God’s absence…

 

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:21

Lazarus sisters had sent a message to Jesus that their brother whom He loved was seriously ill. Jesus reassured them saying, “This illness is not meant to end in death. It is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” But their brother died shortly after, without Jesus deigning interrupting His business to run to His friend bedside. When He eventually got there, Martha and Mary expressed their disappointment: ‘‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’’ (ISV, John 11:3-4,21,32)

Moses had clearly been sent to go and tell Pharaoh to let the Children of Israel go. The Lord had also promised to use him as the instrument of their deliverance. Moses thought everything would be quick and smooth but to his utter dismay, the Hebrews’ condition which was already difficult, worsened instead and the foremen of the people were furious and blamed him and his brother for it: “The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” Vexed, Moses turned back to God and said: “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.” (Exodus 5.21-23, ESV)

In short, ‘You sent me, I went and now they are all angry with me and You still have not kept Your promise! Where are You? What are You doing? What are You waiting for? And the Lord replied, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.” (Exodus 10:1b-2)

The same answer was given to Martha and Mary centuries later.

Jeremiah cried: “O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me.” (Jeremiah 20:7, ESV) other versions have, “You have persuaded me, and I was persuaded.” In many of our "desperate" situations, we have also often heard God’s voice calming our worries down. We read all the appropriate passages with promises in the Bible, we pondered and recited them with faith (not to say with fervor) until we received in our minds that things were not over yet and there was still hope. We heard Him say He would use the problem for His glory and that restored our courage and hope. And then, to our greatest bewilderment, nothing happened as we had begun to expect it to, and disaster stroke: our loved one still died despite all the prophecies, the divorce was still pronounced, we still tested positive to HIV, the cancer’s diagnosis was still confirmed and we still lost our job or pension… And, just like Moses, Jeremiah, Martha and Mary, we're taken aback, we question ourselves, we wonder where has God gone and we doubt the word that we originally heard and from which had sprung out our faith. “Lord, if You had been here, this would not have happened...”

Behind this dismay, is the belief that misfortune must not and cannot hit the just, the upright or the pious. His life is supposed to be a permanent long quiet river. That’s why Job’s friends were harassing him to confess his sin because for them, it was unthinkable that he could loose his wealth and children without breaking any law. His affliction was the proof that God had abandoned him and was absent during his trial time. And, according to their ‘theology’, the only thing that could keep the Lord away was sin. “Have you ever seen destruction come to an upright man? or when were the god-fearing ever cut off?” As for his wife, she could hardly understand the reason of such a cruel treatment on someone who had so faithfully served his Lord: ‘‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.’’ (Job 4:7, BBE & 2:9, ESV)

Lord, if You had been here…This would not have happened. It did because I fell on Your voicemail and when You got the message, it was too late!

And yet, He was there! Martha did not noticed His presence, but He was truly there. If not, how could He have said: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am leaving to wake him up." … "Lazarus has died. For your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let's go to him."’’ (ISV, John 11:11,14,15) The emissaries of Martha and Mary had only spoken of a disease; how then did He know that Lazarus had died? Because, He was fully with the two sisters in Spirit, just as He had been with Nathaniel before telling him: "before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you." (John 1:48)

He was also there during Job’s turmoil and, He is always there in our difficult moments. Only, when we are torn by pain and tears cloud our eyes, we usually fail to distinguish His presence. And that’s when faith must intervene.

Faith that believes that He is there, simply because He said He would always be.

Faith that would rather say that if He is not visible, it is just because He is 'hidden' in the crowd.

Faith that knows that after all, it doesn’t need to see nor to feel His presence, to know that He is there.

“No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.” (1Corinthians 10:13) He is present throughout the test and ensures that we don’t break down. He is The Medium that helps us out and He is also The Grace that enables us to endure it.

“It is good to wait with silence for the salvation of God.” (Lamentations 3:26, DRB) If Lazarus sisters had not spoken too quickly, they wouldn’t have been disappointed. The Lord’s promises are Yes and Amen. Jesus was on His way to the miracle even before seeing them. He was there, neither as nor when expected, but had He not been at this funeral, Lazarus would have never been raised from the dead. He was there!

He is the Resurrection and the Life! There is no resurrection without prior death. He is capable to call forth any of our rotten issues and dashed hopes.

He is moved by your grief and pain and He is crying with you as He cried with Mary. In the midst of your suffering, hear this : “The Master is here and is calling for you! ” (John 11:28). Get up and go to Him: He is there…for you !

God bless you.