This title is a rough interpretation of Moses’ words at the end of Exodus 5. Moses, the man who’d been called by God from the midst of the burning bush and performed miracles with his shepherd’s staff, is now challenging God to uphold His word. As bold as this appears, and it is quite bold, I’ve been there. I’ve prayed for something and never saw it come to light. I’ve often wondered why God would allow such pain, suffering, and injustice.
First of all, I’m reminded that if God is to eliminate all evil, He’ll have to do something with me. I deserve hell. Furthermore, in a sense, He did do this once before, with Noah and the flood. It didn’t work. As soon as the water recedes, humans go on sinning. Evil shows up and pain ensues. Tonight, with my middle and high school students, we looked at this passage from Exodus 5 and took a stab at some tough questions. Is it as simple as, “That’s just God’s will?” “These things happen for a reason?” “It serves some mysterious purpose?”
Maybe. But I like to think that God is working to make the world right, to usher in shalom. I don’t believe that God wishes anyone to perish. I don’t believe God intends for anyone to hurt. The world didn’t start that way. The first humans were sinless and given charge to care for, to rule and reign over, the earth. But they messed up. So, God used another human, a “Second Adam,” to rule and reign. Jesus is the King and His Kingdom endures forever. It’s just not quite the time for its fulfillment. But one day, one glorious day, there will be no more crying, no more pain, no more death. That’s a promise I’m compelled to believe. I said that the world didn’t start with pain and hurt. It was perfect. It sounds like the world will eventually be a lot like it was when it started.
God used a perfect man to bring about His kingdom and the fascinating thing is that He now, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is using people like you and me, to set things right, to rule and reign, to usher in shalom. Go. Make disciples. Proclaim the Good News and long for the day when, not only will He wipe every tear from our eyes, there just won’t be anything to cry about.
p.s. What I didn’t share with my students tonight, is that today is the anniversary of the death of a great man, a true friend. It’s been 7 years and I still miss him, but I look forward to our reunion.
“Whoever thinks he has the ways of God conveniently tabulated, analyzed, and correlated with convenient, glib answers to ease every question from aching hearts has not been very far in this maze of mystery we call life and death…He (God) has no stereotyped way of doing what he does. He delivered Peter from prison but… left John the Baptist in the dungeon to die…At this writing I never knew less how to explain the ways of providence but I never had more confidence in my God…I accept whatever He does, however He does it.” – exert from Vance Havner’s diary concerning the death of his wife.
Ragamuffin Warrior 