I couldn’t help but think of GOD’s watchful care when I read about and saw a photo of a little 4-month-old baby dug out of the rubble and alive more than a day after the destruction of the cyclone. It was just a glimpse of GOD’s gentle love and goodness in delivering us from harm.
Have you ever felt or cried out, “It’s not fair! It’s just not fair!” I know that I have many times.
Being we don’t see the whole picture of why things happen and what lies ahead, human standards cry out ‘life is not fair!’
Yet the bible tells us, “The swiftest person doesn’t always win the race or the strongest man the battle, and wise men are often poor and skillful men are not necessarily famous.” Ecclesiastes 9:11
We could add to that list: the innocent suffer while the guilty get rich; you do right and get blamed for wrong (like Joseph the son of Jacob); you lovingly teach your child to do right and he goes deep into sin; or you just work hard and everything falls apart.
Although life on earth is not fair, we must not despair but rather put GOD in the equation. Too often we forget to remember GOD’s thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways. We are told they are as high as the heavens above (light years away from) our thought and ways. In other words, we do not have the capacity, at this time, to understand. We are as a preschooler who knows her ABCs yet can in no way understand a Greek novel. It is totally beyond the level of her comprehension.
In the Bible we are told there is Divine reason behind everything that happens. Don’t ask me to explain that, but since GOD says it, I believe it as a matter of faith in the truth, power, love and wisdom of GOD who works all things after the counsel of HIS own will (Ephesians 1:11).
Although I am unable to know or convey the ‘whys?’, I can give an example that reminded me of GOD’s wisdom behind unfairness as I read again in the book of Daniel.
Now Daniel was taken captive as a young teenager. He chose to do things GOD’s way when doing what was expected of him would have been so much easier. This story takes place after Daniel faithfully served several kings and he was a very old man. Daniel was in a place of power because GOD put him there and gave him great wisdom. Daniel was faithful to serve his captives well. His life was so devoted to GOD that his enemies (jealous because the new king planned to place Daniel over all the other rulers) could not find anything to criticize Daniel of. They knew the only way to get rid of him was trickery and it had to concern his GOD.
Long story short, his enemies tricked the king into signing an unchangable law stating, ‘no one could ask anything from anyone (god or man) but the king for thirty days. If someone broke that law he would be thrown into the lion’s den. When Daniel knew the law had been signed, he continued his practice to kneel and pray to GOD three times a day before his open window. He was caught by his enemies who demanded that the king throw Daniel to the lions because of the law he had signed. The king tried to get out of it, but could find no way out and so threw Daniel to the lions. In anguish, the king told Daniel that Daniel’s GOD, whom he served day and night, would keep him safe and GOD did.
Now on the surface we must conclude that what happen to Daniel was totally unfair. Bearing in mind that in the Old Testament the Jews primary responsibility (outside of worshipping and obeying GOD) was the same as ours as believers in JESUS today. That is: we are to be HIS witnesses and are to tell others about our GOD and Savior.
After spending a sleepless night, come morning, King Darius, rushed to the lion’s den and cried out to Daniel. “Daniel, was your GOD able to save you?” Daniel was safe and called back, ‘Yes!’
What was the outcome of all the unfairness Daniel endured? “Afterwards King Darius wrote this message addressed to everyone in his vast empire in their own languages: “Greetings! I decree that everyone shall tremble and fear before the GOD of Daniel in every part of my kingdom. For his GOD is the living, unchanging GOD whose kingdom shall never be destroyed and whose power shall never end. HE delivers HIS people, preserving them from harm; HE does great miracles in heaven and earth; it is HE who delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. Daniel 6:25-27 TLB
So we see that Daniel’s witness was not just with the words he said but by how he lived his life to honor the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. Daniel’s words went far beyond anything he could imagine. Because of his suffering to do right, many people from many countries got to hear about GOD.
Could GOD be doing something through your and my problems and struggles? The bible tells us that GOD has a reason for initiation or allowing of everything that comes our way (Ezekiel 14:23). HE did with Joseph, HE did with Job; HE did with Daniel and with JESUS and sob HE does with what touches you and me. Are you willing to be like Daniel and trust GOD with all your heart and not lean on your own understanding? (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Hugs,
Sharon