Hebraic Musing - Why do we find ourselves asking “Why”?
We tend to ask “Why”
when we’re disappointed, or we’re discouraged, or things are not going the way
we want them to. Are we focusing on
ourselves? Are we having a “pity party”?
How often does our Bible use the word
“Why”? A – Over 500x !!! Here’s just a few examples –
When Moses was to
take the people out of Egypt, he asked – “Lord, why have You
brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?” Exodus
5:22-23 NKJV Later we learn that it was the Lord’s plan to
use Moses to show God’s power and strength and to destroy the gods of Egypt.
Joshua asked, “Alas,
Lord GOD, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at
all—to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us?” Joshua 7:7
Joshua apparently assumed all they had
to do was be in the land and it would surrender to them. Does the Lord give us difficult challenges to
grow our faith?
Then Gideon cried
out when the Midianites were oppressing Israel.
“O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all
this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us
about, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’” Judges 6:13 The Lord doesn’t brag about what He does, but
encourages us to challenge ourselves to grow and face difficulties; and He will
be with us!
Nehemiah asked, “So
I contended with the rulers, and said, ‘Why is the house of God
forsaken?’” Nehemiah 13:11. Sometimes we ask “why” in
situations so we can gain knowledge, understanding and direction.
A psalmist wrote,
“Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why
do You hide in times of trouble?” Psalm 10:1. When we are in the midst of a difficult time,
we tend to shut down and not reach out for help. We feel like we are alone and no one cares. It may feel like Jesus is standing far off,
but He is only a prayer away.
In Psalm 22:1 we
hear David praying desperately. “My
God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You
so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?” When we are feeling helpless it seems no one
understands us, and we start to feel forsaken by all.
Sometimes we plea
for relief from oppressors. “O God, why
have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against
the sheep of Your pasture?” Psalm 74:1
Smoke and fire are often
associated with anger and wrath. It is
important for us to know when we are displeasing the Lord, so we can repent and
be forgiven.
In the midst of
difficult times, it is easy to blame God for our situation, and to ask for life
to get easier. “O LORD, why
have You made us stray from Your ways, And hardened our heart from Your fear? Return
for Your servants’ sake, The tribes of Your inheritance.” Isaiah 63:17
Jeremiah mourned,
“Have You utterly rejected Judah? Has Your soul loathed Zion? Why
have You stricken us so that there is no healing for us? We looked for peace,
but there was no good; And for the time of healing, and there was trouble.”
Jeremiah 14:19 Then the answer comes in the very next verse,
“We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness And the iniquity of our fathers, For
we have sinned against You.”. If we are rebellious and ignoring our Lord and
then wonder why He isn’t answering our “give me” prayers, maybe
we need to change our attitude and take time each day to be with Him, reading
scripture and praying. Let us come to
repentance and put Him back in first place in our lives.
Answer – Our Heavenly
Father deepens our faith when we ask “why?” no matter what is going
on in our lives.
Points to ponder
Why are the folks in
the Bible asking “Why” so often?
Why does the Lord
welcome the “why” questions?
When reading our Bible, does Our Father like it when we ask “why?”?
How does Our Heavenly Father to deepen our faith when we ask Him “why?”?
Why does the word “why” appear over 500 times in the Bible?
Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd October
6, 2026
Author: “Hebraic
Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage” Weekly “Hebraic Musings” www.InsightsByYosef.com
