Questions (I wonder?)...

Questions (I wonder?)...4-23-2025

As I read the Bible, my mind is filled with questions about the content, characters, setting, and just everything else. I can't help but wonder about what is happening and be amazed at God's goodness and righteousness. God was kind, but He was also firm in His dealings with His people. I've been reading in the Book of Jeremiah. As you know, Jeremiah was a prophet. Jeremiah uses the phrase "declares the Lord" 167 times. It was evident that Jeremiah was sent to instruct the people on what was happening and going to happen, and why. Perhaps one of Jeremiah's most well-known verses is 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

The questions I have when reading The Bible are not "Why me" type questions. I have had my share of those questions growing up. I very seldom fall into the "why me"questions at this phase of my life. (I did say, "very seldom.") I know God has a purpose and God has a plan. I sometimes want and desire things that I find are not in His plan for me, but I still have those desires. I don't question, as I once did, why out of all my siblings I was the one abused? Why did God let me live after drowning at age 3, to be a child of every type of abuse in the textbook? Why was I unloved, starved, beaten, and trafficked? Why was I the one my biological father chose to be the victim? I try not to use that word, but it was what I was at that time, a victim. Now I am a survivor and overcomer. I don't question that anymore, because I know God had a plan then, and He has a plan now. Those were questions I asked before I knew Him. Now I have the "I wonder" type of questions, and my mind is full of them.

I wonder why Israel, God's chosen people, could worship other gods. God literally brought them out of bondage and led them through the wilderness. He gave them everything they needed, manna from Heaven and water from a rock. He was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Nehemiah 9:12). He was ever present with them. Yet, they doubted, complained, grumbled, turned to idols time and time again, would repent, and then go right back to the same cycle of doubting, complaining, and then repenting.

As I think about these people, it occurs to me that the people of Israel and the Christians today have a lot in common. No, we don't bow down to idols or other gods like Baal, but we do bow down to gods in other forms. Anytime something takes precedent over our relationship to the one true God we are worshipping an idol. This can be money, food, material possessions, drugs, alcohol, fame, or careers. These are idols, and when we replace God, we are bowing down to them figuratively. I wonder if the people had listened as in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." would God have spared them from being overthrown and exiled? Oh, some kings would turn back to God, and then the next King would go right back to idol worship. If the people had truly listened to Jeremiah and other prophets, would the result be the same? Was the story already written due to years of choices and chances? If we repent, will He spare America the same fate as the Israelites received? Or are we moving in the direction of Israel? Is our story already written? I believe God is a good God, but He is a just God. He will hear His people when they cry out to Him. I see the tides turning, and I see the nation heading back to God. "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15).