Why?

O LORD, why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face from me? [Psalm 88.14]

If only we would learn to ask this question in true humility!

People ask, "Why?" when things go wrong. Most every time "Why?" is asked, there has been some tragedy, some terrible circumstance that upsets 'life as usual.'

"Why" is not a bad question. However, the motive of the heart makes all the difference in the world when asking God, "Why?"

There are, as I see it, only two possible motives in asking God, "Why?" 

One of the possible motives is driven by humility. It acknowledges something is wrong, and it acknowledges that something is wrong because of human error. "Why?" asked in genuine humility asks, "What have I (we) done so that I (we) may repent of it?" In other words, "What sin has caused You (God) to turn Your face away from me thus enabling this tragedy or circumstance?"

The other possible motive is driven by pride. The proud questioner refuses to acknowledge or take responsibility for any given tragic or terrible circumstance. Instead the proud questioner demands an explanation from God as if God is responsible for the unpleasant circumstance. The proud questioner ignores the most basic definitions of blessings and curses as clearly communicated in Deuteronomy 28. The proud questioner, when clearly punished according to these Biblical standards, refuses to acknowledge his sin and instead dares to make assessments of God's character that simply are not true.

So you see, there is nothing wrong in asking, "Why?" In fact, when curses come, we should all ask, "Why?" However, our question, "Why?" should not be an arrogant denial of guilt, but instead a genuine desire to know what evil thing our desperately wicked heart (that the Bible says no man can know) has tricked us into doing or participating in.

One should not even begin to use Job as an argument otherwise! Admittedly, there are some interesting considerations in the beginning of Job's story, however, in the end of the story Job confessed his sin. Think! One does not have to confess sin if sin is not present! Job unknowingly had pride in his heart that caused him to say all sorts of silly things for which God sternly rebuked him! God never randomly doles out tragedies!

This should be established in every Bible believer's mind: when something goes wrong, it is not God's fault!

At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. [2 Chronicles 7.13-14]

Father, forgive me for my proud denial of sin in my life, my family, or my nation when tragedy strikes. Help me - I want to humbly repent every time something goes wrong! The one thing I know about my heart is that I cannot entirely know my heart and that it is desperately wicked and deceptive.