Why, Oh Lord?

“And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.” Judges 6:13

When an angel of the Lord spoke to Gideon, God’s messenger told Gideon that the Lord was with him. Gideon instantly recalled the state of his country, Israel. He knew that the enemy, the Midianites, had destroyed their crops, and their flocks (Judges 6:4).  Gideon and his country were in a terrible situation. After hearing the message, he questioned what the angel said to him.  He wondered if the Lord really was with him, then why were all the terrible things happening to him and his country?

In this situation, God’s hand of protection was off the country, because they were involved in idolatry (Judges 6:10).  God used the Midianites to get Israel to a place where they would again turn to God and call on Him (Judges 6:6-7). Although the nation was involved in sin, and God was disciplining Israel; God was still with His people.

We need to realize this even today.  Although a saved person is a child of God whom He promises never to “… leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5), a wayward Christian may get to the point that God has to chastise him.  Also, a person’s indwelling Holy Spirit may be grieved (Eph. 4:30, I Thes. 5:19) and not working in a person’s life like He wants to, but God will not desert the person.
“For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” Prov.3:12

Too many find themselves wondering as Gideon did, “Why is God allowing this happen to me?”  Often they feel left alone without His help. They feel abandoned. Most of us have had times our faith was weak, and we doubted and wondered about our situation, as did Gideon. 

However, there are many reasons why God allows us to go through difficulties, other than being disciplined, as was Israel.  Some of those reasons include:

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” II Cor 1:3-4

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Mat. 5:45

If you are going through a difficult time and wonder as Gideon did, examine your life.  Is it possible that you are in the situation because you are in a wayward condition? A first step in going through a hard time is to rule out if your behavior or spiritual condition has anything to do with your situation.  If it does, earnest prayer may reveal, it to you.  Quick obedience to any conviction and repentance are what the Lord wants from us in such circumstances.

If no conviction is stirred or past offenses do not come to mind, your situation may be for a completely different reason or divine purpose.  Not all problems are God’s judgment on your life. Sometimes God reveals the reason for the trial; sometimes He does not.  Whatever the reason, one should immediately draw closer to Him, and wait for Him to do His will in your life.

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8 

To read more about why a Christian goes through problems, please read “Good from Bad.”

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