why does god intervene for some and not others
Years ago, a member of my church -- well into her 80s, with limited mobility -- told me she would ask God for a parking space near the front door of wherever she was going. Further, the journey to Missouri itself was a trial of faith that tested their mettle. First, God does not always respond to our desires, and he frequently allows circumstances we wish he would not. Answer (1 of 13): Q: "Why does God allow some to die, and yet intervene and prevent others from dying?" Answer: There is no God. Why God doesn't intervene But not only that they wanted to be like a god: Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.. They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods New Testament authors considered themselves to be living in the later times (e.g. I recognize, as Elder M. Russell Ballard stated, One cannot look at suffering, regardless of its causes or origins, without feeling pain and compassion. What does the Bible reveal about the causes of suffering? All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. (2) How long has it been going on? When cholera broke out among them at the end of the journey, it took the lives of fourteen Saints. [17] Smith, History of the Church, 6:316. Further, the Savior emphasized that during this life God maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45). WASHINGTON (RNS) Democracy may be based on the principle of "one person, one vote," but some people who supported Donald Trump believe the Master of the Universe cast the master ballot . This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. (Acts 5:1-11). Heres what the question was: My question for you is when, if ever, should we intervene in the divisions between two people in our church.. New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations [NSPPD] || 6th - Facebook What the Bible says about God's Intervention The Scriptures are full of stories in which God's friends did exactly this. For after much tribulation come the blessings. To the Saints He declared: Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation. Author, Why Can't We Talk? Further, the same principles governing humanity in mortality continue after death. Answer: In Acts, This is something like the way I believe we should respond when we encounter biblical narratives that depict God doing things we cant imagine Christ doing. Used by permission. In other words, instead of finding some way to get along in spite of past hurts and present frustrations or political or religious differences, they just didnt talk to each other for decades. Why Does God Allow Suffering? They include the discovery, colonization, and constitutional guarantees of religious freedom in America; the reformation of Christianity in Europe; and most certainly the restoration of the fulness of the gospel and the gathering of Israel in latter days. God the Father explained the purposes and attendant bounds and guidelines for the experience of mortality, and we sanctioned them[5] before we were born on earth. Whole Life. "But God" is the moment when God intervenes. We will all suffer at some time. Phil Zuckerman Ph.D., is a professor of sociology and secular studies at Pitzer College and the author of several books. First, the Lord is aware of tribulations that come upon His children. Elder Eyrings father found meaning in the sufferings that attended his death. Because thats just how it goes. We are responsible for it because of our sin in Adam. The Lords plan provides a period of one thousand years in which losses incurred in mortality may be made up. The innocent will not be deprived of any blessings in eternity because of the sufferings caused by the wicked. [15] Henry B. Eyring, To Draw Closer to God (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1997), 11516. Deacon Ed Schoener knows what it's like to feel like the world get pulled out from under your feet - he lost his daughter at a young age. The ultimate mortal test of faith may well be death itself, including those events that lead up to it. Mothers, you shall have your children; for they shall have eternal life, for their debt is paid. In other words, the way Pauls exhortation is given inclines me to think theyre always going to be there. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. The Lord explained to Adam that even the ground was cursed to bring forth thorns and thistles for thy sake (Genesis 3:17; Moses 4:23). Whatever the answer to this question, there is another I feel sure about. . Nevertheless, there are appointed times of divine judgment, with accompanying rewards and punishments. Jesus warns Simon Peter, one of His disciples, that Satan has asked permission to shake him around and to give Simon a rough time: Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. As mystics and sages have testified for millennia, intimacy with God is the richest experience we can know. More detailed articles covering: Does God only speak to certain people, or does he want a relationship with anyone who turns to him? Why Can't God Intervene? Prayer changes people and they change things." [10] Neal A. Maxwell, All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1980), 39. Why Does God Intervene Sometimes And Not Others? When yet a babe, Christs parents took Him to the temple, where they were found by the aged Simeon. Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained: Singleness, childlessness, death, and divorce frustrate ideals and postpone the fulfillment of promised blessings. United Church of Godis a501(c)3organization. There is no god outside of yourself who is jealous and wrathful and angry and judgmental. We are made equal to the task before us in a world and universe that is full of opposition. My answer is that we should intervene. Cancers may attack all, and children are often the first to die in pestilence and famine. Rather, the truth is the very opposite. Pray earnestly for wisdom; search the Scriptures; dont become a gossip about these other people, talking about them for a long time before you actually speak to them. . From reading the New Testament in the Bible we can see that God gives us the responsibility to live a godly life and show the love of God to people. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.Some Scripture quotations, where indicated, are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. It's a mysterious package, delivered by subtle sensory clues. Yet, in the Lords perspective, mortality is a time for His children to learn to manage the earths bounties and to lift up the poor. It means were called to the uncomfortable ministry of entering ourselves into the conflicts of others. We even sketch its rude outlines on chalkboards and paper as if it were the floor plan for an addition to ones house. Yet three additional points are critical. 