He is in control
If you joined us for worship last weekend either in person or online, you may recall that in the message I emphasized the importance of asking the question of our Lord, “What is Your will for me in this situation?” As we all know, we sometimes find ourselves in situations in which we wonder, “How can this possibly by God’s will?” We may even ask questions like this: “If God is all-knowing and a God of love, why would He allow this bad thing to happen?”
Of course, we can’t blame God for allowing bad things that are obvious consequences of our foolishness or sin. Nor do consequences negate the reality of His forgiveness when we are truly sorry for the wrong we have done. But what about those situations we had no control over or when we were the victim of someone else’s sin? Why didn’t the Lord stop the bad from happening?
That is what Job wrestled with. As you read that book, you know that he never hears what the reader knows about the evil one being the source of his terrible physical and emotion pain and misery. But even if he knew that, he still might ask the Almighty, “Why have You allowed this?” The Lord never answered Job with specific reasons. What we hear in this weekend’s reading from Job is the Lord basically reminding Job that He is God, and God’s ways and thoughts are higher than man’s way and thoughts. We are called to humble ourselves before God and trust in His wisdom, control, and ability to “work through all things for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose,” as Paul puts it in Romans 8:28.
We see a practical example of that in this weekend’s Gospel reading from Mark 4, the account of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee. It was Jesus’ idea to get into the boat to begin with, and as true God besides true man, He was fully aware of the storm they would face. So why did He allow the disciples to be in that situation? Perhaps it was because They would be the ones who would, after His resurrection and ascension, lead the Church and would be able to share with others their personal experience with a God who, even when it seemed the situation was perilous, was able to control all things and get them where they needed to be.
Where do we need to be? With Jesus as we walk through this life with all its challenges and situations out of our control. They are in His control, and He knows not only how to get us through them, but how to use the experiences for good.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, Who abide in His shadow for life, Say to the Lord: “My refuge, My rock in whom I trust!” And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings, Bear you on the breath of dawn, Make you to shine like the sun, And hold you in the palm of His hand. LUTHERAN SERVICE BOOK #727, V. 1