Tune in to hear Joni explain where the root of the word “wherefore” came from.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada. And recently I heard a sermonon the words Jesus uttered from his cross, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabach thani?” – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The pastor explained that the Hebrew word Lama, means not only why, but also wherefore [that is, for what reason]. Boy, that really got my interest, especially given the many times I used to feel forsaken by God in my wheelchair. The question why is the desperate cry of great helplessness. But the question wherefore shows perspective. Unlike why, when a person asks wherefore, he’s asking the reason; what’s the goal? What’s the purpose? And because God the Father is always a God of great purpose, you know there’s always a good reason for the hardship. So, like Christ on his cross, we accept it from his hand and say “yes” to whatever suffering he brings our way. It’s the wherefore thing to do.
© Joni and Friends