Which Bible Translation Should I Use?
“A friend of mine’s child who was 2 weeks old died of SIDS this morning. Why?”
“How am I suppose to explain why an innocent baby is dead?”
“Why is God punishing a child?”
“I believed and prayed for my loved one’s healing, but they died anyway. How could God allow that to happen when they were so young and full of life and could have lived so much longer?”
These are very candid questions and they deserve lucid answers. Let me begin first by saying that I understand your concerns as well as your frustrations. I also understand how these frustrations can be compounded by the religious excuses some have made for these situations. To say that, “we don’t know God’s will” or that “His ways are not our ways” and to leave it at that is ignorant at best and shameful.
The fact is that we DO know God’s will and we should know His ways as well. If God had “His Way” then the child or family member would still be alive. It’s apparently clear from the full council of the Word of God that it’s the enemy who steals and kills but it is God who gives life. If God had His way, the tragedy would have been averted.
If one desires to see the perfect will of God, you need only read the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark as Jesus brings full expression to the heart of God toward humanity, healing and delivering the afflicted. We know that God is love. The simple answer is that there are forces antagonistic to God’s will for our lives, such as evil spirits, the curse that’s on this world as a result of the fall of man, etc. But let’s take a moment to look at this from a different angle.
In times like these there’s nothing wrong with being upset but we cannot allow emotion to cloud our reasoning causing us to accuse and question God; As if we cared more for this individual or family than even He who created them. His desire to see children protected and families blessed is beyond anything that we can imagine.
Instead of directing your frustration toward Him, take a moment to imagine how He must feel to have this life that He created and that was taken out of His very being destroyed by the ever-encroaching curse of this world. Imagine His anger when He considers the agony that He endured when He sent His only son to die, so that this very thing could be eradicated and yet it still lingers to this day with very few who are willing to believe in Him. His heart breaks more than any earthly parent’s could at the loss of a child. Instead of seeking words of comfort for ourselves, why don’t we first seek to comfort our heavenly Father who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities and a heightened sensitivity far beyond anything mere mortals could handle?
“Why is God punishing a Child?” “Why would God…?” “Why is God…?” How could we ask such questions? When times get tough do we really revert back to these carnal mindsets? Do we not know Him any better than this? Why are we so quick to blame Him, when there are other forces at work that we have been repeatedly warned about? Our hearts should break at the idea of anyone accusing our Heavenly Father of some tragedy; especially involving a child, mush less partake in the accusation ourselves. The God that we serve would not only do anything to stop such an occurrence but in His foreknowledge has already done everything he can for families like these, through Christ. Can we in good conscience demand more of Him?
My intent isn’t to be stern but transparent and perhaps in my honesty, instill in you the proper response to times such as these. We’ve all asked similar questions and shouldn’t condemn anyone for doing so. These are important questions indeed and they need answers that do more than dither and play to the emotions of the moment.
What do you say to anyone who tires to use the tragedy of others to mask their own efforts to undermine God’s plan for their lives? NOTHING! Those who wish to run from God require no answer because no answer would do them justice. The game has been fixed and they’ve invested all their pride in the outcome. But if you must respond I would recommend that you take these words to heart from the book of Job;
“Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
“Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?
Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
Who determined its dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line?
What supports its foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone
Who kept the sea inside its boundaries?
Where does light come from,
and where does darkness go?
Can you take each to its home?
Do you know how to get there?
But of course you know all this!
For you were born before it was all created,
and you are so very experienced!
Do you know the laws of the universe?
Can you use them to regulate the earth?
Who provides food for the ravens
when their young cry out to God and wander about in hunger?
Then the Lord said to Job,
“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?
You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”
Then Job replied to the Lord,
“I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers?
I will cover my mouth with my hand.
I have said too much already.
I have nothing more to say.”
Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
“Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.
“Will you discredit my justice
and condemn me just to prove you are right?
Are you as strong as God?
Can you thunder with a voice like his?
Then Job replied to the Lord:
“I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.
You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!
I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.’
I had only heard about you before,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
I take back everything I said,
and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”
There may be times that we don’t fully understand “WHY” but always remember that God loves us and anything that is antithetical to love is antithetical to God Himself. If we desire to find fault, heaven is the wrong place to look. But when we approach Him with the right attitude, He is then able to give us the answer to all of our most pressing questions.
If you’ve suffered a recent tragedy, send us your prayer reqeust and allow us to stand in faith with you for God’s wisdom and peace to be released into your life.
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