The Bible declares, “God does what he pleases” (Job 23:13b) .
For human beings, this declaration about ourselves would reek of arrogance and highest pride. Or as a good friend of mine says about haughtiness, we’d be “ addicted to self-significance.”
Colossians 1:16 reminds us of the purpose of creation: “All things were created by him and for him,” implying the same fact that “God does what he pleases” for it’s His. One night as I shared this thought in our devotions around a campfire, watching the sun set over beautiful Lake Michigan, my 13-year-old grandson blurted out, “Isn’t that rather selfish of God?” To the human mind, and not only the young ones, the answer would seem to be, Yes.
The fascinating truth, subtle yet illustrious, is found in Job: “Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm, to water a land where no man lives, a desert with no one in it, to satisfy a desolate wasteland and make it sprout with grass?” (38:25-27).
Why? For God’s pleasure as He counts the trillions of stars, calling them each by name, for He takes pleasure in His creation.
A nocturnal cactus, growing up the palm trunks near the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean in central Florida, boasts of a large gorgeous white flower. When the first orange, red, and yellow rays of the sunrise ripple across the Atlantic waters, the blossoms wither and fall off. Why all this seeming wasted display of beauty for a few moths to experience? Don’t forget. Creator-God is enjoying those white blossoms all night long while at the same time “His eyes are roaming throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are steadfast toward Him.”
Job, through all of his suffering, kept asking, “Why God? Why?”
John MacArthur in his study Bible suggests a satisfying response: “God cannot be required by man to give all the reasons for what he chooses to do.”
It’s comforting to know that God reveals what we need to understand about Himself. There’s also the anticipation that when we’re in heaven with Him–we’ll have all eternity to discover some of the unanswered “whys” as He continues to take pleasure in His sons and daughters.
For now, our hearts in deep gratitude keep repeating, Thank you, Almighty God, for including us in your “doing what pleases you.”
Guarded Hearts 