I often find my self saying, “I have no idea.” That is really just another one of those nonsense expressions because I usually have a lot of ideas. What I am really saying is, “I really don’t know but I have a good imagination.”
This often comes up when I am speculating on why God does things. Why does God allow evil? Is the dragon in Revelation literal or figurative?
Why does God allow cancer? Honestly, I don’t know but I am quite willing to offer the caveat, “I don’t know, but…”. The difference between us and the animals is not that we can answer these questions but that we ask them.
Why did God choose Abraham? I have no idea. I have some evidence for the choice of Noah but draw a blank on Abraham. Why is Israel special? God makes it clear that it is not because they are so wonderful. Did God spin His celestial dice or did He have some deep considerations that we are still guessing about?
I really don’t know but I can speculate.
Speculation is a useful tool if we understand its limitations. I would guess that God gave us this tool to make us feel good. Since we can never know if it is accurate until it is too late, feeling good is about all it can do for us.
So go ahead and speculate but keep on trusting.
homo unius libri
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If we had all the answers we would not be walking by faith, love, obedience, etc. In the meanwhile …which we are all in….I’ll just try to relax and enjoy this good mystery
ReplyDeleteI try but it is like being in a Bible study and keeping my stranger ideas to myself, it doesn't always work.
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