January 19, 2005
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The Cruelty of God. Gen 25. It seems so strange to me that most of the women noted in the Bible were barren: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth. God seems to like to use this barrenness thing to show that these gifts were really from Him.
But it seems like such cruelty that He would withhold this precious gift – just to prove to His daughters that it really is a gift! I can’t help but struggle with it. How mean of God, it seems.
But Lam 3:33, “For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.”
The character of my God is that He doesn’t want to be cruel just to be cruel or spiteful just to be spiteful.
So maybe I want to look at it from a human’s perspective. “It’s not fair, God, why won’t you let so-and-so have a baby!” But that’s starting form the wrong starting point anyway. God doesn’t owe any of us anything. And yet the irony is that it’s always been His chief desire to give us the best.
And the best for these women was not to have a baby just when they had been wanting it. Because without the withholding, they would’ve gone on, life as usual. But because of the withholding, they were forced to walk on an agonizing journey, and in the end coming to realize the Truth that has always been there – even before they recognized it – that God is real, God is good and God loves them. And the knowing that God is so wonderful, amazing, shocking, there’s nothing greater… made the journey all worth it.
I’ve been thinking for a long time now, “God, it’s not fair!” because He hasn’t been giving me what I wanted. But what a better gift than the gift of withholding, so that I may really come to understand and TASTE for myself that to be drawn deeper into God’s heart is the best place to be.
Comments (3)
I’m a couple of chapters ahead of you in genesis.. so it’s great to read how God spoke to you through the same passage i read a couple days ago : ) It’s crazy how these women okay just the ones related to Abraham tried to manipulate the situation a la maidservants… and bringing so much family drama into their family.
What a grave warning against impatience.. God really wants to give the best. Let’s encourage one another to let Him.
oh geez mary ann, ur last couple posts have been so good. probably because God’s word is so good! i read over Gen. 24 after reading ur post last night and then continued on as well. and I was thinking.. man, how quickly i’m reading from one generation to the next.. how fast it all goes in such a short amt of chapters. and to think God had a hand over all of that drama rama. That he really is the God if Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.. made me feel small and loved all at the same time
yeah, if you read through the chapters in genesis real fast, you hardly notice all the hurt & agony, joys & triumphs that go through the hearts & minds of these children of God. our lives are such a drop in the bucket, aren’t they?