My God!

Certainly Susan Lenfestey is not the first, nor the most eloquent to question the workings of God. But she certainly joins Pat Robertson among the most opportunist.

The Lord works in mysterious ways and seems to favor no country or religion when it comes to distributing plague, famine and disasters, a fact lost on televangelist Pat Robertson. If there is a design in all this suffering, smite me now, it doesn't seem all that intelligent.

But if we cannot fathom or foil the hand of God, surely we can respond more effectively to his wrath and maybe even spend a little money up front in anticipation of his quirky ways. Contrary to conservative Republican ideology, government does have a role to play in helping its citizens lead healthy, productive lives and in keeping them from harm.

Fortunately, there is a far better source on the question Lenfestey slights in stooping to the errors of him whom she criticizes to make the feeblest of political statements, that being the book of Job.

Job too, but with sincerity and eloquence, questioned the “quirky ways” of God that would, despite the righteousness of Job, inflict such misfortune upon him (16:19-21).

“Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!”

Unlike Lenfestey citing a religionous tenet she does not believe to be true as somehow relevant to her point, Job’s challenge to God is born of innate human suffering. Job, the man, refuses to accept his friends scornful conclusion that his misfortune at the hand of God is due to some failing on his part, demands a mano-a-mano accounting with God as one would have with his neighbor. He demands a moral God.

Lenfestrey might find God’s answer to Job illuminating. Job 38, 39, 40, 41.

Category: Religion