Y Not I

This Shabbat we had a number of special events at our synagogue. We had a special speaker and we had a concert tonight from Paul Wilbur, with Kathy Shooster opening. It was quite a blessing to have so many wonderful and talented leaders of the Messianic movement in town this weekend.

The speaker on Friday was Rabbi Jonathan Bernis, and he gave a very uplifting message about Jeremiah 29:11-13. He went into the meaning of some of the Hebrew words there and spoke how G-d was watching us. He used the analogy of a GPS system, which I have heard used before and it is a wonderful analogy. The analogy indicates that when we get off course, G-d is there, like a GPS to direct us back on course. However this, although a very wonderful and well presented message is not what caught my ear.

There was one thing he said, and it was said in passing, that made me think of something not totally related, but something I wanted to share with you. He said it was a difficult question as to why bad things happen to good people, which of course, it is. This is how that statement made my mind think.

• But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. – Isaiah 64:6
• For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of G-d – Romans 3:22-23

Based upon these verses it indicates that no one is really a good person and yet

• You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Messiah died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But G-d demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Messiah died for us. – Romans 5:6-8

So, maybe a better question that is not usually asked is why good things happen to anyone? It is because our Creator loves us. Something to remember.