Why We Wonder Why - Martin Wiles

And Moses said to the Lord, “Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people? Numbers 11:11 NLT

Wondering why often leaves us wondering why we wonder why.

I sat in the car with two of my grandsons, waiting for my wife to complete a physical test. One of them—three at the time—sat in the front seat with me, biding his time and asking three-year-old questions.

“Pop, what is this?” he asked, pointing to one knob on the radio.

“It turns the radio on and makes it louder,” I said, trying to focus on what I was doing.

“Why,” was the next question.

“I don’t know. It just does.”

“What about this button?” he continued, pointing to a button beside the first knob.

I finally told him that all the buttons in that general area worked the radio. My answer still didn’t satisfy him.

“Why?” he asked.

After playing this why game for every piece associated with the dashboard and exterior mirrors, I finally said, “Pop’s tired of answering questions. I need to work.”

I was glad he had entered the inquisitive stage and eager to learn. But he would soon discover that I didn’t have an answer to everything he asked. And I often eventually tire of answering “why” inquiries.

Moses wondered why in the world God had saddled him with the task of caring for more than a million people. People who complained most of the time, couldn’t get along, tended to rebel against God, and on occasion threatened to kill him. God answered his why question by giving him some help. God wanted those people in the Promised Land, and Moses was the person he chose to lead them there. He didn’t need to know why; he just needed to obey. As when God didn’t tell Job why he allowed him to suffer all his misfortune.

God’s ways and will are often a mystery he chooses not to solve in our presence. Perhaps in heaven, he’ll answer some of our “why” questions; perhaps he won’t, and it won’t matter. There is nothing wrong with asking God why, but we must be prepared to experience silence. While God never tires of our asking why, he doesn’t want our whys to come from disbelief or discouragement but from a desire for more understanding—like Moses.

Don’t be afraid to ask God why, but be prepared to be kept in suspense. Following his will is a faith journey with many unanswered whys.

Father, when you choose not to answer my why questions, give me the faith and courage to keep following you. 

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