THE GOD WHO IS SOVEREIGN OVER SUFFERING

Intro to the Book of Job

Murphy’s Law says “If things can go wrong they will.” Where in the bible would that statement fit best? There are countless accounts. But what about the life of Job? Job is a prime example of Murphy’s Law. Here was a man who was devout, loving, hardworking, an entrepreneur, a husband, a father, a business owner who had lots of responsibility. Job was very rich man by society standards. He was a man, who loved God and that was evident in his love for his wife and children. Things were going great! Until one day it all came crashing down to a screeching halt. What we need to understand! God doesn’t waste our hurts or our suffering. Suffering makes no sense to us; it only makes sense when we look to the cross of Christ.

See! What we go through in this life has meaning and purpose for the glory of God, and its purpose is for building up our faith, in Him alone. Is this going to easy? NO! The human side says “How can a good, all-powerful God allow “innocent” people to suffer and die?” Unfortunately this question is all too common raised by believers and unbelievers alike. Whether the tragic event be caused by natural calamity, such as an earthquake or flood, or whether it be by intentional human evil, such as a serial killer or a terrorist attack. 

This question springboard to the next series of questions! If God is all-powerful, why doesn’t He prevent such events? And if God is all-good, how can He allow such events to hurt innocent people? This line of questioning is flawed! It’s assuming that we are what? Innocent! When the bible says image-bearers are….corrupt, depraved, wicked, lost and condemned and destined to wrath, apart from God’s saving grace. The only innocent person in human history, died on the Cross to save a rebel like myself and you. Paul wrote “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"),” Gal 3:13

Understand! There would not be one single tragic event if there were no sin in this world. But because of the rebellious heart of God’s image –bearers, tragedy and calamites will continue. The only hope we have in the midst of these storms is trusting in the sovereign God of the universe….looking to the Cross to make sense of everything. We are going to dive into a book that is filled with tragedy, sadness, depression and drama to start its own reality TV show. Over the course of this book we are going to see God’s sovereign hand over one man’s life, as He guides him through traumatic life. Though this book has been written in poetic language, it’s still an account about a real person, whose name is Job. We know this to be true why? Ezekiel mentioned him in his letter in chapter 14:14,20. James wrote about this man Job “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” James 5:1

See! Tragedy and sufferings are a part of life and we have numerous eyewitness accounts of these events in scripture.

The murder of Abel and the breakdown of the family.

The Great worldwide flood that only 8 people survived and the rest perished.

The fighting and brokenness in the home over birthrights.

The hatred by a band of brothers over there younger brother.

The captivity of a nation who took their eyes of God’s provision and grace.

The plot to murder a servant who did nothing wrong but faithfully served King David on the frontline of battle.

The destruction of sons who wanted power and prestige for themselves.

The outcome of sinful choses done by God’s image-bearers.

The hostility and hatred towards One Man who set the captives free through His death and resurrection.

The young man who became the first one to die for his love and adoration to Christ and His gospel.

The persecution of the church and the many that died for the sake of the gospel in Rome.

Calamities and suffering of the saints throughout the ages continue on for the glory of God and the gospel truth. Polycarp, John Wycliffe, John Huss, William Tyndale, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The five missionaries who tried to reach the Auca Indians in Ecuador. It has been said “In two millennia of Christian history, about 70 million faithful have given their lives for the faith, and of these, 45.5 million, fully 65% were in the last century, according to “The New Persecuted” Suffering doesn’t just come to people who have done amazing things for the gospel; where they write books, or make movies in honor of them. Suffering comes to the ones who have no name in the limelight, who suffer equally for the sake of the gospel, as we endure this life for His glory. Some of you here, are going through it right now, but understand this suffering is not going to waste. We are in the hands of a sovereign God who know exactly what He is doing in your life and in mine.

Why do we need to be reminded of this truth?

The Scriptures reveal and comfort our broken hearts to see joy in the midst of suffering. Job’s account reminds us that God is good and that God is still the God who is in control, even when we cannot see the finish line. John Piper wrote “The evil and suffering in this world are greater than any of us can comprehend. But evil and suffering are not ultimate. God is. Satan, the great lover of evil and suffering, is not sovereign. God is.” 

The big picture as we approach this book is that…..God is sovereign over our lives and evil is subordinate to God.

God uses our suffering to refine and strengthen our weakened faith to live our lives with a solid foundation of His strength and joy to endure hardships. God uses these times to remind us, that Satan is on a leash and is subordinate to Him. God is sovereign over our suffering, and Satan can only go so far and no further. We know this to be true 1 Cor 10:13 we read “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” God is sovereign over your suffering and trials. God may let the jaws of the lion to clamp on your neck, But God will say “this far and no further.” God knows what His people are able to endure, and as He has entire control over the child of God, He will adapt all trials to their strength, and will enable them to bear all that is appointed to them. God never wastes our suffering, trials or the temptations that are before us every day. James reminds us of this truth. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

It’s hard to count it all joy when we have the internet. We are without excuse not to have tears over this world on a daily basis. From natural disasters, to killings, to tearing babies from the womb, destruction of the family unit, divorce, wayward children. From gossip, to church fighting, and a hatred towards the gospel truth. From looking down the barrel of a gun, to finding out you have a terminally ill disease that is going to take your life. It’s hard to count it all joy and not be discouraged or have moments of doubt in God’s goodness and grace. It’s hard to remind yourself that God is sovereign in these moments. But! It’s in these moments where we see God’s sovereign hand over our lives. The calamities, trails or suffering, we currently go through sometimes cover or cloud our judgment and faith to God’s provision and goodness to see us through it. Unfortunately! We question and ask God, “Why am I suffering?”

