Why, God.........Why?

Many people in the world would find it easier to believe in God but for the suffering. They plead their case to God, just as Job did in the Old Testament days: “Why did God allow me this suffering, though I’ve not sinned against God?”

Job was a righteous man who lived according to God’s word. “In all this, Job did not sin with his lips” Job 2:10. But he lost everything including his own health. His wife said “Curse your God and die” – Job 2:9. There was nothing to live for in this world. “But Job did not sin by charging God with wrong doing” – Job 1:22. He wanted an answer from God: "Why did this happen to me, though I'm innocent?”.

Now, Job’s friends accepted the orthodox religious view of their day (‘Suffering is the result of sin and wickedness’) and accused Job and his children of sinning:

“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off? Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.” -Job 4:7, 8

“If your sons have sinned against Him, He has cast them away for their transgression.” - Job 8:4
“Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings charges against you?

Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sin endless?” – Job 22: 4, 5

But Job argues that he’s innocent.
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.” –Job 31: 1
“If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, If I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless…” – Job 31: 16, 17

And he calls his friends,
“Worthless physicians”- Job 13:4 and “Miserable comforters” –Job 16:2.

In these circumstances, how can Job TRUST God?
“God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me” – Job 23:16

The broken hearted Job waits for an answer from God.

Why did God reply him with lots of questions from Cosmology to Zoology? (Job 38 & 39). The purpose is to demonstrate how incomprehensible God’s wisdom and knowledge are. He is the mighty creator and no one can understand the depth of his knowledge and the purpose of his creative power fully. Does that mean that Job’s suffering was in vain? No, not at all. It does mean that there’s always an inscrutable wisdom and purpose behind these sufferings. As we are human beings, our understanding is extremely limited. And God does not give total explanation for everything. But even if Job was able to get an answer from God, it wouldn’t meet his real needs. In sufferings, theories about God aren’t enough. Indeed what Job really needed was God’s supernatural presence, a touch from the Master, a word from the Almighty.

Job replies after tasting the word from God, “I know that you can do all things; no plans of yours can be thwarted… Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know…My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” – Job 42: 1-6. Surely, God blessed his later life with double portion of blessings!

In the same way, when we go thru' trials and tribulations, the personal encounter with Jesus at the foot of the Cross will give us strength. We may not understand fully why these things happen. But we get peace and joy with the comforter, who had undergone much suffering at the Cross.

When we are really suffering, it’s not explanations we need, but the assurance that our Creator God is ours and therefore we can endure anything. That’s the miracle we need! It’s a miracle we get at the foot of the Cross! Amen!

Special thanks to:

Pastor Francis Bates, Kenton Evangelical Church.

www.ewtn.com (for Job's picture)