The mysteries of God are unsearchable. However, this, by no means, means that He is not logical and orderly. There is a common trope in the world that no one knows what God wants or why He does the things He does. This type of thinking is not the type of thinking we, as Christians, should entertain. Especially when we read the Bible.

Sometimes when we read the Bible, we might have questions about it. When this happens, how do we proceed? If, most people do not raise their hand to ask a question when they are in a setting where the question can be answered, such as in school or university, then how do these same people behave when they have a question, and no one is around to answer it? Do they search online for an answer? Do they ask a pastor? Another Christian? God? Or do we consider it a “mystery” of God and go on our way?

These were some of my thoughts today when I was reading Exodus and Acts. 

Exodus

If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset, because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

Exodus 22:26-27 (NIV)

Here in Exodus, the Lord is laying out the law to Moses. What we read here in Exodus 22:26-27 is straightforward and logical. The only thing a person has to cover themselves up with when they sleep is their cloak. Therefore, if you take someone’s cloak as a pledge, return it before they go to sleep because they need it. As I said, this is a logical reason to follow this law. The other reason to follow it is that God is compassionate. 

“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

Leviticus 19:2 (NIV)

If we want to be like Christ, then we need to think like Him. To the Christian mind being compassionate should be logical because God is compassionate. Now, to those who do not know God, compassion may seem arbitrary and illogical. Having no place in business. Indeed, the world of business does not cultivate feelings of compassion. The pledge being spoken about here in these verses in Exodus 22 is part of a business deal. Someone offers their cloak as a pledge to fulfill some sort of promise, and if they do not fulfill that promise, their cloak is forfeit. That is how these things work, right? That is how they work unless God says differently.

We could come up with sundry reasons why God came up with this law. We could ask why and spend some time coming up with at least one answer. However, I believe the answer is in the verse. 

Acts

In the fourth chapter of Acts, we see the after-effects of Peter and John healing the beggar from Acts 3. One of those effects was being arrested by the religious rulers. Several of them took part in the condemnation of Christ.

The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family.

Acts 4:5-6 (NIV)

After questioning and threatening Peter and John, they decide to let them go. 

After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Acts 4:21-22 (NIV)

Why did they let them go? Jesus healed many people. Often, on the Sabbath in front of the religious rulers. We know Jesus healed people and was praised by the people. However, that did not stop the religious rulers from arresting and crucifying Him. I see two primary differences between this incident with Peter and John and those with Jesus.

We know that Jesus preached to thousands of people. However, after His death and resurrection, we read that the number of people who came together in Acts was only about 120 (cf. Acts 1:15). By the time Peter and John are arrested in Acts 4, we read that there are now about 5,000 men following the Lord (cf. Acts 4:4). 5,000 men rioting would be far more destructive than 120. So, when we read that Peter and John were freed, because “all the people were praising God” we are reading about a lot more people. This is what I consider a reason that anyone could understand without the benefit of the Holy Spirit or divine reasoning. What the world would call logical.

When Jesus was being arrested, and Peter cut off Malchus’ ear, Jesus told Peter to put away his sword and asked two questions.

“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

Matthew 26:53-54 (NIV)

Jesus had, at His disposal, all of the forces of Heaven. It really did not matter if there were 120 people following Him or 120 million people following Him. If Jesus did not want to be arrested, suffer, die, and be raised again, it would not have happened. However, God said that it was supposed to happen this way. Hence, Jesus’ second question. These are the divine logical reasons why Jesus was condemned by the religious rulers and punished while Peter and John were released in Acts 4. It was supposed to happen this way by God’s plan.

Every day I have questions I do not know the answers to. Most of these questions circulate around the question, “Why?” When these questions come to mind, I tell myself that I might not know the answer, but God does, and I trust God. That’s fine and how it ought to be. There are a lot of questions in the Bible, but there are a lot of answers too. When we have questions about the stuff in the Bible, we should ask them and seek out the answers. Some of the answers we may get much sooner than others. However, no matter the case, we should never think as the world does, that God is illogical and no one knows why He does the things He does. 

Do you know God? God knows you, and He loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, right now, and He wants you to know Him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, be freed from death, and live eternally with Him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away. 

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation today:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart, and I receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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