Hans Deventer
18th December 2005, 11:52 PM (23:52)
Now first of all, I haven't read a book by Yancey that wasn't worthwhile reading. As allways, he is very honest and not at all smoothing things over. Second, he can write. I started out on Friday reading the book, and finished the 314 pages last night. A book of similar size took me weeks to read a while ago, so hats off to Yancey.
But back to the subject. People can be disappointed with God, and one such a person was the occasion for him to start writing. For starters, he went to a cabin in Colorado, stayed there for two weeks and did little else than reading the Bible from cover to cover. Which I think is what we rarely do. I tend to pick and choose, but only in reading the Bible through, you get some impression of the development of the story and the way God deals with people.
One of the interesting things he found is that we often long for God to be clear in His guidings and His presence, and think faith would be so much easier if that were the case. However, the Bible tells differently. When God was very clearly present with his people in the desert, liberating them and guiding and feeding them on a daily basis, after 40 years, only 2 believers were left: Joshua and Kaleb. And when Our Lord walked this earth for 3 years, teaching and healing, not that many believed either.
Also, we generally long for the "why" answer. We all know, the Bible does not give this answer regarding suffering in general, nor regarding our personal suffering. Job is well known for NOT getting an answer to the multitude of questions he has. But I really liked how Yancey compared Job to the book of Lamentations, and found precious little difference in the complaints, while the "why" of God's punishment was absolutely clear in this specific case!
So perhaps we're not always asking the right questions.......
Anyway, of course this book is not the definitive answer to all of our questions. In the end, he had spent so much time with the guy who's questions and giving up on God had initiated the book, but still, he could not help him find faith again. So what is it that made Job keep his faith despite the horrible ordeal he was in, and made others lose it? Apparently, it is not the disappointment itself but something else that is at stake, that enables one to survive the disappointments, and another to give up on God altogether. The book does not answer this question. But it sure helps you to look at the questions from a Biblical perspective, and helps you to ask the right questions. And along the way, gives you some answers as well.
But back to the subject. People can be disappointed with God, and one such a person was the occasion for him to start writing. For starters, he went to a cabin in Colorado, stayed there for two weeks and did little else than reading the Bible from cover to cover. Which I think is what we rarely do. I tend to pick and choose, but only in reading the Bible through, you get some impression of the development of the story and the way God deals with people.
One of the interesting things he found is that we often long for God to be clear in His guidings and His presence, and think faith would be so much easier if that were the case. However, the Bible tells differently. When God was very clearly present with his people in the desert, liberating them and guiding and feeding them on a daily basis, after 40 years, only 2 believers were left: Joshua and Kaleb. And when Our Lord walked this earth for 3 years, teaching and healing, not that many believed either.
Also, we generally long for the "why" answer. We all know, the Bible does not give this answer regarding suffering in general, nor regarding our personal suffering. Job is well known for NOT getting an answer to the multitude of questions he has. But I really liked how Yancey compared Job to the book of Lamentations, and found precious little difference in the complaints, while the "why" of God's punishment was absolutely clear in this specific case!
So perhaps we're not always asking the right questions.......
Anyway, of course this book is not the definitive answer to all of our questions. In the end, he had spent so much time with the guy who's questions and giving up on God had initiated the book, but still, he could not help him find faith again. So what is it that made Job keep his faith despite the horrible ordeal he was in, and made others lose it? Apparently, it is not the disappointment itself but something else that is at stake, that enables one to survive the disappointments, and another to give up on God altogether. The book does not answer this question. But it sure helps you to look at the questions from a Biblical perspective, and helps you to ask the right questions. And along the way, gives you some answers as well.