Because I Said So…
Because I Said So…
What is the most used word by little kids when we ask them to do something?
“Why?” Because. Because why? Because I said so.
Is it OK to question things? Of course. As children God want us to seek knowledge. So what is it that bothers us with this question? It is the issue of Trust…or lack of it.
Depending upon the age of the child, we could explain the answer to most of their questions…but often we have to try to explain it on their level… or they won’t get it. Even then, the usual reply is the same … but why?
Don’t they know that we have a plan behind what we are doing, we know what needs to happen to make that plan work, and we haven’t steered them wrong yet?
Unfortunately, we build up a sense of frustration after awhile…We think, don’t they know we have our children’s best interests in mind? It bothers us that they don’t…what? Trust us.
Now let’s take a look at ourselves from Gods eyes. Can you think of some of the ways we do the same thing to God?
Q: In what ways do people use questions to keep God at arms length?
Tonight were going to read a little about Job and take a look at some of the lessons he learned about the above. Many of us are familiar with Job…for those that are not, he walked with God through some of the most difficult circumstances any human can face. He lost his children, his possessions and his health. On top of all that, his wife turned her back on him. Through it all, Job agonized over God’s purpose. After 37 chapters of arguments and complaints, Job remains silent for two chapters as God speaks.
Let’s start in Job 38:
Q: How do you think Job was feeling as God asked his questions?
Q: How would you describe the central point of God’s questions?
In the first 37 chapters we see two misconceptions of God’s sovereignty that are still around today.
1. That God is a bully; he is in charge but doesn’t seem to be in control. Doesn’t stop what we would stop and doesn’t give what we would give. Take a look at Job remarks in Job 10:1-3
Job 10:1-3
1 “I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul. 2 I will say to God: Do not condemn me, but tell me what charges you have against me. 3 Does it please you to oppress me, to spurn the work of your hands, while you smile on the schemes of the wicked?…
Q: Have you ever had that attitude towards God?
2. Others think of God as some sort of distant deity, who doesn’t really care about us or involve himself in our lives. Jobs friends thought God related to this world through mechanical rules.
Q: Is that closer to the views you sometimes have had towards God?
In both situations, those concepts are wrong. God is not a bully and God is not some distant deity. God answered Job, but he didn’t answer his questions. Like a parent and their children, God is not required to answer our questions… doesn’t mean he wont, for his word is full of answers. It is a matter of trusting that God is sovereign and that he is working for our good, in spite of our sin and actions that try to thwart him.
Q: How many times have you done something that you thought would be good, but it turned out far different?
Just because we can’t always see things working out for the good doesn’t mean they aren’t. We need to give God time and to trust that he is taking care of things. Like a perfect parent (which there is only one), God knows what is best and if we continue to obey his word and follow his lead. And sometimes when we ask him “why?” He may simply be saying “Because I said so” and it is up to us to trust in his sovereignty and his promises.