2 days of "and the lord heard me - i have my answers" || nsppd || 6th july 2023 Now, let us explore and examine a few of the specifics. Is God that cruel? Exactly what is entailed in making restitution for the suffering that they brought upon others in mortality is not made clear in the scriptures, but according to the laws of justice and mercy, none but the truly penitent are saved (Alma 42:24). And the next morning he said, with quiet firmness, I know why now. [4] Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, 97. Faith in God is strengthened through enduring in adversity and suffering. V W X Y Z 23 Bible Verses about God's Intervention Galatians 4:4 Verse Concepts But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, Acts 17:26 Verse Concepts If you need to flag this entry as abusive. . The biblical portrait of God is one who responds to events. Also, if these were Gods judgments then we would know that they had come from Him, there would be nothing vague about it.The whole point of a judgment is that the accused knows that they are accused, that they are sentenced and that they take the punishment. The archbishop of York has suggested that opening words of the Lord's Prayer, recited by Christians all over the world for 2,000 years, may be "problematic" because of their patriarchal . Had my cousin been 10 or 20 seconds quicker in her rush to her daughters room, she would have survived. Also, he enables the Earths climate to be good for growing different crops and producing plentiful harvests: Yet he (God) has not left himself without testimony: he has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.. To meet these ends, in the Lords wisdom, the plan required that this mortal existence be a brief experience in a fallen, carnal world. Another issue with which many struggle is the seemingly premature death of many infants. Daily Devotional. Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies, for I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy. For example, I cant for a moment imagine Jesusthe one who made refusing violence and loving enemies a condition for being considered a child of Godcommanding anyone to mercilessly, IX Contemporary Science, Free Will and Time. Why does God intervene only some times? - Blogger The Lord is omnipotent, with all power to control our lives, save us pain, prevent all accidents, drive all planes and cars, feed us, protect us, save us from labor, effort, sickness, even from death, if he will. He was rumored to have had . The wicked and jealous religious leaders thought that they were just getting Jesus killed to remove him from Israel.But Jesus had been sacrificed according to Gods plan and then he rose from the dead. Some people survive longer while others lives are cut short with no rhyme or reason. If this wicked act could be predestined, why couldnt every other wicked act be predestined? Adapted from Is God to Blame? Some of the divinely directed and influenced events are examined in later articles in this volume. You just met The One or maybe a shady character. Briefly stated, the answer to the above concerns is that God does not intervene because in His divine wisdom He knows that such intervention would not be in our best eternal interests and also because if we turn to Him He can and will enable us to overcome all of the negative effects of such sufferings. We are funded by your direct support for ReKnew and our vision. Consequently, it is not Gods indifference to the needs of the human race that leads to hunger and poverty but our lust for corruptible goods and our apathy, or even hatred, toward our fellow earthly sojourners. In this account in the Old Testament, Satan appears before God and complains that Gods man, Job, is protected and he cannot get to him. She was very indignant that I would use that text in her case, but thats how serious it seemed to me. How can he allow these to happen and how can he say he loves these people but cause them to suffer. Because spirits do not have bodies of flesh and bone, a host of atrocities are absent from the spirit world. Except for blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, all of our wicked choices and actions may have but a temporary effect. Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood. What Does It Mean When God Doesn't Intervene? And by what reasoning? Notwithstanding all this glory, we for a moment lose sight of it, and mourn the loss, but we do not mourn as those without hope. I will provide for you and your children.. Because such a God does not exist. Thus, the process of testing and its attendant agency brings with it many of the earths evils and nearly inexplicable suffering. Jesus, just before his crucifixion said: Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince* of this world** will be driven out. There are many naturally occurring events such as earthquakes, floods and tsunamis.There are also things like war, famine and terrorism which are caused by mankind. Everyone's relationship can use a boost. . The UK's Ministry of Defence has marked the 500th day of war in Ukraine by sharing some shocking statistics about the conflict. [18] Dallin H. Oaks, in Conference Report, October 1993, 101. God needs brave sons.[15]. It falls on the just and the unjust, afflicting all of us at some time. Yea, a spear shall pierce through him to the wounding of thine own soul also; that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed (Joseph Smith Translation, Luke 2:3435). Are natural disasters caused by God?Is it possible that God is behind some of these natural disasters?We know that He is powerful enough to cause storms, etc. Never has been. It is because of Adam's sin that we suffer from death ( Romans 5:12) and that the whole world groans in brokenness ( Romans 8:22 ). Another area of human suffering that does not fall under the explanation of the human misuse of agency is that of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, famines, and pestilences. Next, the key to understanding Gods intervention or seeming lack thereof and the purposes of mortality lies in our understanding of how the Atonement of Jesus Christ is woven into the very fabric of our existence. No disaster or tribulation is too great for Him to overcome. A: In the teachings of the New Testament there is this tension between "the already" and "the not yet." Jesus said, "The Kingdom of heaven is among you." Thus, I have concluded that it would be a greater evil for God to compel earths inhabitants to choose Him as their father and love others as