This question is often asked only when supposedly bad things are happening to us, but when we are enjoying the blessings of God, when we are blessed with health and strength and numberless favors we hardly ever ask “Why me?” Another question that is often asked, usually after some personal or national tragedy is, why should bad things happen to good people, but we hardly ever ask why do good things happen to bad people.
Thus, in many instances, the blessings, and mercies of God, which are unmerited, and new to us every morning to us, go by without acknowledgement on the part of the receiver but when trouble comes our way, the blessings, by contrast, are often made to pale into insignificance. However, the Bible gives us instruction on how to deal with the vicissitudes of life, by often reflecting, and dwelling on the good that God sends our way, instead of being consumed with what we may deem to be bad experiences. Let’s read:
1st Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
These passages do not teach us to be naïve to dire circumstances, but they do encourage us to dwell on the positives, instead of the negatives, and also to trust in God, at those times when we may not be able to see clearly. Human tendency is to focus on the bad, hence the reason why reporting by media organizations is comprised mostly of bad news. And often when a friend, or a brother is going through rough times, our conversations may tend to spawn many unanswerable questions, because in so many cases, the variables, the causes, and the reasons may not be readily apparent.
As a general rule of thumb, God does not give any person, the responsibility of trying to explain His providences in the lives of the righteous, or even those who do not know Him, for His ways are past finding out. Some people stumble over the issue of slavery, others over 9/11, and still others are at a loss when a friend or loved one may die suddenly. God often moves in mysterious ways, and thus, the experiences, and providences we don’t understand are best left alone, lest we put a wrong spin on the things we do not know, very much the same like John the Baptist’s disciples. Let’s read:
[D.A pp214>215] The life of John had been one of active labor, and the gloom, and inaction of prison life weighed heavily upon him. His disciples did not forsake him. But they questioned why, if this new teacher was the Messiah, He did nothing to effect John's release. How could He permit His faithful herald to be deprived of liberty and perhaps of life? These questions were not without effect.
Doubts, which otherwise would never have arisen were suggested to John. Satan rejoiced to hear the words of these disciples, and to see how they bruised the soul of the Lord's messenger. Oh, how often those who think themselves the friends of a good man, and who are eager to show their fidelity to him, prove to be his most dangerous enemies! How often, instead of strengthening his faith, their words depress and dishearten!
In Joseph’s case, we are told of how he was jailed after doing the right thing, and those who live many centuries after are given a detailed account of some of the intelligent reasons why God permitted him to be incarcerated. Yet, we must remember that none of those reasons were given to Joseph when he was going through his trial, yet his faith held on firmly to God, trusting His goodness in places where he could not trace Him, and when nothing seemed to make sense.
Joseph could have asked the same question, “Why me?”, after standing firm for truth, and after being severely tempted with sexual harassment, and after resisting the assaults by Potiphar’s wife. There was no #Me too in Joseph’s day, and there was not an apparent reason for the sudden change of fortune, yet he did all he could to keep his spirit up, and to be cheerful in adversity.
This was the issue of Job’s experience, when after doing everything “Right” untold trouble came upon him, to the point where he lost almost all he had held dear on this earth, in a few days. Then it was, that the same age-old question, which has haunted the minds of many for centuries, arose in his mind, causing him to ask, “if I have done everything right, and have been diligent in following the Lord, Why me? Asaph, David’s chief musician, also asked the same question, and therefore, an answer from God alone is appropriate.
As Job sat in ashes, licking his proverbial wounds, he recounted his righteous deeds, in the context of his present condition, and something did not seem to add up. His friends also made the common mistake, so many folks make, of trying to reason from cause to effect. By the way, there is a passage in the Bible which on the surface may seem to lend credence to their line of reasoning, but even this text falls short of explaining Job’s condition. Let’s read:
Proverbs 26:2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
Job 4:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
7 Remember, I pray thee, whoever perished, being innocent?
8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
Job 29:1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
12 I delivered the poor that cried and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
Job 3:26 Yet trouble came!
