I sat in church last Sunday with all the boys by myself. My husband had to work, and now that my four boys are older, I try to make it through the service even when he can’t go. However, with the 10-year-old and 5-year-old who love their neighbors as themselves but often can’t stand their brothers, church is a fragmented experience. The sermon was about Job, so I already knew the story. Satan tells God that the only reason Job loves him is because of his many blessings. God accepts Satan’s challenge to take everything away from Job and see if he will still be faithful. It’s the same story I’ve heard since Sunday School as a child. Then somewhere between breaking up a fight and drawing fire-breathing rabbits on the bulletin, I heard what Paul Harvey would call “the rest of the story.”
After Job ignores the many people who tell him to curse God and die during his tribulations, he gets everything back and more. He asks God why He allowed all of that to happen. The reader knows about the bet between God and Satan, but Job does not. (This is called dramatic irony for all of you literary people). Of course, I expected God to tell him, but he doesn’t. Instead his answer is something like, “I am God. Where were you when I was creating the world? You only need to know that I AM GOD.”
Ok, so I know Psalms 46:10. “Be still and know that I am God.” It’s a source of comfort, right? But God telling Job to just put on his big boy pants and know that He is God was certainly NOT how I expected the story to end. I began to wonder why He would choose to not tell Job about Satan’s role and imagined what might have happened if He had.
Job: You did what!? You tested me because Satan doubted my faithfulness! You knew I loved you. Why would you do that? What if I had failed? What if I had cursed you and died? Why would you risk that?
God: I needed to prove it to him.
Job: But you are God!
God: Exactly.
Sometimes my response to my kids is “Because I’m the mom.” It isn’t because I don’t have a reason. It’s because the reason is important enough that taking the time to explain it would be an unnecessary diversion from accomplishing the mission. It’s about trusting me and knowing that I have your best interest in mind . . . ALWAYS. I guess then next time I want to ask God why He allows some tragedy to happen, I just need to put on my big girl pants and trust Him.
Yes, sometimes knowing the why is vital; however, even He said, “Because I am God.”