The God/s Must Be Crazy!

Dear Friends,

I vividly remember my mum taking me to see the 1980 South African comedy film The Gods Must Be Crazy. When the Coke bottle landed in the sand and was picked up by a Kalahari Desert bush man I giggled. It felt like a simpler time—not just because I was young but because the movie captured the wonderful cultural naivety of Africa’s tribes who were immune from the ills of the West and the complications of a capitalist driven economy.

But we all grow up and life never stays simple. Suffering and sadness will be the lot of all who draw breath in this world. And isn’t that the case right now? COVID is running rampant and I have heard of people who are gravely ill, those who have missed significant family gatherings and holidays, those yet again unable to see family and feeling the frustration of isolation and the fear of hurting others. 

So what is God/s doing about it?

I was fascinated by the comments made by Thailand’s Army Commander during the epic rescue mission of those boys in thecave a few years back. He said he was praying to Phra Pirun, the “rain god”, but only for three days of no rain at a time for “if I ask for more, he may not grant it”. A more indulgent prayer could upset this “god” and he may not grant any dry spell at all. Those watching on would be right to ask a bigger question - what sort of God would send rain when the world is “praying” for none? 

Equally, what sort of God would send sickness when we all need a break!

The Scriptures remind us that we pray to the one true God of the universe and yet, sometimes there is rain when we don’t need it, suffering when we can’t deal with it and sadness when we can’t overcome it. We know God is sovereign over us but what do we do when it doesn’t feel like he is sovereign for us?

I want to encourage you to look to Jesus as he enters Jerusalem. Read Luke 19:28-48 again. As Jesus looks at the people, his eyes are full of tears. He is the Son of God. He knows he is about to die a painful death but he will come back to life again. He knows this is God’s plan and he has willingly chosen to be a part of it. He knows this is the outworking of the love of God and that God is in control but he weeps for those who will be lost and later for his own plight.  

This is a wonderfully helpful picture. It reminds us that God’s plans are never simple and his purposes are always bigger. It pictures for us the reality that belief and trust in our sovereign God doesn’t mean all will be OK nor that you can’t cry, or cry out. The pain of human life is real and it does not need to be ignored or overlooked by the faithful. Disappointment and sadness don’t indicate that God has stopped loving you or gone mad.  

What we see in Jesus is that even in suffering, God’s love and compassion is not overridden or eliminated by his sovereignty. Jesus both knows God’s love, trusts God plans and weeps. It’s a picture of the reality that God is good and cares for and loves you even when life is no longer simple. So what do we do? We keep walking, with tears in our eyes, trusting in the love and sovereignty of God. 

Many in our church are struggling—life is not simple—please know you are not alone. Many are only too willing to visit or to chat on the phone and pray, to read the scriptures with you and remind you of the love of God and to weep with you as we give thanks for the love and sovereignty of God. Please, just ask. But also, please remember the love and compassion of our gracious God, even in these times of need.