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By Dan Mielke

Grace Baptist Church

If you were able to ask God any question and were guaranteed an answer what would you ask Him?

During this time of uncertainty, there are many questions. One of the continual questions during difficult times is the question of “Why?”

Why are things happening this way?  Why is their suffering?

It would be impossible in a short article, or even a series of books, to give a thorough answer to the ramifications of the “Why” question, but suppose God was willing to give you an answer to three “Why” questions, what three questions would you ask? I would caution you as you think about your three questions.

First, you would want to make sure you could understand the answer. The Bible says in Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.”  Because God’s intellect, position, and capacities are eternal and omnipotent, whatever answer He may give to your question may very well be beyond your ability to understand. The answer may be similar to an explanation of atomic physics to a kindergartener. The problem is not in the theory or even the explanation, the lack of comprehension comes from the fact that gum on the bottom of her shoe is simply more intriguing.

Secondly, you would want to make sure the answer was helpful. How awful would it be to know the answer to a mind-bending puzzle and not be able to do anything to affect change? Suppose you did understand and comprehend the answer to a great pain. Would it make the pain disappear? Knowing the why without the ability to modify a situation would be akin to knowing the day of your death and being powerless to stop it. The added knowledge actually adds to the distress. Isaiah again shows that God does not have the same limitations: “The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.” (Isa 14:24)

Thirdly, you would want to make sure that the answer didn’t leave more questions. What difference would knowing the answers to three questions make when invariably they would lead to many more questions? How awful would it be to have used up your three questions only to be plagued by a plethora of deeper and more complex questions? Isaiah again points out in 46:10 that God has decreed the script of time: “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” 

I would submit that even if we received all the answers to the “Why” questions, humanity would be in just as miserable of a state as before we started down the cyclical journey. It is comforting to know that the answer to the previously mentioned concerns is actually found in a different question. Who is in control? I am glad that in these trying times we are reminded that God knows all of the answers to all of the questions and is powerful enough to accomplish His purpose  For a wonderful journey on this topic, I would encourage you to take some time to read Isaiah 40, Job 38-42, and Romans 9.