Knowing God

ABOUT GOD AND SUFFERING

 

“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1)

 

Have you ever noticed how non-defensive God is?

 

He opens his great message to mankind in his Word, the Bible, by simply saying,

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” No hows. No whys.

No explanations. And we are left to accept or reject what he says -- to take it or leave it.

 

How different to what man says, “In the beginning the big bang theory –

and in the end nothing!”

 

But God says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End…”

(Revelation 1:8, NKJV)

 

One reason many struggle with the accepting the existence of God

is because of the problem of suffering. If God exists and is a God of love

why does he allow so much pain and suffering in the world?

 

But God never really explains himself or the whys of life.

He has given us a brain and leaves us to work that out for ourselves.

God has a higher purpose in mind. As Frederick Buechner writes in his book,

‘Wishful Thinking,’ “God doesn’t reveal His grand design. He reveals Himself.

He doesn’t show why things are as they are. He shows His face.”

 

Take Job for example. In the midst of his terrible suffering, when God

revealed himself, in a note of triumph Job declares, “My ears had heard of you

but now my eyes have seen you.” (Job 42:5, NIV)

 

God wants us to see and to know him too. And when we do, somehow

we have the answer that we really need. And then we know that God

is not only the beginning, but also the end! And that may be all we need to know!

 

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, in the midst of the rush and bustle of life,

in the ups and downs, in the good times and the bad, help me to listen with my heart,

and not only hear but also see you, and in seeing you grant that I will know all

that I really need to know. Gratefully in Jesus’ name. Amen.”