The problem of imperfect knowledge

The problem of imperfect Knowledge.

“Maybe she was crazy to try to solve Daisy’s murder on her own. Certifiable, even. Daisy’s favorite maxim whispered through Kate’s mind. We’re never alone. But if that was true, where was God when Daisy drank that tea? Kate shoved away the thought. Just this morning she’d found a passage in the Bible that said, “The righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.”” from “Deadly Devotion

(Port Aster Secrets Book #1): A Novel” by Sandra Orchard

Daisy was murdered.
Daisy was also a firm believer in God.

I would imagine the scene above plays out fairly often.  
Someone is murdered.
Someone else wonders – “where was God when … was murdered?”

We just assume that God wasn’t protecting our friend / family member / maybe even stranger.

But is that a reasonable accusation to make against God?

The Bible verse in the quote is from Isaiah –

^{Isa 57:1} The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.

The problem there is the difference between imperfect knowledge and perfect knowledge.

We, of course, think we know that the best thing for that murdered person is to be alive – to not have been killed.

But then, as much as we don’t want to admit it – we really don’t know for sure that what we think – that the person should be alive – is really true.

Staying in Isaiah, we also read –

^{Isa 46:9} Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.

^{Isa 46:10} I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.’

And there’s our problem.

God has perfect knowledge.
We don’t.  Our knowledge is far from perfect.

So we have a decision to make.

Do we decide that God’s knowledge isn’t perfect – and that our opinion on the death of someone is the correct one – a decided fact?

Or do we admit to ourselves that we are not perfect – that God is – and that whatever He allowed was for a good (read perfect) reason.
One that we don’t understand.
But one that we claim to believe is a good one.

Not to say that we shouldn’t grieve.  
Anyone’s death is a sad occurrence for those of us left behind in the world.

But my question isn’t about grief.

No – my questions is about belief.

 

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the quote and information on the book are available at amazon.com — http://amzn.to/2cFcDAx