There was a picture of a little child, crying and trying to run away from a strong man who was having a chemical in his hand, attempting to put it on the child. One could even see the child already wounded. Horror! Cried the society. 'Put the man in prison!' On inspection, it was found that the man was the father of the child. Abuse! Cried the society. 'Put the man in prison!' On further inspection, it was found that the child had an open wound and the father was just trying to apply tincture. But, by this time the society had lost interest in the scenario and had already moved on. I am not denying the reality where there are cases of parental abuse. However, in this fast-moving technological world, many of us are quick to accuse, without being much bothered about the details.
So, when bad things happen to us, are we just looking for someone to blame, or are we truly looking for answers? Today's question was asked by Gideon in the book of Judges. I find it odd that the answer to the question was given in the verses just before Gideon's question. Read the narrative carefully.
Judges 6:1-4,7-9,12,13 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”
When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” [Link to the passage in the Bible]
Israel had made a covenant with God and promised to obey God. God had clearly laid out His expectations, the reward for obedience, and the consequences of disobedience. Yet, they went on in their disobedience for 7 long years. God then decides to bring about the consequences He had foretold. This is when Israel decides to cry out to God. Even here, God replies and gives them His word through a prophet. But it looks like it fell on deaf ears. For right after the passage mentions God's revelation, Gideon is asking a question of why they are in such a bad scenario.
Not every wound is due to God’s discipline, not every pain is a consequence of personal sin. But we need to remember that God had promised and expected only fruitfulness and blessings thousands of years ago. But, we decided to disobey and rebel against His first command given in the garden of Eden. We fell and we were in some sense wounded, just as He had foretold would happen if we disobey. Gideon may or may not have personally sinned. Yet, as an Israelite, as much as He inherited God’s covenantal promises, he was also liable for the sins they had committed as a country and even in his own family.
Are you in a scenario and wondering why something is happening in your life? Just like we read in today’s reading, God might have already revealed the answer in His Word. Do not turn a deaf ear to it. And… Remember to not run away, for He is coming at You with His tincture. It might hurt, but He promises that it will get better soon after.
Link to the previous article: Who do You think You are? Link to the next article: Why should I? Why do You?
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