There are numerous examples in scripture of men asking God why He does what He does. They know His proclamation of righteousness. They know His power and professions of love and protection. But events happen in their lives they just don’t understand.
A couple of biblical examples will suffice to illustrate. Job was a just man who despite his righteous life lost his family, his riches and his health. After exhibiting patience and faithfulness for a long while, he eventually asked God why these things were happening to him.
Another example is the prophet Habakkuk. He was greatly concerned for his nation, and was frustrated that his petitions to God regarding the people were not being answered as he would have liked. He asked God, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and you will not hear?” (1:1). Later, when God spoke of the unrighteousness of the people, and His plans to judge the nation by using the Babylonian empire, Habakkuk asked a second question, “Why do you look on those who deal treacherously, and hold Your tongue when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he?” (1:13).
We can learn some important lessons in reading the responses of God to these men. First, note that God put Job in his place. Instead of directly answering Job’s question, “why me,” God rebuked Job for having the audacity to question Him at all! “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me” (Job 38:1-3). God then proceeded to establish in no uncertain terms how great, powerful and significant He was in comparison to Job. This divine “How dare you” served to teach a very important lesson to Job. It is not the place of the thing formed to ask Him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” (Romans 9:20). I am struck by the words of Paul in that text, “O man, who are you to reply against God?”
All of us can understand Job’s frustration. Indeed most will say that Job’s patience far outstripped our own. But it doesn’t change the fact that we don’t have the position or standing to question God! Job came to understand this, and confessed the inappropriateness of his actions later in the book. “Then Job answered the LORD and said: ‘I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, “Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?” ‘Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, “I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” ‘I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes’” (Job 42:1-6).
Second, God took a different tack when answering Habakkuk. He had suffered long with Judah, though He had seen the “wicked surrounding the righteous” (1:4). Though Habakkuk had incorrectly assumed this evil to be a sign that God had deserted him, instead it was an indication of God’s longsuffering nature. But that was coming to an end which is why He told Habakkuk that in his day he was “raising up the Chaldeans.”
Babylon was such an evil power, it led to the prophet’s second question. Why them? They are worse than us! God assured him that though the Chaldeans were being used as an instrument of judgment, they too would suffer His wrath in time. “…the cup of the LORD’s right hand will be turned against you, And utter shame will be on your glory” (Habakkuk 2:16).
As did Job, Habakkuk learned his lesson. His response to God’s words is telling. “O LORD, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2).
Ultimately we rejoice in God’s promise of eternal salvation. The righteous have the hope of life. God is capable and willing to deliver on His promise, and we should rest in that assurance. We should not seek to test Him. It is not our place! Any man who does so is arrogant and foolish. It would be like a pot I have made arrogantly questioning me, his maker. Who are you to question me?
Instead we should mirror the sentiments of Habakkuk as he closed out his book: “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls — yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).
“God, you saved me. Because of your mercy and grace I have a hope of heaven. Because of a great sacrifice by You and Your Son, I have the remission of sins, and the reality of redemption. I know every spiritual blessing comes through Jesus!… But God, my feet hurt, someone hurt my feelings, and I suffered some financial reverses. Why are you treating me this way?” (How silly, ungrateful and shallow can we be?!) No doubt, we must exhibit the same humility and shame as Job and Habakkuk!
