Aug.24.04: Light for the Day - "The Problem of Suffering"

-- Job 1:20-22
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship  21 and said: 
"Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. 
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; 
may the name of the LORD be praised."
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

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Some scholars think Job may be the oldest book in the Bible. Whether that is true or not, it certainly deals with one of humanity's oldest questions: 
Why does God allow suffering?

It isn't an easy issue, because it goes to the heart of our deepest questions about God.  After all (the argument runs), how could a loving and gracious God allow suffering?   To put it another way, if God lets us suffer, He must not love us. But the conclusion is false.  God does love us - and the proof is the suffering He allowed His son to endure on the Cross.

What, then, is the answer to this age-old question? The key is to understand the character of God. That is what Job discovered. No, God, never gave him a logical, complete answer for his suffering. But though his experience he came to realize that God could be trusted, because He is merciful and loving. And you can trust Him too - not because He always gives us all the answers, but simply because He is God.

-- Billy Graham

-- Jeremiah 33:3
2 "This is what the LORD says, He who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it— the LORD is His name:
3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

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"Job is Tested"

Job is portrayed as a wealthy man of upright character who loves God. Yet God allows Satan to destroy his flocks, his possessions, his children, and his health. Job refuses to give up on God, even though he does not understand why this is happening to him. We, too, must trust God when we do not understand the difficulties we face. 

-- James 5:10,11
10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

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-- Romans 8:28
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

-- Hebrews 4:13 
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

-- Job 36:15 
But those who suffer He delivers in their suffering; 
He speaks to them in their affliction.

-- Psalms 119:50 
My comfort in my suffering is this: 
Your promise preserves my life.

-- Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

-- Matthew 11:28-30
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."