Scripture Reading: Job 7:11–21

Introduction

A. Children often want to know why they have to do things they don’t want to do, but they are not always able to understand the reasons.

B. Many of God’s children have wondered why some evil has befallen them, but we must learn to trust that God is working all things for good for us (Romans 8:28), even when we don’t understand how.

Discussion

I. Many of God’s children have asked, “Why?”

A. Moses asked this when trouble immediately arose during his mission in Egypt (Exodus 5:20–22).

B. Joshua asked this when Israel was defeated at Ai (Joshua 7:7).

C. Gideon asked this when Israel was oppressed (Judges 6:13).

D. David asked this when enemies surrounded him (Psalm 22).

E. Habakkuk asked this when he saw injustice in Israel that seemed to him to be going unchecked (Habakkuk 1:3).

F. Peter asked this just before Jesus’ death (John 13:37).

II. Although He did not have to, God sometimes gave an answer

A. When Job asked “Why?” God gave him some things to think about (Job 38:4–7).

B. Through prophets like Jeremiah and Haggai, God explained the reason for Israel’s suffering (Jeremiah 5:19; Haggai 1:5–11).

C. God simply told Habakkuk, “The just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4; cf. Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11).

III. Sometimes we must be asked, “Why?”

A. God has often asked men this question (Genesis 4:6; Judges 2:1–4).

B. The faithful sometimes must ask their brethren this question (Numbers 14:41; 1 Samuel 15:19; 2 Samuel 12:9; Nehemiah 13:10–11).

Conclusion

A. While we may wonder at times why God allows things to happen, let us rest assured that God is working everything together for our good.

B. It is most important that we remember that we will not be judging God on the last day; He will be judging us!