Before I left for Iraq, I asked a flight surgeon who was recently deployed, “what was the toughest part of the job?”. She said, “I was not prepared for flying home on an airplane carrying flag draped caskets.” I could sense from her that it was that lingering question “why not me?”, or “why them?” that caused her discomfort.

This is a question and an emotion that is very common here. Whether it is a death or just an injury, the question lingers and begs to be answered. The soldier who trades seats with his buddy and the buddy dies and he does not. The soldier who bends down into the protection of the turret just before the explosion. I heard these two stories in the last couple of days.

I believe the underlying issue is: The permissive will of God. Why does God allow what He does? Why does it seem like God gives some people hints to change seats in a Humvee and others hear nothing? Some Christians have miraculous escapes from death and other Christians die tragically. The same can be said of non-Christians.

I do not pretend to understand the permissive will of God. I do not believe that I should. I thought of this while I was reading Exodus. (Being in the Middle East brings Exodus to life.) In Exodus 21: 12-13 it states “Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death. However, if he does not do it intentionally, but God lets it happen, he is to flee to a place I will designate. Another verse in Exodus 4:11 “The Lord said to him, ‘Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord” Both of these verses show the control God has over both death and illness/disability.

Of course, volumes could be written on this subject, but briefly how do I reconcile the concept of an all loving, all powerful, and all knowing God allowing death and suffering. The answer: I absolutely believe that God is good. If at any point there is a situation where this does not appear to be true, I accept that I probably do not have all the information, especially the future results of the permissive will of God. This question was indirectly raised by the disciples in John 9:2-3 “His disciples asked Him, Rabbi who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

I believe God is working in all of us to either bring us into right relationship with Him or refine the impurities out of us.

Job said it best after he lost almost everything including his children. Job 1:21 “…Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Soli Deo Gloria