When God Doesn't Make Sense (Part 1)

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When God Doesn't Make Sense (Part 1) I. This study derives its name and a lot of its content from James Dobson’s excellent book, When God Doesn’t Make Sense. II. There are times in life when things happen to us that we cannot understand. 1. When calamity, suffering, or loss happens for no apparent reason, it can cause confusion, anger, depression, or despair. These things can include: A. the death of a child B. the untimely death of a spouse, parent, sibling, other close family member, or friend C. cancer D. a terrible disease which afflicts oneself or a loved one E. prolonged sickness F. prolonged anxiety or depression G. a child born with a severe affliction H. divorce I. rape J. child molestation K. infertility L. loneliness M. prolonged singleness N. rejection O. failure P. great financial loss Q. widowhood 2. For a Christian who believes that God is in control of all things, a terrible event in his life can cause him to question why God allowed it to happen when He could have prevented it. A. Times like this can make believers feel like God doesn’t make sense. B. They often demand answers from God or others. C. When the answer doesn’t come, they can get angry, resentful, bitter, and full of despair. 3. The purpose of this study is to help Christians, who are going through hardship in their lives, to learn how to process it Biblically, even when God doesn’t seem to make sense. 4. It is also designed to prepare Christians ahead of time for when the inevitable hardships of life come. III. Who this study will benefit most 1. People who are older or have suffered serious hardship will get more out of this study. 2. When people are young and haven’t yet suffered much, they assume that life is a bed of roses and always will be. 3. “During the springtime of their years, when health is good and the hardships, failures, and sorrows have not yet blown through their tranquil little world, it is relatively easy to fit the pieces in place. One can honestly believe, with good evidence, that it will always be so. Such a person is extremely vulnerable to spiritual confusion if trouble strikes at that point.” (James Dobson, When God Doesn’t Make Sense, p. 10) 4. Older people who have been fortunate to not have endured major trouble or suffering sometimes likewise live in la-la land.  5. But the vast majority of people will eventually come face-to-face with the sorrows, suffering, disappointments, and perplexities of life. 6. “As indicated, it is important to recognize that you are not alone. Your pain and discouragement, which might lead you to ask “Why me?” are not unique. You have not been singled out for sorrow. Most of us are destined, it seems, to bump our heads on the same ol’ rock. From ancient times, men and women have grieved over stressful circumstances that did not fit any pattern of logic or symmetry. It happens to us all sooner or later. Millions have been there. And despite what some Christians will tell you, being a follower of Jesus Christ is no foolproof insurance policy against these storms of life.” (Ibid, pp. 28-29) 7. When one’s time to experience life’s confusing trials comes, reviewing this study will hopefully prove to be helpful. IV. God is sovereign 1. God does what He wants (Dan 4:35; Job 23:13). 2. He doesn’t answer to you or anyone else (Job 33:13). 3. He is the potter, and we are the clay (Rom 9:21). 4. We therefore have no right to question Him (Rom 9:20; Isa 29:16). 5. We have no business questioning Him, even when He takes things away from us (Job 9:12). 6. Woe unto them who strive with their Maker (Job 40:1-2; Isa 45:9). V. Life isn’t fair. 1. Abel was murdered by his wicked brother because he worshiped God in truth (Heb 11:4; 1Jo 3:12). 2. Job was severely afflicted for no apparent reason (Job 1-2). 3. God allowed a man to be born blind and live that way for many years so that the works of God could be made manifest in him (Joh 9:1-3). 4. John the Baptist, the greatest prophet that ever lived (Luk 7:28), was imprisoned and executed for speaking the truth to king Herod (Mat 14:3-12). 5. “Look at the human talent that has been ‘wasted’ by early death or disability over the centuries. Wolfgang Mozart, for example, may have had the greatest musical mind in the history of the world. He composed his first symphony at five years of age and turned out a remarkable volume of brilliant work. But he died penniless at 35, being unable to attract any interest in his compositions. His most valuable possession at the time of his death was a violin worth about two dollars. He was buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave, and no one attended his funeral. Who was it that said life is fair?” (Ibid, pp. 56-57) VI. Things that happen oftentimes don’t make sense. 