These, and so many other reasonings, prompted an answer from God, for it was necessary for Him to address, not merely Job’s troubles, but the larger issue of His sovereignty. It is worthy of note that in all the ensuing conversations between God and Job, God never saw it necessary to give an explanation. Instead, He gives Job detailed lessons in science and creation, which deal with the bigger question, “Did God have the right to permit such things to come upon a righteous man, or anyone for that matter. Let’s read:
Job 38:1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,
10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
Job 42:1 Then Job answered the Lord, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
3 Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
That answer given by Job was correct, but it would prove to be grossly insufficient to address the main underlying issue of “Why me”. Most Christians are resolved to the fact that God can do anything, and no one can stop Him, even if we wanted to. But God probes us deeper with the question of whether we think that is right, and if so, do we agree that He is fair, when He may permit adverse circumstances, or temptations to come our way. Therefore, the other question God asked Job is of great import to all who must walk by faith. Let’s read:
Job 40:1 Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said, 2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
Job 40:3 Then Job answered the Lord, and said,
4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
It is worthy of note that Job’s present condition was never discussed, nor mentioned in that interview with God, neither was he given any explanation for what took place. In fact, the question of Why Me is never addressed, for that is not the real question. If God was to give Job a detailed explanation, or if He were to pull back the curtain for Job, and his family to observe what was really taking place behind the scenes, Job would most likely end up with lots more questions than answers. Instead, the overwhelming majority of questions God posed to Job, addresses the issue of His sovereignty.
We must be very careful, in our finite understanding to try to explain the providences of God, whenever tragedy, or difficulty comes upon people, for there are always unknown variables, and reasons we may not bring into the equation. It is quite possible, that if God was to explain why He permitted such and such to come upon people, we may become more discouraged.
Take for instance Job; if God was to now give him a detailed explanation of why he was going through his drama, He would begin with the conference that took place in the heavenly courts, where satan had intruded without invitation, as the representative of our planet. Then God would need to inform Job that satan made a glaring accusation, charging God with bribery, and because of that, God decided to choose Job as the test case to prove to the universe that He bribes no one to serve Him.
But then, another question would most likely arise in Job’s mind: Why me? Why was I chosen to be the test case? Then God would have to explain to Job that he was the only person living on the planet at that time whom God could knew would be faithful if His material blessings were removed and that’s why he was chosen. But then, that answer would likely raise new questions in Job’s mind, for if indeed he was to be the test case, why then were all of his children involved, and what about those innocent animals, and his pets that were lost in the carnage.
What do the pets have to do with satan’s charge of bribery? And before you know it God would have to give a million, and one reasons, some of which Job may not agree with or understand and which would spawn more questions than answers, and would be likely to cause Job to become even more perplexed.
So the real question is about God’s sovereignty. The centurion in Christ’s day had understood the issue of God’s sovereignty, for he recognized that a word from Jesus only needed to be spoken, for His will to be done. He also gave the reason why he had come to that conclusion, stating “I am a man also having authority, and I say to one, go, and he goes”, that is without questioning, and without explanation, if I so choose. Indeed, it was only in instances such as this where we read that Jesus “marveled”. Let’s read:
Matthew 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
The mighty seraphim, and cherubim which minister in God’s presence, doing His bidding, are often sent on missions, of which they have no clue why God is sending them on such and such an errand. Yet, in the book of Ezekiel they are seen darting back and forth with the speed of lightening, in obedience to the will of God. A case in point is when Gabriel was sent to inform Mary of the coming fusion of Divinity with humanity. Gabriel’s words to her tell us that he did not understand how it was to take place. Let’s read:
Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore, also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
We will never read where they ask for explanations before making their journey, yet they are eager to carry out the orders, which in many instances they may not have any clue as to the hows, whys, and whens. Let’s read:
Ezekiel 1:12 And they went everyone straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
All who are preparing to preach the three angel’s messages of Revelation 14, must indeed understand the issue of God’s sovereignty, or they will be ill-prepared for what is to transpire on the earth in the outpouring of the latter rain, the plagues which will follow, and what the prophet Isaiah describes as His “Strange Act”.
God’s sovereignty is what was at stake in the issue of same-sex marriage. In other words, does He have the right, and the authority to define for us mortals, what marriage is? The Sabbath issue also raises the same question too, does God have the right to tell us which day we should worship on. The issue of morality in general, the issue of health, dress, and every other dimension of the human experience all come to one basic question of God’s Sovereignty.
The apostle Paul warns us of the coming clash of ideologies, concepts, principles, laws, and lifestyles, which will culminate in the attempt to usurp God’s sovereignty. The antichrist system of government, headed by the son of perdition, is now challenging the sovereignty of God, and soon and very soon, all peoples of the earth will have to choose between the sovereignty of God, and the sovereignty of man. Let’s read:
2nd Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
In closing, let us therefore not be engrossed with questions such as why me, but let us instead seek to understand the sovereignty of God, because Christ is coming again as a king not a savior.
God bless!