Because He said so
I was reading in God's Word the other day... reading about how He set certain dietary rules for His covenant people Israel. There were rules that disallowed them from eating the flesh of animals that did not have cloven hooves and that did not chew their cud. Fish that did not have scales, as well as certain birds... such as the condor and the hawk.
Now, over the years, I have learned that there are several reasons that the Lord did this. One reason was because eating some of these animals, in that day, when preparing and preserving foods were not as sophisticated as they are today, could make them sick or kill them. God was simply looking out for His people's well being... He's fairly wise you know. Another reason was that He had set this people apart from the rest of the world... they were to be a special people... a pure people, for He intended to bring the Messiah to the earth through this race.
These folks were trained to understand these things, and they obeyed... but they were also trained, over time, to understand another simple precept that so many have difficulty with today. This precept is looked upon as almost a byword... the very idea is the object of jokes in our youth... and, sometimes I think even more in our adults.
God simply wanted His people to obey... "because He said so." He is the God of the Universe, He was the One who had breathed life into their bodies... the bodies that He had formed and created in the most secret of places... before anyone but Him knew their names. He was the God who had created this people out of the loins of a very old married couple... who were far past the years of child-baring, the One who had provided for them and grew them into a people whose number was as great as the sands of the sea shore, and had delivered them from a tyrant through many signs and miracles... and ultimately opened up the depths of the sea to deliver them to safety on dry ground. And now, God asked them to follow His direction and guidance... "because He said so."
In the Old Testament, God said, "obey Me... follow Me with all of your heart, and I will bless you." But today, God says, "I have sent My Son to redeem you from your lost condition... I have blessed you, now, out of love and appreciation, obey and follow me with all of your heart... please don't make Me explain all of the reasons... just do it because you love Me"... and, "because I said so."
When Thomas demanded to see for himself the Risen Savior, Jesus allowed him to handle Him, and Thomas believed... but Jesus looked to him and said, "Thomas, you believe because you have seen, blessed be those who will not see, but still will believe." Blessed are those who will believe because... "I said so." John told us in his gospel ( John 20:30-31 ), Jesus had done so many things that he could not tell of all of them, but there was enough written down there for all to believe... and believing, all would have the opportunity to have life... and life everlasting.
I praise Jesus for the gift of simple faith... the fact that I can believe just "because He says so." I understand one thing... and that is that I will never, in this world, understand everything, but I have peace knowing that Jesus does understand everything... and that He is in control. One day, He will reveal more to me than I can fathom, but for now... I love my Savior... and I will follow Him for that very reason. I know that following His guidance is... ultimately for the best and for my well being, but I will follow... and obey the best I can... "because He says so."
Amen
