Where Is God?
Introduction:
“And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver. And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son. And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.” (2Kings 6:24-30)
Samaria found itself in a horrific situation that just went from bad to worse to nauseating. The bad was that Samaria was being surround by an enemy bent on their destruction. The worse was the besieged caused a very severe famine. Food was extremely scarce and the people were paying exorbitant prices for small amounts of anything edible. A donkey’s head and dove’s dung for example. The nauseating was when two women were so hungry, they agreed to each other’s babies.
When one hears this story you would have every right ask a few questions. Why did God allow this army to cause so much agony? Was God paying attention to the fact that people were suffering. Where was God?
You may ask yourself a similar question when hardship and heart break happen to you “God, where are you?”
What if it is Sunday night and you have $9.00 dollars to last you until Friday? Is God aware of your situation?
Your wife leaves you for another man and for the first time in your life you feel you have no life? Does God understand how you feel?
You lose your job and you are ashamed to go home and tell your wife. Does God care?
Do you feel God is not paying attention to your dilemma? Does God seem distant from you? You seem to face tragedy after tragedy and it appears God is absolutely no help. You pray and pray and there is no answer. Ever feel that God has given up on you? So, you give up on Him.
The world you live in is not a safe place. There are murders, wars, diseases, and tragedy. Why does God allow this to happen? You know He could step in and stop it from happening. Why does God allow suffering?
This study will ask and answer these four questions:
Is God aware of me?
“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Mt 10:29-31 AV)
Does God understand me?
“« To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. » O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” (Ps 139:1-4 AV)
Does God care?
“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” (Ps 56:8 AV)
Why do we suffer?
1 Peter 4:12-19:
1. Christians suffer because it is the natural part of everyday life:
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
2. Christians suffer for the cause of Christ, just because you are a Christian:
14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian,
3. Christians suffer because of their sin (evil doing): 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.
4. Christians suffer because it is the will of God: 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God
We are troubled:
1. We are hard-pressed (pressured, stressed) on every side.
But not crushed.
2. We are perplexed. (confused, stunned)
But not in despair. (hopeless)
3. We are persecuted. (wronged, offended, harassed)
But not forsaken.
4. We are struck down.
But not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--