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| The Holy Spirit depicted as a dove, surrounded by angels, by Giaquinto, 1750s. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9
New King James Version (NKJV)
Any parent is probably well aware of the easy answer we give to our children when they ask us a question that we can't answer or perhaps aren't ready to answer. "Because" is an easy out that rarely appeases and usually just leads to more questions.
Sometimes we can look up the answers to provide a learning experience for ourselves as well as the child who has asked the question. This is a good opportunity for education. At other times the child is too young to understand the answer so we simplify it with "because". Or the child might be too stubborn to accept the answer so we eventually end the discussion with "because"and hope that will appease the child for a while at least.
We are God's children and he is our Father in Heaven. He is infinite and all-knowing. We can never expect to know all of His ways or be Him, but we can certainly strive to be more like Him and know what He puts out there for us to know. We have the Holy Bible which can provide many of the answers to the questions we might have. Through prayer and listening for answers that he provides through the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives we can continue to learn. Then sometimes we need to remain in wondering and wait for an answer that may never come in this life.
Why do some things happen in this world that we can't understand or why does God work in the way He does? Sometimes the best answer is "because".
Sometimes we can look up the answers to provide a learning experience for ourselves as well as the child who has asked the question. This is a good opportunity for education. At other times the child is too young to understand the answer so we simplify it with "because". Or the child might be too stubborn to accept the answer so we eventually end the discussion with "because"and hope that will appease the child for a while at least.
We are God's children and he is our Father in Heaven. He is infinite and all-knowing. We can never expect to know all of His ways or be Him, but we can certainly strive to be more like Him and know what He puts out there for us to know. We have the Holy Bible which can provide many of the answers to the questions we might have. Through prayer and listening for answers that he provides through the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives we can continue to learn. Then sometimes we need to remain in wondering and wait for an answer that may never come in this life.
Why do some things happen in this world that we can't understand or why does God work in the way He does? Sometimes the best answer is "because".
Romans 9:20
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
My post today on a blog, which is not in the challenge is http://suesconsideredtrifles.wordpress.com/2015/04/02/just-because-were-breathing/
ReplyDeleteSometimes things become clearer when we look back. But nor always. Sue
Funny how that word is like the universal equivalent of "conversation done."
ReplyDeleteOr maybe "this conversation is not going anywhere so maybe let's postpone it until we're ready to discuss with more intellectual parity at hand". There's nothing wrong with speculating on things to figure them out, but in certain circles God issues are more a matter of contentious disagreement and there are some points that we can't argue to the adequate satisfaction of the other party.
DeleteLee
I'm not really an intellectual, so not sure what kind of discussion you want here, Arlee.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts on the above scripture: Humbling words for one. We are simply the created, and God is the creator. We are to respect, honor and revere God--as one of the commandments says.
But it doesn't mean we can't question God or seek answers. There are lots of examples in the bible where people do just that. In the new testament believers are told to have the mind of Christ, so in that sense God's thoughts can become ours.
I totally agree that we not only can, but should ask questions. Asking questions helps us to learn and encourages us to keep searching for more answers. But just because the answers we want or think should be there don't immediately come into focus, we should not give up on our faith or our hope. So much of the time people will decide that a just God wouldn't allow certain things to happen so they'll stop believing, just give up on God, or pursue false belief systems that feed them what they think they'd like for God to be like. We can always ask, but sometimes we also have to just accept that things are as they are and one day we'll have a better understanding of God's ways.
DeleteI'm always open to any discussion and at times--especially on this blog--I'm just speculating on the way I understand it since I'm not that much of an intellectual either. There's an awful lot that I don't know.
Lee
I remember my 8th grade math teacher had an engraved plaque on her desk that said, "Because I said so."
ReplyDeleteBecause is a good word to explain some things we just can't explain. Another good one is "I don't know, but God is God and that's why he's God and I'm not."
ReplyDeletebetty