The reality is that this mimics our relationship with God.We don't understand. We ask why.
The crazy thing is God answers. He says WHY NOT?? But that answer isn't good enough for us, because it's really just too simple. What do you mean why not?? thats obvious, im stupid, ugly, fat, obnoxious, sneaky, a liar...put whatever you want in there...we give God millions of reasons why we are the "WRONG" person for the job. Why someone else would be better, why someone else is more deserving of HIS love. Why someone else has more worth.
And God sets examples for us to help us understand that we don't have to be even close to perfect to trust in Him. Look at the the disciples starting in Mark Chapter 4:33-end (and i'm using the message-which gives it a little different phrasing)
With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting the stories to their experience and maturity. He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots.
Late that day he said to them, "Let's go across to the other side." They took him in the boat as he was. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, "Teacher, is it nothing to you that we're going down?"Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, "Quiet! Settle down!" The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: "Why are you such cowards? Don't you have any faith at all?"
They were in absolute awe, staggered. "Who is this, anyway?" they asked. "Wind and sea at his beck and call!"
Jesus had to explain his stories to his disciples--because they didn't get it. Right after that-they are out in the boat, and Jesus is asleep, and the disciples are probably hanging out, when all of a sudden there is this crazy storm. Well-that's ok. Most of the disciples were fishermen!! That meant they had experience on the water--but they get so scared..they wake up Jesus--who then calls them cowards--and says that they have no faith.
Jump ahead to Mark 7
When he was back home after being with the crowd, his disciples said, "We don't get it. Put it in plain language."
Jesus said, "Are you being willfully stupid? Don't you see that what you swallow can't contaminate you? It doesn't enter your heart but your stomach, works its way through the intestines, and is finally flushed." (That took care of dietary quibbling; Jesus was saying that all foods are fit to eat.)
He went on: "It's what comes out of a person that pollutes: obscenities, lusts, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, depravity, deceptive dealings, carousing, mean looks, slander, arrogance, foolishness—all these are vomit from the heart. There is the source of your pollution."
These guys spent EVERY DAY with Jesus-they spent all of their time with God. There was no facebook, no HOUSE, No Grey's anatomy, no ipod, no cell phone. It was just them and JESUS--yet throughout their time with Jesus they are constantly asking questions. They are constantly doubting the true power of Jesus. The example that God gave us--well..its not hard to live up to being a leper or a tax collector, or a fisherman. I'm sure that in their days with Jesus, they asked the question WHY all the time--"why did you do this, Jesus?" "why didn't you do that Jesus?" like small children who ask why about everything, Jesus answered their questions with love and patience. He never dismissed them and decided that he would go get a few rabbi's and teachers to follow him. He just kept explaining with total patience no matter how many times they asked. And he did it with patience and understanding.
So where does that leave us?? Asking questions. But maybe we shouldn't be so suprised when we question God and he replies---WHY NOT??
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