Why Pain and Suffering?
Researchers recently asked a
cross-section of adults: “If you could ask God only
one question and you knew He would give you the
answer, what would you ask?” The majority of the
people responded, “Why is there pain and suffering
in the world?”
That is not a new question. It
is the age old question the patriarch Job asked in
the oldest book in the Bible during his earth
shaking tragedy (1:13-19). If you substitute in this
passage the words “Sabeans” and “Chaldeans” with
"terrorists,” and tornado or hurricane for the
strong wind you have the headlines in today’s news.
Job asked the same question,
“Why?” seven times in chapter three. “Why did I not
die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from
the womb?” (v. 11) Repeatedly, he asked “Why?”
People still ask, “Why did God allow this to
happen?” “Where is God?” “Why didn’t God do
something?”
The Greek philosopher Epicures
asked if there is a God, and if that God is good,
why is there evil in our world? Epicures reasoned:
“God either wishes to take away evil, and is unable;
or He is able and unwitting; or He is neither
willing nor able; or He is both willing and able.”
His reasoning raises other
questions. Is He weak and feeble because He wishes
to take away evil, but unable to do so? However,
that does not answer to the real character of God.
Is He wicked because He is able
and willing, but will not?
If He is weak, feeble and
wicked He is not God. Then we must ask since God is
not the source of evil what is its source? Since He
is God and He knows the source then why does He not
remove it immediately?
The prophet Habakkuk asked God,
“Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do you cause
me to look on wickedness?” (Hab. 1:3).
The prophet Jeremiah asked
another relevant question, “Why has the way of the
wicked prospered?” (12:1).
The Hebrew mind reasoned that
all suffering is unjust and that God’s silence is
inexcusable. In Hebrew, the word “why” is a cry of
protest.
How strange that we call God on
the carpet every time there is a tragedy, or crisis
in our lives. We go to Him and demand that He
explain Himself and He had better have a good reason
that satisfies us or we will not believe in Him. Our
insistence on demands from God in time of disaster
borders on arrogance and spiritual infidelity.
The fact is the Lord God does
not have to explain Himself to anyone simply because
He is the sovereign God.
In the book of Job God is
totally silent for 37 chapters. He patiently listens
to Job and never says one word. Then He asked one
question, “Where were you when I laid the
foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have
understanding” (38:4).
To paraphrase God, “You
wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t decided to create you.”
“Shall the one who contends with the Almighty
correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it”
(40:2).
The Lord God is a sovereign,
good God and His providence extends over all things
including both good and evil. He demonstrates His
sovereignty by His ability to bring good out of
evil, and to use it for His glory and our good.
He is absolutely good and
righteous; therefore, He can redeem that which is
evil and use it for His eternal purposes.
I may not know the reason why,
but the Lord knows, and that is enough.
I may not know why the Lord
leads me in paths I dread, but the Lord knows and
therefore I will trust and obey Him.
There is good in the world
because God is good. We experience His goodness
because He is the God of grace.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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