Yesterday I spent some time talking with my friend and co-minister, Jacob. He was introducing a class on Joshua last night, as they begin preparations for LTC. We got to talking about the way God had Israel kill the nations before them -- men, women and children. And we wrestled with the "why" of that. It really is not an easy one, is it? My granddad went to his grave (at 99-1/2) as an agnostic. He read the Bible, but there were a couple of things that he just could not get over. This was one of them. How could a loving God command such destruction?
We discussed all of the expected answers: purging the land of idolatry, the importance of purity and obedience, etc. But it still leaves a lot unanswered. And you know what? I'm OK with that now. It used to be that I wanted to have a nice, packaged answer for everything. But I have come to the point in my walk with God that I now realize He can't be put in a box. He is like 13,800 megavolts being stepped down through transformers to my 110 volt understanding. If He was to unload everything about Himself into my circuitry -- my mainframe would be fried.
So I am now at the point where I want to continue to search and hear ideas about tough theological issues. But it's OK if the answer can't be tied up with a bow. Psalm 139: 6 says "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain." But you know what? We will understand it better by and by.
What's your big theological can of worms?
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2 comments:
At times I think it would be great to know more answers, yet, I also know that not having the answers challenges me to lean on my faith more heavily. When I start getting the answers, I forget who is in control. While I wrestle with hurricanes that kill and wreck people's lives, with the sexual orientation controversy, with people who have no emotion over raping someone and many others, I can only trust in God that He can handle what I can't. It's only frustrating to me not having these answers when I deal with people who question why I believe in God. I'm not frustrated that I don't have the answers but frustrated that I can't change their mind. And then, I remember that God can handle it.
I trust that God will use me when I can plant the seed and nudge me out of the way when I can't do more.
Can't kids asked the hardest questions?!?!?!?
I LOVE your Psalm 139 answer!
My own 'can of worms' is the infertility of a righteous and blameless woman. Why wouldn't God want more children in homes that fear Him and teach His Word? No clue on this one! But I continue to trust Him and beg Him!
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