The Bible is full of stories that just don't make sense and they remind me of all in my own life that doesn't make sense.
Isaiah 55:8 reminds us..."For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD."
God has some ways of doing things I don't always understand. He doesn't always make sense. But he has that right. After all, he is God & I'm not. That is a very good thing!
Joseph was thrown in a pit and later sold into slavery. His brothers did this to him. I know that Joseph was a little arrogant about his dreams & the fact that he got the best coat, but really? Was that necessary? And then for God to allow him to be sold into slavery? Seems a little harsh to me. I'm sure many times Joseph questioned God's way of doing things. (Genesis 37 & 39)
What about Abraham being told to sacrifce Isaac? Don't you know he was wondering what was going on, but he obeyed. Scripture doesn't tell us what he was thinking about on that long walk to Mount Mariah with his son, but I'm sure there was a lot of praying going on. (Genesis 22)
I'm sure when Naomi lost her husband and then both her sons she wondered what was God up to. (Ruth 1)
And my favorite New Testament "This-doesn't-make-sense" story is when Lazarus died. To his sisters they couldn't believe that Jesus didn't show up and heal their brother. He let him die. It's not like the sisters would have taken credit for Lazarus getting well, they would have given God all the glory...at least that is what they thought I'm sure. (John 11)
There is so much going on in my life I think God could do differently as I think maybe those I mentioned above may have wanted done differently also. When we are in the midst of messy circumstances we want things to be different. We don't like being uncomfortable. We can't see how the messiness will turn into beauty. We can't see how God is orchestrating our symphony of adversity & creating a beautiful song. We can't see the whole picture or the end result and we think this just doesn't make sense why God would do things this way.
But what we do have is the final picture that scripture paints for us using his people and their adversity. What a great reminder to us that not only is his plan good (though it is often painful) but it works!
The heroes in the Bible all had something in common; they knew God would take care of them, they just didn't know how or when, but they knew.
Martin Luther said,
"God won't lie to me or deceive me, though at times, nothing in life will seem to make sense."
I am learning to be ok when nothing makes sense. I am learning to stop fidgiting and rest. I am learning to stop trying to understand why God is doing what he is doing and why he is doing it. I am not God. My thoughts are not his(aren't we all glad) and best of all, my ways are not his ways.
I wouldn't do things the way he is doing them right now, but since He is God, Creator of the Universe, author and perfector of my faith and lest we not forget; in control of EVERYTHING-I am trusting his ways.
Some days I do that better than others, but it is my goal & desire.
When it doesn't make sense....trust.
