The famous Empiricist David Hume once asked: “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? When then is evil.”
Charles Spurgeon commented that: “It is contrary to every promise of God’s precious Word that you would ever be forgotten or left to perish.” (i) But many would argue that God’s promises account for nothing because of the evil that takes place in this world. Why do terrible things happen to innocent people? Why are they not protected by God? The best answer to this question is found in the book of Job.
Job was “blameless and upright”(ii) in God’s sight. He was unlike any man because of his unshakable faith. But God allowed Satan to test Job by causing him to suffer. Job experienced unimaginable pain but he did not accuse God of wrongdoing. God allowed Job’s torment to increase to the point where his children were killed.
The hardest thing to comprehend in this story is that there is no justifiable reason for Job’s suffering. When he cried out for an explanation and God replied: “Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand (iii)… Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place?(iv) …Everything under heaven belongs to me.(v)”
God is all knowing and he understands ultimate suffering. There was nothing that Job experienced that He did not know about. In the end Job declares: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted…. Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” (vi)
“Things too wonderful to know”…these are the words of a man who had suffered so much, physically, mentally and emotionally, and yet he was in wonder of God’s sovereignty. Job finally realized that nothing was outside of God’s control. And that no matter how much he suffered God was there throughout it all. Herein lies our hope! God is the only solution to afflictions. There is a day coming when God will wipe away all our tears and bring us to a better place. And that will be the day when ALL suffering will cease.
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The unemployment rate in the United States is 9.7%. (vii) Nearly 87,000 Californians lost their jobs in July, 2009. (viii) The 11.9% unemployment rate in California is the highest ever recorded. Twenty-five United States banks have failed this year alone, including Washington Mutual. (ix) The United States’ failing economy is affecting everyone. Recently my dad lost his job. Suffering can visit us in many forms, even financially; but I know that God is Sovereign and therefore my hope is in Him.
“…you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
~1 Peter 1:6-9
~1 Peter 1:6-9
(i)Morning & Evening June 16th
(ii)Job 1:8
(iii)Job 38:4
(iv)Job 41:11
(v)Job 42:2,3
(vii)Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(viii)http://www.examiner.com/x-4577-Milwaukee-Unemployment-Examiner~y2009m8d26-Jobless-rate-climbs-over-10-in-15-states
(ix)http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/banklist.html
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