Christian Living

Trying To Understand?

by paul hoffmaster
10/17/21
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As I read the Scriptures, especially the Old Testament, I have a tendency to pause and wonder at some of the choices God has made.  I never question His actions, but my curiosity tends to try and understand His reasoning.  For example: why did God choose a ninety-nine year old man to be the Father of Nations?  Why did God choose to have his barren wife of ninety bear a child with whom He would establish an everlasting covenant?  Why did God choose an eighty year old stuttering shepherd to lead two and a half million people out of Egypt?  Not to ignore the New Testament, what about the couple who were both well up in age and past the reproductive stage to bring into the world the forerunner of the Messiah?  I do not question God’s ways, but I just wonder at times why He chose such unlikely individuals to play such a role in His plans.

I have never challenged God’s historical decisions, but my inquiring mind would like a little more insight into His actions.  When I am finished with my mental escapes, I find myself dusting off some neglected verses that would shed light on my questing inquiries.  In Romans 11:33 it states, “How unsearchable are His judgment and His ways past finding out.”  No matter how hard we try to understand, we may never come to an absolute understanding of the whys and wherefores of His actions.  Isaiah records that, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord…So are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8, 9)  The only thing left for me to do is smile knowing that I don’t need to understand His actions.  I just need to see His miracles around me and display the “Ten after Ten” facial expression.

When I see the success of Abraham and Sarah and the achievements of Moses, as well as the actions of Zacharias and Elisabeth, I just rest in the assurance of His unerring decisions.  When I try to understand the whys and wherefores of God’s actions, I waste valuable time that could have been used to increase my Faith.  Instead of trying to understand, let us continually stand confidently in the assurance that God has a purpose for everything He does and He does not need our approval or understanding, just our Faith!

When we see what is happening in our country, there are bound to be mental exercises in which Believers begin to raise carnal questions that pertain to God’s involvement on this “globe” (earth) of uncertainty.  How long will God wait to manifest Himself or if He is already involved, when do we see the evidence?  There are too many “armchair” Christians who sit in their “worry” seat and question the action or inaction of God.  We must stop second-guessing what God could or might do and center on a relationship with Him that far outweighs our “inquiring minds.”  In the meantime, smile and enjoy what God has done and is doing!!!