Why?

At first reading, it appears as though God missed the question. But it wasn’t like Job hadn’t asked it clearly. In fact, he had posed it several different ways. Why do the righteous suffer . . . Why do the wicked prosper . . . What have I done to offend the Almighty . . . Why Lord, why?

When God finally opened His mouth in Job chapter 38, He didn’t provide a single answer. In fact, He was full of questions Himself.

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? (v. 4)

Have you ever commanded the dawn? (v. 12)

Where does light hide? (v. 19)

Who sculpted the deep? (v. 25)

Is God hard of hearing? Confused? Disinterested? Why isn’t He answering the question? He’s missing the point!

Or maybe I am . . .  

You see, like Job I’m pretty good at asking “why.” Why that? Why now? Why me? Why her? Also like Job, the why’s in life leave me exhausted. If I ask them long enough I usually end up in a heap on the floor spent from my ponderings.

During one such episode I clearly heard God speak from the whirlwind. (Don’t worry, it wasn’t audible. Just undeniable.) In the vacuum of silence God asked me two pointed questions: Do you trust me?  Am I enough?

Although I wanted to shout “Yes Lord yes,” to both of these questions, I had trouble forming the words. Did I lack faith? Was He enough? Did doubt lie beneath my questions of why? As these thoughts swirled in my mind God continued to speak:

I laid the foundation of the earth . . . I command the dawn . . . I control and enclose the seas . . . Do you trust Me . . . Am I enough?

Yes Lord, but . . .

I hear the cry of the raven . . .  I give the horse his power . . .  I cause the eagle to soar . . . Do you trust Me . . . Am I enough?

Yes Lord . . .

I possess heaven and earth . . . I am your Creator . . . I am your King.

With those words I understood why Job promised to shut his mouth in response to God’s interrogation. I too was silenced by the reminder of who God is and what God does. How could I not trust the Creator King who possesses all wisdom and power?

He alone calls to the dawn. He alone carved the deep. He alone is God.

"I know that You can do all things,

and that no purpose of  Yours can be thwarted."

Job 42:2