Lamentations 3:1-24 gives the answer to that question. Here we read the account of a weeping prophet’s letter, as he laments through his present, not past, suffering. Jeremiah wrote “I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath. He has led me and made me walk in darkness and not in light. Surely He has turned His hand against me Time and time again throughout the day.  He has aged my flesh and my skin, And broken my bones. He has besieged me And surrounded me with bitterness and woe. He has set me in dark places Like the dead of long ago. Jeremiah is saying “This darkness gives the sense of forgottenness). He goes on to say “He has hedged me in so that I cannot get out; He has made my chain heavy. Even when I cry and shout, He shuts out my prayer. He has blocked my ways with hewn stone; He has made my paths crooked. (Jeremiah is saying is “Everything I try leads to dead ends”) But he continues “He has been to me a bear lying in wait, Like a lion in ambush. He has turned aside my ways and torn me in pieces; He has made me desolate. He has bent His bow And set me up as a target for the arrow. He has caused the arrows of His quiver To pierce my loins. I have become the ridicule of all my people— Their taunting song all the day. He has filled me with bitterness, He has made me drink wormwood. (Better translation “Bitter Herb” which leaves a bitter taste in the mouth). He has also broken my teeth with gravel, And covered me with ashes. You have moved my soul far from peace; I have forgotten prosperity. And I said, "My strength and my hope Have perished from the LORD." Remember my affliction and roaming, The wormwood and the gall. My soul still remembers And sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"

What we learn from Jeremiah’s suffering is….. that God’s love would prevail and He gives us the strength to endure suffering because they are new every day. Though we might face the evil full on…. understand God is sovereign over you, as you go through it. We need to understand that God looks at sin “Asymmetrically” meaning something that looks balanced despite a lack of symmetry.

  

What does that mean?

God prevents sin

God allows sin

God limits sin

But at the same time He doesn’t directly cause sin. Though God allows evil, He is not the author or cause of evil. God is sovereign; though we make choses whether they are wrong or right. God is never the one to blame for our pain, but rather the sovereign one to whom we turn for help. God is sovereign, but we are responsible for our actions in the midst evil and good. James reminds us, as we go through times of unrest, suffering or trials “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.” James 1:13. John Piper said “God is indeed fully and utterly in control of his world, from the biggest details to the very smallest. He does bring suffering and pain into our lives — but never in such a way that he is the one to blame for our pain.” God is neutrally sovereign over evil and good, and He doesn’t waste our hurt, whether it’s evil or good. We know this is true! But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Gen 50:20. Acts 2:23 we read “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;” 

God takes what is evil and turns into good. God is the giver of every good and perfect gift, to whom we look for relief. Not the one to whom we point our finger at in our pain. Though you might not see it! Your pain is doing something for you, beyond what you can see, and feel, in this moment. Every millisecond of your life though suffering is preparing you for eternity. We are going to see this truth in full colour as we go through the book of Job. So! To prepare us, for this book of suffering….. I want to leave you with four biblical truths that God is sovereign over your suffering and our suffering is building in us endurance and a deep seated joy for the glory of the gospel.

Suffering helps us to conform to the image of Christ.

Paul encourages our hearts to remind us this truth “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” Rom 8:18-22… (continues on next page For my information continue on next page). Paul goes on to say “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” Rom 8:28-30

  

Suffering forces us to rely on God, over self

Paul wrote “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,” 2 Cor 1:5-10

  

Suffering purifies our weakened faith

Peter wrote “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7. God loves you and cares about what you’re going through, even though you still face suffering. God is always there to see us through, without reservations. He is not some distant deity who cares nothing about His created children. God concerns himself in the affairs of his servants, and in whatsoever happens to them, and takes diligent care to strengthen them through it.

Suffering in the present reminds us of eternity to come.

Paul encourages our heart to continue in this fight “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. He goes on to say “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor 4:16-18. What is Paul saying? This “light affliction” is real and it could be fatal for some. But cheer up its “just for a moment” meaning it will pass, so believe that it will. Why? There is a promise at the end of it……..eternal glory. “Look to which is not seen” Keep your eyes here Christian, keep your eyes focused on Christ, not on what is seen, but what is unseen  and yet to come for those who love His appearing. The eternal Heaven where His glory fills every corner of it with His love.

Charles Spurgeon said "When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which you lay your head.”

As we begin this journey through this book remind yourself as we read and expound! God is sovereign and Satan is subordinate and we are saved by His grace through the Son of God who suffered our wrath and went before us to give us a living hope in the midst of tragedy and suffering. 

Remember God never wastes a suffering