Isaiah 45:7 I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all this things.
Even as the smoke was still clearing in Manhattan, pastors, preachers, rabbis and anyone who felt a connection to God began to declare one of two things: First, God had nothing to do with the hijacking of planes and the death of 3000 people. Surely God watched in horror with us, knowing we live in a fallen world and often the choices of the few have painful consequences for the rest of us. The second, and albeit smaller group, began to shout that God indeed was involved. He was angry with NYC and his judgment had manifested itself through terrorism and jihad.
Along with Amy and other family members we were glued to the TV for hours watching as the unthinkable unfolded. Honestly, my first thoughts were not theological in nature. “Is God involved in this?” My first thought or emotion was simply pain. I hurt. I wanted to respond in some way, but was paralyzed by a 1300 mile gap. However, as the sun crested the wasteland for what was once the Twin Towers, many like me began to wonder, “How could this happen? Who is responsible?” And even, “Why would God let this happen?”
God’s response: I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster.
How do we, or perhaps, should we respond to that?
I know how we do respond. We ignore. We create theological work-arounds. We rationalize and defend the goodness of God. As if God needed defending. Ultimately, we try to forget and move on to more pleasant things.
Jerry Bridges, long time Navigator, asks the painful question, “Can God be good all the time and still be sovereign?” IOW, if God knows and is ultimately responsible for even disaster, how can he be wholly good? Conversely, if God is truly good in every facet, how can he dictate pain and suffering for his children?” There seems to be a contradiction in realities.
Yet as Jerry Bridges, a man who has seen his fair share of disaster and suffering, reminds me of is that even the sovereign acts of suffering are ultimately for my good. The pain and loss that God, yes God, is responsible for is done solely out of favor and preference for us.
I was working through this with a friend this week and I told him that almost always I attribute the good things and seemingly holy coincidences (bumping into an old friend, an opportunity to share the love of Jesus, finding my keys…) to God. I proclaim, “Isn’t God good? He worked things out just right for these things to happen! However, never have I said after a car accident or someone exits my life or sickness takes hold, “Isn’t God good? His sovereignty and planning has led to suffering and loss in my life!”
As I come clean with my own struggle, I am grateful to my friends who are a little further along that have already absorbed this truth fully that they have not reminded me of God’s sovereignty in the middle of my loss. Certainly that would have been the right truth, but not the right timing. Thankfully, like Job’s friends, they have simply sat quietly knowing that ultimately the dust will settle and God will still be in control.
