Because I Said So

Because I said so.

How many of us heard that as children - or even adults - and wondered to ourselves "what kind of explanation is that?" The response might have befuddled us yet we had no recourse from lack of age or experience, and took it for what it was meant to be - an order and an end to the conversation.

From a human perspective this answer can be quite frustrating. "Because I said so" does not quell the litany of questions that arise. "Who are you and what are your qualifications to make such a proclamation?", "Is there special insight that you have that I don't?" and "Do you have the power to enforce this reasoning once you've made it?" are just a few.

Now when it comes to parents and children, for the most part we can reconcile that the parent have (or at least should have) more knowledge, common sense and experience to make the proper informed decision that is best. Again, this is a generality - there are always exceptions that prove the rule. But what about when a peer gives this reasoning? Are we not more inclined to raise an eyebrow at that person, questioning both their reasoning and their opinion of whom they directed their comments? It is safe to conclude that when presented with such rationale we find it hard to converse again with such obvious stubbornness.

But what if God used such reasoning? Why would do that you may ask? Well, one look no further than Job to find such an occurrence. After torment and terror was rained down on this righteous man, and after all manner of friends had come by to try and support this stricken fellow, Job threw up his arms and shot questions at God that demanded answers.

"Why, why, why?!?" was hurled at the one Job counted on for understanding.

And you know what the answer was? "Because I said so."

Ok, so it wasn't put so clumsily. But that was the spirit of the response. God laid out to Job that the reason all this happened was God's to understand. There was not going to be a point by point explanation that satisfied Job. Instead, God rightfully expressed that Job was not going to understand. God knew best and Job was going to have to accept that and be settled. Like a parent to their child, "because I said so" was going to have to suffice.

But unlike a parent to their child, or a peer to a peer, "because I said so" from God more than suffices. Why? Because unlike fallible humans, we can rely on that fact that God does not make mistakes. We can know in our hearts that He is infinitely smarter, clearer and more righteous than we could ever be, and in that we can rest. God has taken care of everything in the past, takes care of everything now, and will continue to take care of everything into the future. There is a totality to His rule and a universal reach to His love. We may not get the answer we like, and we may very well not like that we can't understand, but we do know that there is one who does.

From the lips of man "because I said so," can ring hollow. But from the voice of God there can be nothing more comforting.