I've heard many variations of this question over my life as a Christian - even asked it myself and spent time considering the how's and whys of how a loving God seems to appear distant in a suffering world.
For some, this seemingly irrational paradox is the basis for total disbelief in God, for dismissing His existence entirely.
For others, it's just a tricky question best left in the too hard basket.
Before the question can be answered (if indeed it can be fully answered) the very basis of tackling it must first come with the premise...
The premise being... Should God's behaviour (if he exists) conform to our human logic? Does God think like us... feel like us and rationalise the way we do?
For us... We understand if there's a problem that's within our power to fix, especially when it involves human suffering, we should and would take action. That's human thinking, that's heart felt, good and right. Isn't God wired the same way?
We have a framework of logic and expect a loving God to conform to it.... Surely?
Our understanding is contained in that framework. Is "sense" making sense. We expect God to fit into that framework, to conform himself to match it - and if that framework of sense is a house that contains our understanding.. He is to come inside the front door, fit into it and sit down in our house and behave in ways that make logical sense to us.
Shouldn't he?
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For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord.Isaiah 55:7-9
As these Bible verses suggest our premise of God conforming may not be entirely reasonable in human understanding.
God's apparently got ways of thinking and doing outside our logic and limitations of rationale.
If that premise is true, that it's not God who conforms to our logic but he can in ways - exist outside the house and framework of human reasonable-ness...then our first argument in asserting the lack of intervention proves he doesn't exist, or secondly is cruelly ignorant to humanity falls down ... the question itself in light of these verses cannot be legitimate.
But that still leaves the messy awfulness of suffering. I'll write more on this next entry... because it's so profoundly important as to why people choose to, or not to believe in God and requires to be looked at from various angles. This is the first angle. The basis of addressing the issue. Firstly, God doesn't act as we do, or we hope .... it's his prerogative. But is he still a loving merciful God, and if so, why does he seemingly stand back.
More next week.
Job 42
Then Job replied to the Lord:
2 “I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.
4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!
and no one can stop you.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.
4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!
