The Question of Suffering

Terrible things are happening all over the earth. People get shot and killed in a night club. A politician in England gets killed in her constituency. Why do such awful things happen?

The Bible book of Job was written to deal with this huge question of suffering, excessive suffering when people have not sinned excessively.

In theological thinking this is called 'Theodicy'. The question of God's justice in the light of Human Suffering.

In Greek and later Western thought, theodicy led to the conclusion that God was not almighty or not just, and assumed that humans were innocent.

In Biblical Hebrew thought, God is always both Almighty and Perfectly Just, and human beings are never entirely innocent in the sight of God.

And so for Job and his friends ( in the Biblical book of Job) the logical conclusion was that every person’s suffering was an indication of his guilt before God.

This theology often clashed with human experience.

Many people, like Job, had not sinned exceptionally but suffered exceptionally.

This gave rise to a great problem, and the God to whom the believer would always turn in times of trouble became the enigma.

In the speeches of Job in chapters 3 to 37, we hear the flawless logic of ‘orthodox’ Israelite theology and ‘the writhing of soul of the righteous sufferer who struggles with the great enigma’ (NIV Study Bible, p717).

The Biblical solution is also unique, and has to do with the great adversary (Job 1 and 2).

Incapable of contending directly with God, Satan seeks to frustrate the works of God on earth, and especially God’s special relationship with His believers, men like Job.

By accusing Job of being righteous merely for self gain, the way is opened for the great challenge.

God lets the accuser have his way with Job, within specified limits, and Job is robbed of every sign of God’s favour.

Job’s friends add to his suffering with their ‘orthodox’ theology.

God had become the great enigma, but Job clings to his God in persevering faith, knowing that one day he will be vindicated (See Job 13:18; 14:13-17; 16:19; 19:25-27).

Though he complains and curses the day of his birth, Job will not curse or deny God.

We read in Job 2:9-10 (ESV):

'Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die." [10] But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.'

Eventually everyone is silenced, and then God speaks to Job ‘bringing the silence of regret for hasty speech in days of suffering and the silence of repose in the ways of the Almighty’ (NIV Study Bible p717) (See Job 38:1-42:6)

God also hears Job’s prayer for his friends (Job 42:8-10), and restores Job’s blessings (Job 42:10-17).

The message of Job may be summarized as follows:

God treasures our righteousness most of all. The adversary seeks to overthrow the purposes of God by attacking the righteousness of godly people. The suffering of the truly godly is the battlefield where Satan comes against God. Our persistence in faith expresses the victory of God. The suffering of the righteous finds meaning in great spiritual battle of the ages. 'The author of Job reveals information concerning the unseen spiritual battles that go on in this world. Since some of these events are a mystery to mankind, it is impossible for people to always understand the reason why God allows certain things to happen. This shows that reason cannot be the sole basis of a person’s relationship with God. Although wisdom writings encourage a rational understanding of life, they recognize the limitations of human wisdom and call people to fear God and put their faith in Him’ (From 'Exploring the Old Testament' by S.J. Schultz & G. Smith).

The story of Job reveals principles that need to be remembered when we reflect on suffering:

1. The Complexity of Truth

Simple theological answers don’t always fit a situation.

Job suffers exceptionally but has not sinned exceptionally (Job 4:7-8; 6:10,24, 10:6-7).

Sickness is not always a judgment on us (See also John 9).

When the LORD answered Job, He didn’t explain why but pointed to the limits of human knowledge (eg: Job 38:2, 39:1, 42:3).

2. The Attacks of Satan

The Book of Job teaches of the reality and role of Satan in our sufferings (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7)

(See also 2 Cor. 12:7-10; Luke 13:16; Acts 10:38).

3. The Big Picture

A bad thing can have a good outcome in the end.

Job ends up with twice as much as he had before, and greatly blessed (Job 42:10-17).

4. The Hope of Eternity

The Ultimate Biggest Picture. Job’s talk about dying gradually changes through the book.

From despair and longing to die (Job 3:11); that death is the end of everything (Job 7:9-10); that death is the ‘”land of gloom and darkness” (10:20-22).

Then a question of life after death surfaces (Job 14:7-14). "If a man dies, shall he live again?” (v14)

Finally, Job reaches an answer of faith in Job 19:25-27 (ESV) 'For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. [26] And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, [27] whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!'

Beyond the grave he will meet God as Redeemer, and not as angry Judge. Though he still has questions about his suffering, his faith has won through.

5. The Wisdom of God

Human wisdom is lacking. Job’s comforters, and their simplistic doctrine of justice, is inadequate (Job 42:7). God alone is wise (Job 28:12-13, 23, 38:1-4f)

6. The Sovereignty of God

The reason why good can come out of bad is the LORDSHIP of God. He is in control and even overrules in the affairs of Satan and people (Job 1:12, 2:6; 12:13-16). We may not always understand or like what He does, but we trust Him whatever (Job1:21; 2:10; 13:15). Job 13:15 (ESV) says, 'Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.'

7. The Opportunity for Growth

God tests us to develop us. Job is tested severely, not to punish him, but to take him higher: in faith (Job 19:25-27), humility (Job 41:4-5), seeing God (Job 42:5), repentance (Job 42:6), prayer (Job 42:8-9) and blessings  (Job 42:10-17).

God allows Satan to attack Job to prove that Job’s devotion to God is more than ‘cupboard love’ (Job 1:9-12; 2:3-6).

Hopefully this wisdom from the  book of Job can help us in these troubled days I which we are currently living.