The Answer to Our Whys

Joshua 7:6-9: "Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord GOD, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies? For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”

We've all been here. We tend to question God when things don't go according to what we have expected or prayed for. Just like Joshua, we felt that God was not a good planner. Because if He is, why would he bring destruction to us? Why would He allow us to get defeated? Or let's make it sound personal: Why didn't I get promoted? Why did I fail the job interview? Why did we brake up? Why did I fail the exam? Why didn't God answer my prayers? Why the God of love, allow me to experience such pain when all I did was to follow His voice? And there are lot more whys... I cannot write all of them here, because it might take me forever.

Our whys can be answered by God right after we have asked Him or after several years or when we are already face to face with Him (meaning, dead). But it will be answered and it will make sense. But to give you an idea why God allowed certain defeat or as if He had brought us destruction, allow me to continue the verse above. And here it goes:

Joshua 7:10-13: "So the LORD said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. Get up, sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the LORD God of Israel: “ There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.”

Yes, we have read it right. Sin was the reason why Joshua and the troops were experiencing defeat from the enemy. We must remember that yes, God is love but also God is holy and just.

Let us also not miss out the detail that Joshua wasn't the one sinning here (at least here) but his troops. But he was affected of course.

I am not saying that sin is the answer to your 'why'. I am not in the position to tell that. Sin is just one of the reasons. And make sure that was not the answer behind your 'whys'. And if ever it is, God said "sanctify yourself". Surrender it, let it go...

If you want to go into details or know the whole story regarding the verses here, please do so. Open your Bible. You might find answer to your 'whys'. :D