"Abiding in the Word"

"If you abide in My word,

You are My disciples Indeed..."

                                           - John 8:31

Why Bad Things Happen To Good People

The age-old problems of human suffering and temptation, especially in view of the existence of both Satan and an all-powerful God, have been debated endlessly. Some of the answers to this dilemma are complicated and beyond our scope of understanding. However, some are very simple. We need only to read the Word of God...

Job l

'There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. 2And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.

NOTE: Job was a Godly man. He was also a blessed man. He had a big family and lots of things.

4And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed1- God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly.

NOTE: Job felt a responsibility to be an intercessor for his family with God.

6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and 2Satan also came among them. 7And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?"

So Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it."

8Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?"

9So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. nBut now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!"

NOTE: Job had an enemy. Actually, Job's enemy was only Interested in Job as a tool to be used against God.

12And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

NOTE: God allowed Satan the leeway, within constraints, to bring tragedy, suffering, and trial to Job's life (See 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:12-16).

The following lessons are evident from this text: 1) People who serve God are blessed in many ways; 2) People who serve God suffer in many ways; 3) God allows both to happen; 4) Satan is responsible for the suffering - that he may use God's own creation to provoke and humiliate God.

Job l

13Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house; 14and a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

16While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

17While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

18While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19and suddenly a great wind came from "across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

NOTE: Satan uses every possible avenue that he is allowed to in order to destroy this good man's life, and especially his relationship with God (See Luke 22:31).

20Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21And he said:

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,

And naked shall I return there.

The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;

Blessed be the name of the LORD."

22ln all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

NOTE: Job was not aware of WHY all of these things happened to him. There was not one thing that Job could have done himself to have prevented these things from happening. Job did the only thing he could do, he reacted. His reaction can be evaluated in three ways: 1) Job grieved; 2) Job worshiped God; 3) Job submitted to the things that happened, and refused to react sinfully in blaming God.

Job's dilemma is often our own. We do not see every detail of the "big picture." So, we are left to accept the things we do know, cling to the things we are certain of, and maintain our faithfulness to and integrity with God.

Good people suffer (Matthew 16:21; 17:12; Mark 9:12; Luke 17:25; 24:46; Acts 5:41; 9:16; 17:3; Romans 8:17; Philippians 1:29; 1 Thessalonians 3:4; 2 Thessalonians 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:12; Hebrews 11:25; 1 Peter 2:20-21; 3:14, 17; 4:15-16, 19; Revelation 2:10). Satan, sin, and evil are behind much if not all of the suffering on earth. There was no suffering in Eden before sin became part of the world. Since that time, suffering has been and will continue to be an everyday facet of life, especially for the child of God.

When we suffer, let us do as Job did and refuse to turn away from, nor blame, God. One item of note, again, is that Job "worshiped" in reaction to the tragedy in his life. Sadly, so many of us do exactly the opposite. When a death comes in a family, or a great trial by disease or some other calamity, folks will forsake the assembly of the saints in reaction to their personal tragedy. Thankfully, Job teaches us the wisdom in turning TO God instead of AWAY from Him in times of great heartache and sorrow.

As long as we live in the face of an enemy like Job's, we will suffer at his hand. We should glory and be thankful in the fact that God only allows Stan to go so far in what he does (Job 1:12; 2:6; Revelation 20:2).

David Decker           

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