Don’t ask why, obey

When my children were just starting to talk as preschoolers, the major question that came up all the time was, “Why?

“Why do I need to pick up my toys?” or “Why can’t I eat my ice cream first?” Sometimes it was just, “Why?” As an adult I wanted to explain the need to keep the room uncluttered, or the need to eat healthily, but it was beyond a 4-year old’s understanding. I eventually would say, “Because I said so”, and often that would be enough.

In Genesis 22:1-14, we see a potential “Why?” moment. God tells Abraham to take his son Isaac and sacrifice him in the land of Moriah. Now in today’s climate this would be a big Why moment. It didn’t make sense that God would ask for Abraham to sacrifice the son God had promised would build a nation. Yet here it was.

Now the interesting thing was this. Abraham did not ask why. Oh, he could have. I mean this is the guy who talked God down to finding 10 good men in Sodom (there weren’t any just for the record). Why didn’t he ask God why? If that issue came up with us, we would be waiting for an explanation.

I believe the reason Abraham did not ask why was out of sheer faith. God had walked with him all the way from Ur to the promised land. He had talked with God multiple times, and God had promised him a great big family. In Abraham’s old age, God provided a son. After all the travel and challenges, Abraham was going to obey God, and trust in Him alone.

The story ends on a happy note — Isaac is not sacrificed, and a ram is provided instead. It all works out, Abraham’s faith is confirmed and continues to grow.

I guess the real issue here is trusting God, isn’t it? We live in an age where we want and often demand an explanation for everything. It’s gotten to a point where we have no trust in anything. “Why?” has gone from being an inquiry to an excuse to not follow Christ.

The point is, when God calls us, we don’t need an explanation. We need to just go and make disciples. If we have done any Bible Study or any reading of the Bible, we have enough information to know “Why” we must go and make disciples. We don’t need to know why we must love our neighbor; we just need to do it. We don’t need to know why we must be kind to our enemies; we just need to do it. Waiting to do ministry because we “need” an answer to our why is not following Christ.

There is an explanation for everything God asks of us. If you get a chance look at John 3:16-17. That is reason enough to say, “Here I am, send me” rather than “Why?”

Shalom my friends.

See you in church.

Rev. Kent Wilfong is the pastor at the United Methodist Church, Doniphan/Neelyville.