Why Not?

I asked that question a lot as a child. Or simply "Why?" Mother was more  patient than most parents when I whined, but eventually I invariably pushed too far and her sweet voice seemed to thunder “BECAUSE I SAID SO!” End of conversation.

When she patiently gave her reasons, I could usually see her logic, reluctantly, but I knew nothing bad would result from my getting my way. She was always there, protecting me, right? Unless she was trying to make a point, the point of which escaped my tiny brain. There simply was no way she would allow me to be harmed, just to punish me. What I didn't realize was that her knowledge of dangers often were beyond my capacity to understand, or the risk was immediate and there was time only for immediate behavior, not for endless discussion.

One important precept escaped me: "A picture is worth a thousand words". If she allowed me to proceed as I wished, the outcome would be memorable. The bag of candy she warned me not to eat now did ruin my appetite and I missed my favorite fried chicken dinner and also suffered an upset stomach. Staying awake past bedtime to watch the end of the movie did make me oversleep and get to school late. If she really loved me, why did she punish me so harshly? It was her fault I missed a test that morning and had to stay after school to take the test.         Really???

Often vestiges of this attitude follow us as we age; often we still want our own way and trust our God to prove His love daily. We don't want Him to be our Father, we want a doting Grandfather granting our every wish. But God has no grandchildren. He wants to be our Father, the One who guides us away from pitfalls, dangerous situations, helps us to grow to be good people who are kind, respectful, good friends to those around us needing our help. He wants us to grow to be just like Him.

Just as our earthly parents may have done, God tells us how to please Him and offers wonderful rewards for obedience. If we prefer to go our own way, He will remind us there will be trouble. If we insist on ignoring Him, He will step back and allow us to dig ourselves into a hole we can't escape on our own and wait for us to admit our willful behavior and ask for help. We learn that some things we do can't be undone; though forgiven, there may be inevitable, painful consequences we will suffer. If we break a law, we can be forgiven, but may still go to jail.

It does no good to try to excuse our behavior by pointing to others far worse, shaking our fist at our Father and shouting "Why would a loving God allow this to happen?" and certainly honesty would prevent our blaming God for our predicament, claiming "You made me this way".

Maybe we just asked "Why?" once too often and His answer is "BECAUSE I SAID SO!'

           Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them
           understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk I them, but the
           rebellious stumble in them.
                                                           Hosea 14:9