Where was God?

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center. This is something we’ll never forget. The question so many people asked at that time, and still ask today, is: Where was God? We all remember where we were, but we wonder where God was.

We ask this question whenever there is a tragedy, or an event, or an attack where lives are lost. It’s an understandable question.

Where was God during the September 11 attack? God was there.

That leads people to the next question: If God was there why did He let it happen? We could have a discussion about free will and how it was free men who chose to do this, but this is not a satisfying answer for many people.

We will never fully understand the answer to this question. Yes, free will is part of it, but we’ll never understand why God didn’t step in. Not only this time, but whenever there is a tragedy. This is because we see things from a linear perspective, and from a singular point in time, while God is all-encompassing and is not bound by time. From our limited perspective we can’t ever grasp how or why God could let something like this happen.

However, if we look closely we will see there were plenty of places where we saw God that day.

The Aftermath

I’ve written before about being able to “see” God through the actions of people. God has several transferable attributes. These include love, mercy, justice, wisdom, and goodness. This is part of what it means when the Bible says we’re made in God’s image. We have several of the same attributes of God.

On September 11th we saw God working through the love, mercy, justice, wisdom, and goodness of those who came to rescue those who were injured and those who were trapped. While most people were running for their lives, others were heading into the danger. They put the lives of others ahead of their own lives.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 ESV). That is sacrificial love, and sacrificial love was on display in the hours, days, and weeks following the attack.

We all remember the firefighters and first responders who rushed into the buildings while most people were running away. They all risked their lives for people they didn’t know. Some gave their lives trying to help people they didn’t know. All of these people showed us what sacrifice for others looks like in today’s world.

Where was God?

He was with these people. Whether they understood it or not, God was working through them.

Jesus’ Sacrificial Love

Jesus displayed a far greater act of sacrificial love over 2,000 years ago, when He gave His life for all who come to Him.

 We ask where God was because we don’t understand. We think that God doesn’t understand us, or that He doesn’t care about us. But God Himself knows what it is like to suffer violence perpetrated at the hands of man.

Who suffered more pain and humiliation than Jesus? God the Father could have stopped that as well, but He didn’t. People didn’t understand at that moment that Jesus had to suffer and die for us. But God’s ultimate plan was revealed.

Jesus was beaten, tortured, and murdered. He was hung on a cross in disgrace, and He did it for us. God is not only there for us when we are suffering, but He suffered for us so that we all might live. This is how much He cares for us: “In that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 ESV).

God comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

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