THE PROBLEM OF EVIL (2)
The Problem of Evil • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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INTRODUCTION
1 And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds. 3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east; they came up against them; 4 and they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. 5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents; they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it. 6 And Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah.
For seven years Israel was victimized by the Midianites.
Israel's crops were destroyed, their livestock was confiscated, and the people were forced to seek refuge in the dens and caves of the mountains.
During this difficult period "the angel of the Jehovah" appeared unto Gideon
During this difficult period "the angel of the Jehovah" appeared unto Gideon
12 And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him, and said unto him, Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man of valor. 13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh, my lord, if Jehovah is with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Jehovah bring us up from Egypt? but now Jehovah hath cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.
This very question is what many are asking today!
Many are asking, If God is with us:
Why did my child have to die from cancer?
Why was my wife killed in a car wreck?
Why was my child molested?
Why did my house burn down.
Why did I lose my job?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
These and a thousand similar questions could be asked.
These and a thousand similar questions could be asked.
These questions grip the human heart.
Thousands cry for some sort of an answer.
DISCUSSION
The Problem Stated
The Problem Stated
With many people, the great obstacle to belief in God is the problem of evil and suffering.
With many people, the great obstacle to belief in God is the problem of evil and suffering.
Many sincere people agonize greatly in an effort to resolve this problem in their minds.
Thus, many assume that there cannot be a loving God such as the Bible indicates.
NOTE: No man should be so bold as to think that he can completely understand everything about the problem of suffering.
NOTE: No man should be so bold as to think that he can completely understand everything about the problem of suffering.
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
29 The secret things belong unto Jehovah our God; but the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
God has revealed to us what we need to know
The things we would like to know, but can't, we must accept by faith knowing that God always does what is right.
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
This is a rhetorical question, and needs no answer
Of course God will do what is right!
The Problem Addressed
The Problem Addressed
First of all, it should be noted that when a person raises the question of "evil," he is inadvertently appealing to some universal system of justice, which evil allegedly violates.
First of all, it should be noted that when a person raises the question of "evil," he is inadvertently appealing to some universal system of justice, which evil allegedly violates.
But if there is no God, there is not a universal system of "rightness," - and no such thing as evil?
Let atheism, therefore, define for us that standard by which certain things are judged to be "evil."
God , Who is love (1 Jn. 4:8), expresses His love by giving us the freedom to choose.
God , Who is love (1 Jn. 4:8), expresses His love by giving us the freedom to choose.
God has given us freedom of choice:
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.
17 If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.
God has not slavishly programmed us without free-will.
God wants us to serve him willing - that pleases Him… Grandkids hugging Poppy…
What a wonderful blessing it is to have free will - and not mere robots…
Thus, where freedom of choice is permitted, there is certainly the possibility that man will make the wrong choices.
Thus, where freedom of choice is permitted, there is certainly the possibility that man will make the wrong choices.
Wrong choices must entail some adverse consequences
Think about this - If all actions [choices], both good and bad, produced exactly the same effect, how would one ever learn to choose the good and reject the bad?
It is clear, therefore, that finite beings with personal willpower must be allowed to suffer the consequences of their wrong choices if they are to learn that the good is to be valued over the bad.
In light of this, let us consider several types of suffering in the world.
Suffering In Our World
Suffering In Our World
Personal wrong choices
Personal wrong choices
We frequently bring suffering upon ourselves because of the bad decisions we make.
1 And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
Why was Israel suffering?
They did evil in the sight of the Lord.
This was their own personal choice.
15 For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men’s matters:
If a man steals and goes to prison, is it not his fault?
If a man murders and executed, is God to blamed?
Yet, someone may argue: God could have prevented the crime, hence, the suffering.
Not if He wanted to preserve man's freedom of choice!
You see, God limits His own activity by lovingly granting man free will-power!
Sometimes we suffer because of…
Personal wrong choices of others
Personal wrong choices of others
A considerable amount of suffering is caused by the bad choices of our fellowman.
We cannot argue for our freedom of choice while denying it for others.
God is not respecter of persons…
34 And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
11 for there is no respect of persons with God.
So, innocent persons may be killed in a wreck involving a drunk driver.
In times of war, many are killed as a consequence of the evil decisions of a few leaders.
We sometimes pay the price for other's freedom of choice.
But there is also suffering because of the…
Personal wrong choices of former generations
Personal wrong choices of former generations
If we are to reap the benefits of good labors of generations in the past (e.g. scientific discoveries), can we avoid reaping the evils as well?
God warned that rejection of Him would affect generations yet unborn
5 thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me, 6 and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
Starvation in India ..... scared cows ..…
Communistic countries
Our world of natural law
Our world of natural law
We live in a world that is regulated by natural law, thus a certain amount of suffering is inevitable
For example: gravity…
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Jesus said, In this cause they were not victims of sin, but…
They were victims of natural law - in the wrong place at the right time
We benefit greatly from natural law, but if we violate this law we will suffer.
Could you imagine what would happen if God suspended His natural laws?
We know there is suffering in this world.
We suffer at times
Our loved ones suffer
This being the case let us consider…
The Benefits Of Suffering
The Benefits Of Suffering
Physical
Physical
Suppose one's clothes caught on fire, with out pain, would engulfed before he realized what was happening.
Pain causes us to go to the doctor
Pain causes us to avoid or stop doing those thing that hurt us.
Pain helps us to develop noble character, without pain where would traits like patience and bravery be cultivated?
Spiritual
Spiritual
10 And Jehovah spake to Manasseh, and to his people; but they gave no heed. 11 Wherefore Jehovah brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. 12 And when he was in distress, he besought Jehovah his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
Suffering produces humility
Humility is needed in our Christian life
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray; But now I observe thy word.
Suffering promotes obedience
How many times have we seen people brought to the Lord through suffering?
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I may learn thy statutes.
Suffering promotes Bible study
The Bible is the best selling book every year? Why?
28 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.
Suffering works toward our good
But notice, it does this for those that love God
16 Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;
Through suffering our inner man grows stronger
Suffering “worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”
7 And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. 8 Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Suffering keeps us humble - and fights against pride
Suffering gives us strength
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.
Suffering is a testing ground of our faith
The rewards are great
In the midst of suffering we must realize:
In the midst of suffering we must realize:
That there is a place where…
17 There the wicked cease from troubling; And there the weary are at rest.
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God: 4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away. 5 And he that sitteth on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he saith, Write: for these words are faithful and true.
What should our attitude be toward suffering?
What should our attitude be toward suffering?
41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.
19 For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Suffering is a small thing when compared to heaven
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward.
The results of handling suffering properly
The results of handling suffering properly
Reign in heaven…
12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us:
Receive a crown of life…
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.
CONCLUSION
How will you handle the sufferings of this life?
My friends, it all begins with being right with the Lord!