Suddenly, one of the men saw another infant coming down stream fast. Just as the one man jumped into the river to rescue the second child, the other man saw a third baby twisting in the torrent as the rapids carried the crying infant right at him!
As he rushed into the waters he could see a fourth, fifth and sixth baby floating toward him with many more coming! The man got out of the water and started running!
The man pulling the second child out of the river, seeing all the other babies coming downstream, was shocked at his friend!
“Hey!!! Where are you going???” the man shouted at the top of his lungs.
Running as hard as he could, the man shouted back, “I’ve got to see where all these babies are coming from so we can stop this!”
The lesson? Getting to the root of a problem is not always easy. Oftentimes it takes sacrifice. It can even feel overwhelming, but only by getting at the source of a problem can it truly be resolved.
For example, we know it’s not enough to clean up oil spilling from underground into an ocean. Stopping the leak, finding out what caused the leak and taking steps to prevent future leaks must also be executed.
The best solutions often start with questions, asking “what if” or “why not?” But many people stop asking questions as they get older. They accept the status quo. Remember when we were young? We had thousands of questions — why is the sky blue, why do birds sing or why are flotation devices under plane seats instead of parachutes?
We learn by asking questions. Curiosity can lead to creativity and success. Asking questions can even improve our spiritual and mental health.
While some people think it is wrong to ask questions about God — why He allows suffering or when will He take action — several Bible writers asked similar questions to our benefit.
For example, Psalm 10 starts out with the writer asking, “Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” Verses 2-18 will ring a familiar note in the hearts of humble ones in search for relief.
One Psalmist asked God at Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring?” It seems Jesus quoted this verse as he was dying, at Matthew 27:46.
Another Psalmist asked, “LORD, why castest thou off my soul? Why hidest thou thy face from me?” at Psalm 88:14.
At Habakkuk 1:3 the New International Version says the prophet asked God, “Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.”
Does raising such questions indicate a lack of faith in God? Could it suggest a person who is uninformed or misinformed is simply trying to become better informed? You decide.
Take for example when tragedy strikes. It seems easier for some to say it is God’s will rather than discover the real source of why such things happen. Does the Bible offer a clearer explanation?
Some have learned that instead of blaming God for the tragic affairs of the world with its sickness and death, Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” — The New King James Version.
Since God warned the first man not to disobey Him and immediately made provisions to save Adam’s future offspring, could we rightly say it is God’s will that anyone dies?
Paul spoke of Jesus Christ at Hebrews 2:14 “that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”
In both verses, we are helped to appreciate why people suffer and die. Did sickness, suffering and death come into this world by God or by a coalition between Adam and Eve and Satan the Devil?
In some cases, a person refuses to listen to reason, take risks with their lives and suffer the consequences. Can we blame God for them using poor judgment? If it was God’s will, why warn us we would reap what we sow?
The Bible realistically reminds us at Ecclesiastes 9:11 how the fastest, strongest and wisest individuals can suffer unexpected tragedy at the hands of “time and chance.” Jesus himself spoke of 18 people upon whom a tower fell and tragically killed although they were no worse than anyone else, at Luke 13:4. Yes, accidents befall us all.
Sometimes disasters can be so overwhelming that no explanation as to why seems sufficient. Our best efforts can’t save everyone. Sometimes the most we can do is run to the One with a permanent solution and share the good news with others. Need I say why?
*For a copy of The Little White Book of Light featuring more than 100 Wright Way columns, visit barnesandnoble.com, booksamillion.com and amazon.com.
