Gaza, Syria, Iraq: “God, Why Don’t You Do Something?”

When you see the horrific images coming from Gaza, Syria, and now Iraq, it is easy to be angry. Angry at the perpetrators of the violence and injustice – those who steal, kill, bomb, and rape.

For some, it is even easy to be – can we say it – angry with God. I don’t think we should ever shake our fists at Heaven but after all, doesn’t God possess all power? And if He does, then. . .why doesn’t He do something?

There is a song by Matthew West that expresses the question and. . .the answer.

Here is the video and the lyrics to the song, “Do Something.”

“Do Something”

I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down?
How’s it ever gonna turn around?
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did, I created you!”

If not us, then who?
If not me and you?
Right now, it’s time for us to do something!
If not now, then when?
Will we see an end
To all this pain?
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something!

I’m so tired of talking
About how we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
“It’s alright, somebody else will do something”
Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire
I wanna be the one who stands up and says,
“I’m gonna do something!”

If not us, then who?
If not me and you?
Right now, it’s time for us to do something!
If not now, then when?
Will we see an end
To all this pain?
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something!

We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill (shine, shine)
But we’re never gonna change the world
By standing still
No we won’t stand still
No we won’t stand still
No we won’t stand still!

If not us, then who?
If not me and you?
Right now, it’s time for us to do something!
If not now, then when?
Will we see an end
To all this pain?
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something!

Gaza, Syria, Iraq:

Why don’t WE do something?

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Postscript:

“It’s not enough to do nothing,
It’s time for us to do something!”

May I suggest 4 things:

Pray – in spite of the evil choices coming from human hearts, we can still pray and God will answer. He will move. But as the song implies, He often wants to move through. . .us.
Protest – in the U.S., the peaceful protests of Martin Luther King – accompanied by boycotts – had incredible results. These non-violent protests were often met with terrible violence but because King and so many others persevered, justice finally came to an oppressed people. For example, whatever your view is regarding Gaza, you have the right to peacefully protest (at least in the U.S.) through marches, blogs, Facebook, twitter, letters to editors, etc.
Give – search out reputable, trustworthy organizations that will get humanitarian aid to those who are suffering, then give.
Go – few can go to war torn areas like these but some will be able to. I went to Sri Lanka after the devastating tsunami of 2004 and believe me, the people appreciated it with words or facial expressions more powerful than words.

Whatever you do. . .