One of the bedrocks of our legal system is the Sixth Amendment, which states, “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, … and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation ….” We take it for granted that that’s how it should work. We shouldn’t be convicted without a trial, or without at least knowing what the charges are. We would consider that a basic human right, even if it’s not practiced everywhere around the world.

Job must have been thinking along those lines after going through so much loss and suffering without any explanation that he could come up with. His friends basically told him it was his fault for . . . . some sin or sins he had committed. Job didn’t think so, but he was confused to the point of challenging God to answer: Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing. (Job 31:35)

And then God spoke in chapter 38, and did answer him. But it wasn’t really an answer as Job (or we) might expect. There never is a direct explanation of why. The Lord’s first words are a question: Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? (38:2). And then a whole long series of questions, like Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand (38:4). The answer was roughly, “You’re a human, and there are many things that you are not able to understand, even if I do.”
God did not support Job’s friends’ accusations that Job was being punished for his sins, but neither did he give Job a reason as to why this was happening. A reminder of the truth of Romans 11:33: Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

God is gracious and compassionate to us at all times! If the “why” is not always available to us, that doesn’t mean his care is less. His grace is as strong as ever, even when we go through the trials of life. His love and salvation and forgiveness in Christ never change. If we’re not able to “look behind the curtain” and always get an explanation for everything that happens to us, that’s ok. The “not knowing” leads us to more peace and trust in God’s loving guidance of all things: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).