1. God did miracles by Moses to demonstrate His power (Exo 4:1-9), but He would not heal his speech impediment (Exo 4:10-17). A. “We can assume that the Lord didn’t heal Moses’ ‘slowness of tongue’ because Moses, like Paul, was learning that his strength was made perfect in weakness. He was chosen for leadership not because he was a miracle-worker or a superman but because the Lord determined to use his inadequacies and shortcomings.” (Ibid, p. 104)  B. “Each of us is riddled with flaws and shortcomings that the Lord could overcome with a whisper. Instead, he often lets us struggle with our weaknesses to reveal His own power. That understanding comes straight out of Scripture: Paul wrote, ‘But we have this treasure in earthen vessels [clay pots], that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us’ (2 Corinthians 4:7, KJV).” (Ibid) 2. Moses faithfully did exactly what God told him to do when he confronted Pharaoh and told him to let the people of God go to sacrifice unto the LORD (Exo 5:1-3). A. Pharoah not only refused, but he increased the workload of the Hebrew slaves (Exo 5:4-19). B. The people then turned on Moses and condemned him for what happened (Exo 5:20-21). C. Moses went to God with confusion asking why He sent him, why things got worse after he obeyed Him, and why God didn’t deliver them (Exo 5:22-23). D. Like Moses, we do not always get rewarded immediately when we faithfully serve and obey God. E. Nevertheless, we must cling to our faith, even when things don’t make sense. 3. Believers face the same hardships as unbelievers (Ecc 2:15; Ecc 8:14; Ecc 9:2). A. Sometimes, believers have it worse than unbelievers (Ecc 7:15). B. On the face of it, this doesn’t make sense, but God has a reason for it. C. “Again, these examples of heartache illustrate the fact that godly people―praying people―sometimes face the same hardships that nonbelievers experience. If we deny that fact, we create even greater pain and disillusionment for those who are unprepared to handle it. That is why we must overcome our reluctance to admit these unpleasant realities. We must brace our brothers and sisters against the betrayal barrier. We must teach them not to depend too heavily on their own ability to comprehend the inexplicable circumstances in our lives.” (Ibid, p. 34) VII. God’s timing is often too slow for us. 1. When facing a problem, we pray earnestly, expecting relief to come quickly. A. When it doesn’t come and we are left to suffer and wait, we can become disappointed, hurt, or disillusioned with God. B. If God is all powerful and has infinite understanding and resources, why doesn’t He come to our aid right now, we often think. 2. Abraham and Sarah had to wait about 25 years to have their promised son Isaac (Gen 12:4, 7 c/w Gen 17:15-19). A. When the promised son did not come after 11 years of waiting, they took matters into their own hands and got an Ishmael (Gen 16:1-4). B. Even after becoming impatient and running ahead of the Lord, they had to wait another 14 years until the promised son came (Gen 16:16 c/w Gen 21:5). C. How many prayers of confusion, desperation, and frustration were likely prayed by them as they waited on the Lord to fulfill His promise? D. Nevertheless, Abraham believed God even when He didn’t make sense (Rom 4:19- 22). 3. Consider the account of Lazarus’ sickness and death. A. Jesus got word from Mary and Martha that their brother (and His friend) Lazarus was very sick (Joh 11:1-3). B. Despite loving them, He intentionally took His time and did not immediately come to heal him (Joh 11:5-6). C. This no doubt caused a lot of stress, anxiety, and consternation for Mary and Martha. D. By the time Jesus got there, Lazarus had been dead for four days (Joh 11:17). E. Mary and Martha were both distraught and perplexed by the time Jesus arrived much later than they had hoped (Joh 11:20-21, 32). i. If he had come sooner, Lazarus would not have died, they reasoned. ii. It hurt Jesus to see them hurt (Joh 11:33-36, 38). iii. Others likewise questioned Jesus’ timing and actions (Joh 11:37). iv. If He could heal others miraculously, why didn’t He prevent Lazarus from dying, they reasoned. F. What they didn’t know was that God had a purpose for sending Jesus four days too late (Joh 11:4, 11, 14-15, 40-45). G. In reality, Jesus’ timing was perfect, although it was not apparent to Mary and Martha at the time. H. Jesus is often “four days late” when we are suffering and seeking relief. I. We must faithfully wait on the Lord and trust that His timing is always right (Psa 27:13-14).