I don't know why he did it the way he did it (or whatever way he did it) but I am convinced that he is good, and that whatever way he did it was for a good reason. That's enough for me, though I'm sure it isn't enough for everybody.
We are born into an extraordinarily shit deal, that's obvious. Though saying that, and I know I keep banging on about it: in the west we don't necessarily know exactly how shit it is. We may know through knowledge but not necessarily through experience. Hugely generalising here because we in the west certainly know about eg emotional/mental/relational anguish which is certainly one form of agony.
It baffles me that Snorbs etc are saying that God does nothing about it, when he went to such extraordinary lengths to give us the power, on an ongoing basis, to get out of the agonising deal we were born in. he has given it precisely because of how terrible it is here. It is obvious to anyone that what we are faced with here can be mercilessly vicious. I want to get out of that, and I want other people to get out of that, as much as possible. God wants us to get out of it too, so he's given us the means. HOw can you say he's done, and does, nothing?
My (adult) kids are seriously up the spout at the moment and there is nothing like the pain of that as a mother. I've only got the few to break my heart, God's got erm the lot. The pain of that, what happens to his children, must be... I can't imagine it, when my pain is so huge over a handful of people. I want my kids to see how to get out of the hideous mess they're in (it's so obvious!) but there is absolutely nothing I can do about it, nothing at all. Perhaps I could kidnap them and chain them up, forcing them to stop what they're doing. But the only thing I can do is be here, loving them. They know I love them - I laid the groundwork for that, even if they weren't listening - and I pray that one day they will come to their senses. In the meantime I have to watch what they do, and what people do to them, and what they do to other people - and on it rolls. It is agony, but I still can't step in. It may be small love, up to God's love, but it's all love, the same quality, the same perameters.
Thy will be done - for my kids and for the hideous suffering around the globe. I know that my faith - in his goodness, mercy and power - produces results. I have seen God's awesome grace, goodness and power in too many situations to not be convinced of it. I am not unusual - would that as many people as possible believed in God's goodness to pull it into situations: we'd have the globe covered. he says we are his body and he wants willing volunteers to do his work - to relieve suffering, to put right wrongs. You don't even have to believe in or follow him, he'll use anyone; as you would if your kids were in trouble. It is what he wants - he over and over expresses that. So do something instead of standing back and complaining that he's shit. Personally, I want as much power as possible in any given hideous situation. Luckily, he does too, and provides it. great team.
But, fair enough, if you think he's a capricious, vicious bastard, tell him you think he's a capricious, vicious bastard. it's relationship he wants and, if you're up to here with what a vile, senseless bastard you think he is, then tell him. No point being weird about it, may as well be real. It is the times I have been the most angry with God (and there have been many) that have been like rocket fuel to my relationship with him. I haven't quite worked that out but maybe it's because I'm being honest instead of that holy shit.
Great posts btw.