God never told the Israelites why he allowed them to be enslaved for four hundred years. Likewise, he may not answer all the “why” questions about our afflictions in this lifetime.
For The Israelites
God used the Israelites’ enslavement to transform a small nomadic family of shepherds into a nation of millions.
But could he not have achieved the same goal while they lived freely in their promised homeland?
Why did God wait four hundred years to rescue them? Would not the same ten plagues have secured their release after only a year of enslavement?
Nowhere in the Bible does God explain why he allowed the Israelites to remain in captivity for so long.
For Us
We can accept the normality of suffering when our ordeals are brief, infrequent, and mild, and when our sense of fairness is not violated. However, questions arise when our afflictions are severe, prolonged, or unjust.
If God is good, why does he allow us to endure so much misery? If he hates to see us suffer, why does he not do more to prevent or minimize our afflictions? Why does he not bless us with greater abundance if he truly loves us?
The earthly ministry of Jesus also raises these questions.
He personified perfect compassion, yet he did nothing to rescue his cousin, John the Baptist, from prison and execution. Although he cured many ailing people, he did not heal every sick person he encountered. At no time did he bless his disciples with affluence.
The Bible does not explain his rationale for these decisions.
Many Old and New Testament heroes questioned God about their adversities. His responses to them ranged from silence to “Who are you to question me?” to “The reasons I choose to do or not do anything are mine alone to know.”
God has determined that we already have enough information to trust him in all circumstances. We may need to trust him by faith when the going gets tough, but the justification for that faith is always present and sufficient.
Demanding that God answer all our “why” questions before we trust him suggests that his current level of disclosure is inadequate and that his determination to the contrary is incorrect. Moreover, this requirement implies that our judgment is better than his.
If that were true, he would not be God. We would be God.
