"How could a loving God allow the Jews to suffer in the Holocaust?" Great question. We covered something like that in Why, God, Why. But why didn't God stop Hitler and Mengele early on? Why let the atrocity reach such monstrous proportions?
I don't know. There is a reason, and it isn't because God doesn't exist. People want to abandon their belief in God because bad things happen. That's understandable. I mean, look at this:
Who wants to follow a God who permits this? What people forget about is their own culpability. He doesn't answer the way we want, so we throw Him away. Other people did this horrific massacre, not God.
Like the Rock used to say: "Shut your mouth and know your role!" We answer to God, remember, not the other way around. He is not our genie, always answering us when we call. He is God, the Almighty. The top of the chain, the king of all, the prime mover. Keep yourselves humble before you stand before Him!
Now we can ask why He would allow His chosen people to suffer. This wasn't the first time. In fact, during ancient times he sent calamities against the Jews!
Why? Is He psycho or something? What kind of God would do that? The kind who makes an agreement with a group of people, laying out the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience, that they all agreed to. That's right, they agreed to it.
And God always keeps His word.
So when the Jews committed idolatry, they were breaking their vow they made with God. Sort of like cheating on your spouse. He then sent in their enemies to humble them. They went through cycles of repentance, blessing, idolatry, discipline, repentance, etc. When they obeyed, they had lots of babies, good crops, wealth, health, and victory over their enemies. When they disobeyed flagrantly, all the blessings became curses.
You get what you ask for.
With idol-worship comes perversion. Their society became corrupt to the point where God determined judgment was necessary. He knows best. He destroyed northern Israel by way of the Assyrians and then the Babylonians. They never recovered. He then destroyed Jerusalem using Nebuchadnezzar.
God did bring them back to their land and they rebuilt the Temple. But they never were a wealthy nation again until the 20th century. Yes, God's judgment is harsh, but He waits a long time before He unleashes it. He waited centuries and centuries before He drowned the world. He waited 400 years before judging the Canaanites, and 1000 years or so before deporting Israel. He gives plenty of time for people to repent. He's not obligated to, but He does because He really doesn't want to punish anyone. He is patient while He watches families, nations, and societies become engulfed in sin. He gives them time to turn it around. If they won't, His holy character demands justice.
What does this have to do with the Holocaust? The Jews aren't under a theocratic government anymore, so they can't be held accountable for breaking those old laws, right? I don't know. Maybe they suffered because no one wanted to help them! The world turned a blind eye to their suffering. Don't think that went unnoticed by God either. Rest assured, an accounting is coming for every evil act.
I'd hate to be Hitler.
In any case, shaking our fists at God does no good. Holding Him to task for His inaction in the Holocaust is useless. He is not a child we can scold. In fact, why did He watch tens of millions of people die in Communist Russia and China? Or Christians while they are tortured for His Son's name? Why doesn't He intervene when we want Him to?
Where's the justice?
It's coming. In the meantime, know your role.
I don't know. There is a reason, and it isn't because God doesn't exist. People want to abandon their belief in God because bad things happen. That's understandable. I mean, look at this:
Who wants to follow a God who permits this? What people forget about is their own culpability. He doesn't answer the way we want, so we throw Him away. Other people did this horrific massacre, not God.
Like the Rock used to say: "Shut your mouth and know your role!" We answer to God, remember, not the other way around. He is not our genie, always answering us when we call. He is God, the Almighty. The top of the chain, the king of all, the prime mover. Keep yourselves humble before you stand before Him!
Now we can ask why He would allow His chosen people to suffer. This wasn't the first time. In fact, during ancient times he sent calamities against the Jews!
Why? Is He psycho or something? What kind of God would do that? The kind who makes an agreement with a group of people, laying out the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience, that they all agreed to. That's right, they agreed to it.
And God always keeps His word.
So when the Jews committed idolatry, they were breaking their vow they made with God. Sort of like cheating on your spouse. He then sent in their enemies to humble them. They went through cycles of repentance, blessing, idolatry, discipline, repentance, etc. When they obeyed, they had lots of babies, good crops, wealth, health, and victory over their enemies. When they disobeyed flagrantly, all the blessings became curses.
You get what you ask for.
With idol-worship comes perversion. Their society became corrupt to the point where God determined judgment was necessary. He knows best. He destroyed northern Israel by way of the Assyrians and then the Babylonians. They never recovered. He then destroyed Jerusalem using Nebuchadnezzar.
God did bring them back to their land and they rebuilt the Temple. But they never were a wealthy nation again until the 20th century. Yes, God's judgment is harsh, but He waits a long time before He unleashes it. He waited centuries and centuries before He drowned the world. He waited 400 years before judging the Canaanites, and 1000 years or so before deporting Israel. He gives plenty of time for people to repent. He's not obligated to, but He does because He really doesn't want to punish anyone. He is patient while He watches families, nations, and societies become engulfed in sin. He gives them time to turn it around. If they won't, His holy character demands justice.
What does this have to do with the Holocaust? The Jews aren't under a theocratic government anymore, so they can't be held accountable for breaking those old laws, right? I don't know. Maybe they suffered because no one wanted to help them! The world turned a blind eye to their suffering. Don't think that went unnoticed by God either. Rest assured, an accounting is coming for every evil act.
I'd hate to be Hitler.
In any case, shaking our fists at God does no good. Holding Him to task for His inaction in the Holocaust is useless. He is not a child we can scold. In fact, why did He watch tens of millions of people die in Communist Russia and China? Or Christians while they are tortured for His Son's name? Why doesn't He intervene when we want Him to?
Where's the justice?
It's coming. In the meantime, know your role.
Very exciting blog, and He is coming. That is our hope and final Redemption
ReplyDeleteHabakkuk 1;1-4 the prophet cries out to God, the question " Lord Why" the answer is beyond the prophets comprehension. The result of the holocost was the rebirth of Israel.
ReplyDeleteGood post - I know a skeptic who needs to read this!
ReplyDelete