Short Story: A Rabbi, and a Pastor, discuss God's wants
By emptychair
@innertalks (23492)
Australia
January 5, 2026 8:10pm CST
A Jewish Rabbi was debating with a Christian Reverend about God's place in our lives.
The Rabbi said:
"When something bad happens to you, it had to happen to you, as otherwise God would have stopped it from happening to you."
"All that happens to you is oked to happen to you from God. There is nothing outside of God to be blamed for any event in the Universe."
"Any person who insults, or hurts you, or damages your property was also granted the free choice to decide for themselves whether to do this action, or not. They are held accountable for their decision for each wrong."
"But the fact that it did happen to you is because it had to happen to you, and you must work out the reason why it happened to you, by consulting with God over it."
The Reverend then answered the Rabbi like this:
"If that idea is right, and God wanted it to be so, did each one of those 6 million jews, killed in the holocaust have to die too then, and God wanted that too?"
"No, I think that God wants nothing, and he allows you to have your own wants, which, when you let go of those wants, you will then move across to living from love, and nothing that happens will bother you, whether you think it is God's will, or not, is a mute point, as God has no will, but your own."
"Love, in a way, brings you what you need, but only if you love the need, will you benefit from that happenstance too."
The Rabbi smiled.
"You have me there,"
he said.
"Only love allows us to taste of God's truth in our life. Otherwise, we retain a bitter taste in our mouth instead."
"Good,"
the Reverend said.
"We have come to a point of agreeance."
Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, pixabay.com
The Pastor always appeared to be a happy chappy.
2 people like this
1 response
@Nakitakona (59288)
• Philippines
6 Jan
God provides the way but it's to us to use wisely or abuse it. God gives us the free agency to do what we have and later suffer the consequences of wrong doing and enjoy the happiness of the right choice we made that benefits us.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23492)
• Australia
6 Jan
Yes, I would say that God has a plan for his creation, as well as for each part in that creation.
When we stay close to God, through prayer, reading scripture, and loving God, we can then help God in his plan for our own life too.
Free will allows us to act against his plan, but, in the end, we will pay for everything that we do, as we are held responsible for every decision we make.
God could act more hands on, but he seems to be giving mankind more free rein these days, and not reining them in, as he did in the past, punishing evil doers, more directly.
So, both the Rabbi, and the Pastor, were right, as everything is a part of God's plan, and yet he allows us to circumvent his plan at times, but when we act against his plan, this wrongdoing will come back to us in the end, one day too.
Yes, God always provides a way, through all areas of our life, and we should listen to, and follow his guidance, more often.
@Nakitakona (59288)
• Philippines
6 Jan
@innertalks That's right. Man has the free agency. God never force us to His will but He gives us the way to obey Him. Thus when we're obedient we will be blessed and be rewarded according to our works.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23492)
• Australia
6 Jan
@Nakitakona Yes, God wants us to develop the wisdom from living our life to make the right choices in life, and this can only be achieved by his giving us the free will to be able to do so.
