Morning Devotional

April 4, 2005
"But Why" (Part 1) 
    by Don Emmitte

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"One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you have accused me without the slightest fear of the Almighty. My brother, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook that overflows its banks in the spring when it is swollen with ice and melting snow. But when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears. The brook vanishes in the heat. The caravans turn aside to be refreshed, but there is nothing there to drink, and so they perish in the desert. With high hopes, the caravans from Tema and from Sheba stop for water, but finding none, their hopes are dashed. You, too, have proved to be of no help. You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid. But why? Have I ever asked you for a gift? Have I begged you to use any of your wealth on my behalf? Have I ever asked you to rescue me from my enemies? Have I asked you to save me from ruthless people? All I want is a reasonable answer--then I will keep quiet.” (Job 6:14-24 NLT).

Eliphaz, one of Job’s “friends,” had come to encourage him in his suffering. As it turns out, he was more of a discouragement than not! Our reading this morning is a response to the second accusation brought against Job from Eliphaz. In the midst of all of the suffering, Job just wanted to know why? If you know the story of Job, and then you know that he is the “poster child” of suffering in the Bible. Job lost everything: his children, his wealth, his health, and even the support of a loving wife. God allowed the Devil to bring suffering on Job to the severest point of pain, stopping only short of taking Job’s life.

Job just wanted to know why. He just wanted a sincere, reasonable answer. Job had lived a righteous life, so he didn’t think it could have been sin that caused his pain. He didn’t believe that God was a harsh God, but was indeed a loving God, so Job knew his suffering wasn’t a result of the meanness of God. As hard as he tried to understand and find answers nothing made sense. There appeared to be no reason. Is Job’s question any different than ours? We can’t always understand the ways of God. We can try, but there will be situations and circumstances in life that simply will not make sense to us. We can know that God will work all things for good, because His Word tells us that. We can know that He will never leave us nor forsake us, because it is a promise of God. We can even know that nothing will ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, but we may never know the answers to all our questions of why.

Instead of trying to resolve the unanswered questions, I wonder if our goal should be to trust in the God who does understand. I wonder if the solution is not to question so much as to simply rest in the sufficiency of God. I know that is hard to do, but over time, as we experience God more and more, our resolve through the trials of life should become more of repentance and rest and quietness and trust. This is where our strength will be found: The Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says, "Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).