"Because I said so!"

     Most remember hearing this statement from mothers and fathers from around the world.  The phrase may be a bit different but the message is the same.  I am the authority!  So, when the statement was applied to you as a child, as a teen, as a young adult and as an elder adult, how did you feel?  Did you feel validated?  Were your feelings hurt when there was no explanation given?  Were you so frustrated that any idea of an answer was evading capture?  All of these and others cannot even come close to describing the mixture of feelings for each of us.  We all feel shut our, closed door, and frigid environments when those 4 words are spoken.  There is really no answer to whatever brought it up in the first place.  So in spite of being in different spaces there is no winner and everyone loses.  Why?  Because I said so!
     Sometimes the statement is heard in different sayings.  The Bible tells the story of Moses and the burning bush.  Quite an spectacular picture is painted as God allows Moses to meet with him on the mountain side.  This is holy ground where there is no competition.  God talks with Moses for the sole purpose of yet again giving his children a chance to re-enter the plan he has for them.  So, what does Moses do?  He asks questions like, "Who shall I tell them has sent me?"  To which God replies, "Tell them that I Am has sent you.  There is so much more in that story.  However, the "Because I told you so!" has just been laid out in God's statement.  This is a sound statement that is meant to tell the Israelites that they needn't draw any other conclusion as to who God is.  He is the great I Am.  You can almost hear the frustration of Moses' question and God's answer.  It's like, "Who do you think you have been talking with?"  The implied underling statement by Moses is Which god are you.  God must have been on the verge of pulling his hair out! 
     Jesus had a similar experience over and over during his time here on earth.  He uses the "I Am" phrase a number of times as the Jews had used the phrase for God and would recognize the phrase as coming from God.  History lesson for the Jews who were far from where God wanted them to be.  This was a constant part of their history even to this day.  Jesus is nailed to the cross and displays one more "Because I said so!" to the people gathered there with him.  He says, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."  and "It is finished."  Jesus came to earth for a mission.  He knew clearly what would happen and why.  He was continually talking with and teaching to those who would not believe.  These statements were frustration points to which God says what he says and leaves this as a final statement for them to chew on.
     Regardless of the speaker, whenever we hear the phrase, "Because I said so!" we are put in our place without an explanation.  The speaker firmly believes they don't need to explain once again their reasoning.  After being out in the world for at least 5 years you know that the question "Why?" can only be heard so many times before we reach frustration point.  That applies to any age.  So, the next time you're tempted to ask the "Why?" question or the challenge of "Who do you think you are." keep in mind that if you are in God's will neither statement is necessary.