themselves than it is for God to allow individuals to choose to be wicked. The absence of Gods intervention is often cited as a reason for not believing in God. ago [removed] Reply [deleted] 6 mo. For example, during the time that my family and I lived in Israel we often heard the query, Of what faith are most Jews? The first few times we heard the question we thought that perhaps it was meant to be a trick question as we thought that the obvious answer was, They are Jewish. However, an unexpected answer was given: Atheist! The intent of the exchange seemed to be to provoke thought and to emphasize the feeling of abandonment felt by the Jewish people in general. During an intimate and revealing experience with God, Enoch saw the Lord weep over the wickedness of the people. What is God like?So if he is interested in us, does he want a relationship with us? But it had the desired effect, because the people turned away from their sin, and turned to God.And the king said: Who knows? Elder Maxwell noted, Christ on the cross gave out the cry My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? That cry on the cross is an indication that the very best of our Fathers children found the trials so real, the tests so exquisite and so severe, that he cried outnot in doubt of his Fathers reality, but wondering why at that moment of supreme agonyfor Jesus felt so alone.[14]. Instead, we should ask, "How does God's sovereign nature reveal divine intervention?" Part of Gods intervention at mortal death is that contrary to the suffering of the wicked, the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow (Alma 40:12). Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son (D&C 101:34). True understanding and empathy are expressed for challenges in the life of each individual. He has no hold over me. . I judge that his trust and faith in God were tested and increased in his ordeal of pain. Answer Divine intervention is, simply put, God intervening in the affairs of the world. Mortality, in its planning, received divine design, including salvation from the ills and wickedness of this present existence through the atoning sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God. It must painfully and patiently make its own way out of the shell. Death and "Divine Intervention" Home > Knowing God what is He like > Does God intervene in the world? Thus, if we looked at mortality as the whole of existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and short life would be calamity, explained Elder Kimball. Satan is able to destroy using storms, etc. But I took some turns on the midnight-to-dawn shift. To force us to be careful or righteous would be to nullify that fundamental law and make growth impossible. That's the same thing with God, He is evil because He has the power to feed starving children and He doesn't.". Villarejo's name had been circulating in the Spanish press for years. sickness, poverty, etc.? Why Does God Allow Suffering? We should be ready to have significant, deeper, extended conversations that may be difficult about the causes of the alienation other than the ones that may appear on the surface. As a familiar hymn teaches, Know this, that evry soul is free to choose his life and what hell be; for this eternal truth is givn: that God will force no man to heavn. Him they recognize as the Master and Ruler of nature and her laws, and freely acknowledge his hand in all things. Others open the same book always expecting to find some new reason to treasure God. Repeated exposure to violence-real and feigned-in news and entertainment hardens us to the real suffering of others. Acts 2:17;, The Lord has Ezekiel symbolically enact Israels exile as a warning and remarks, Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house (vs. 3). One night when I was not with him and the pain seemed more than he could bear, he somehow got out of bed and on his knees beside itI know not how. Why Survivors of Family Trauma See Themselves in Prince Harry, How Family Estrangement May Benefit Trauma Survivors, 10 Reasons Being Single Can Be an Excellent Option, 3 Simple Ways to Improve Any Relationship, A Common Online Dating Practice That Never Works Out. A few years ago I saw an illustration that portrayed the various stages of a chick breaking through its shell. The Bible tells us that He can. [11] Orson F. Whitney, quoted in Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1972), 98. The tough and hardened rye, probably a type of spelt wheat, is wisely placed in the edges of the field, as its firm encasement is difficult for vermin to eat as they first enter the farmers ground. If that doesnt constitute supernatural intervention, nothing does! So many other people were harmed by these mudslides; the latest count is 21 confirmed dead, with many others injured. Is your impression correct? Far be it from you to do such a thing to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Indeed, the plan of salvation rests on this truth. That is, even with the efforts that we put forth to break through the shell, we still must seek the help of God to triumph. It seems nothing like the God described in the Christian Scriptures as Love Itself. We might say that all individuals are sent to earth on a type of Zions Camp experience. The Lord then leaves us to apply that light to other situations amidst the perplexities of mortality. The Lord has commanded us to be wise stewards over our earthly goods. Thanks God? We live in a world of suffering. As one of these students, I seek to understand why God did not intervene to save 1.5 million Jewish children who died in the Holocaust and millions of others who suffer what seem to be premature or agonizing deaths. On the other hand, the faithful discern Gods hand in many world events. That is, all who live on earth know that the day will come when they will take one final breath, and we know that they will pass from this sphere of existence to the next. The purposes of the Lord for mortality are fulfilled in having death be a prospect at any time in our lives. If it had been Gods will that there was a storm, then Jesus would not have rebuked it.It could have been a natural storm, but it seems strange to rebuke that.So presumably it was sent by Satan whom Jesus would rebuke, the same as when he rebuked the evil spirits. At the same time it allows us to choose wickedness, which brings sorrow and pain to many. From a Christ-centered perspective, Gods ability to break into history is the foundation of our confidence in him. A father wouldnt let the family go to a mother-in-laws house for years. Some have concluded that God simply doesn't exist.
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