Paying Attention

“The people believed, and when they heard that the Lord had paid attention to them and that He had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.” (Exodus 4:31 CSB)

When Moses first returned to Egypt he conveyed the Lord’s message to the people of Israel. In the beginning they believed the message, and when they heard that the Lord had paid attention to their suffering they bowed down before the Lord and worshiped Him.

Sometimes people go through intense or prolonged suffering (or both) and wonder where God is, or why He has not responded. The people of Israel had long suffered in Egypt under some cruel taskmasters as slave labor, and undoubtedly they had some of those same questions.

It is difficult for us to know or comprehend why God allows some folks to go through problems or suffering or “misery,” and some honestly wonder if God really cares. As with Israel, the reality is that God never misses even the slightest detail of what we go through. He is fully aware of it all. He stands with us through all of it.

The question that generally follows this thought is: If that is true, then why does He not do something about my suffering?

That question is one of the more difficult ones to answer. The essential answer, after everything else is boiled away, is: we don’t know. The real answer is a very complex one. Consider these questions for example. Is it possible that the suffering someone may be going through is actually of their own doing, such that God is allowing the consequences to proceed in an orderly way? Is the suffering that God is allowing someone to go through actually for a higher purpose than can be explained in human terms, such that God is trying to produce a quality or attitude in this person that will ultimately make him or her a better and stronger person? Is it possible that there are timing issues involved, such as there were with Israel? The bottom line is still: we don’t know. These questions at least point out, however, that there may well be a rationale for suffering that is beyond our ability to know or comprehend.

There is still a reality here that we need to be reminded of, however. The fact is: God does pay attention to what we go through. And in faith we believe that ultimately God will act. Our response to this truth should be the same as Israel’s. They bowed down and worshiped.

Father, Though we truly do not comprehend the “why’s” of life, we know that You are fully aware of everything that happens in our lives, and trust You and Your purposes for us. Amen.