. Indeed,
there are many disobedient believers out there in the world living to please
themselves and blaming God for the consequences. Their lifestyle is in stark
contrast to a reminder in 2 Corinthians 5:15: “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth
live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
Consequences of Disobedience
The
Bible has a great deal to say about this subject. One such classic case informs
the view presented by this piece. From Joshua 7, God’s distinctive voice comes
to Joshua after the people’s disobedience had attracted inimical consequences:
they had been routed by a far smaller nation after they had chalked a significant
victory over a greater people (Joshua 7:1-5). The Bible recounts: “And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore
liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also
transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of
the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have
put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not
stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies,
because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye
destroy the accursed from among you” (Joshua
7:10-12).
God was not with the people and hence
they lost the battle. Thus, on occasion when we would like to ask, “Where was
God,” or, “Where is God?” we should remember that perhaps God is not around.
Yes, per chance, He was just not there and that is why the things happened the
way they did.
The psalmist made an admission that most
people will never ever come to the point of making. Upon a convicting
introspection, he said, “My wounds stink
and are corrupt because of my foolishness” (Psalm 38:5). Some may argue
with the truth presented here, but without a doubt, “Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is
hard” (Proverbs 13:15).
While this might sound harsh and even
disconcerting, the truth remains that there are people who will be
afflicted until God gets their attention. Someday, they will join the psalmist
in concluding, “It is good for me that I have
been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (Psalm 119:71). Yes, they
will come to the point of agreeing with this view: “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word” (Psalm
119:67).
And as intimated above, this angle is one
of many others that the mentioned book, will tackle.
Thus, beginning from today, look into
your life and ask yourself whether or not you are responsible for the things
that are happening to you. You must be bold and ask such questions. There is no
need placing the blame on others. It only puts you in a weaker position. And as
you assess yourself, may you discover areas of your life where you need to make
important changes. Once such practical discovery has been made and a
willingness to change stirred up; may God provide you the ample grace for you to
move from discovery to implementation, leaving you to reap the realisable
benefits that await you.
Blessings,
Dr.
F. R. Silverson
