ON DEALING WITH SUFFERING

Central United Church

Rev. Karl N. Burden

July 21, 2002

Text:   “In spite of everything that had happened, Job did not sin by blaming God.”    Job 1:22

Do you remember the story of Job?

Job was a wealthy man who lived about 8 or 9 hundred years before Jesus.  He was a person who enjoyed a very good life, with most of the advantages which money can buy.  But then one day, Job’s fortunes took a turn for the worst, and he began to experience one tragedy after another.

The Bible tells us that:

Job was a man of great piety; "blameless and upright; one who feared God and shunned evil" (1:1). He was also a man of great prosperity. The Bible says his material holdings made him "the greatest man of all the people of the East" (1:2).

But one day that life of privilege came to an abrupt end, in a series of dreadful events, which came upon him in rapid succession.   Job first loses his wealth, then his children, then his health begins to deteriorate, and finally he loses even the support of his beloved wife.

Although this is a story from the distant past, there is much in it - with which we can identify today. You see, basically its a story that describes the meaning of faith; faith in God.  

As a general rule, most people don’t have any problem believing in God when things are going well.  They may not think about God very much in good times, but when pressed, most people admit to a fundamental belief in God.   But when their lives become difficult; when they experience a serious illness; or when a member of their family dies tragically:-   that’s when faith becomes difficult.   “A loving God wouldn’t allow such suffering!” we may hear people say. 

Now, the thing that distinguished Job from the majority of people, is that in spite of the fact he loses everything he ever had through one mishap after another; he never once turns his back on God.   Throughout it all, he remains faithful. 

This is an interesting, if not dramatic story about human suffering, and the response to suffering.  So let’s take a closer look at this story of Job and see what we can learn.

What we see first, is that when tragedy strikes Job’s life, his friends search for an answer.  That’s quite a normal response.  Most of us want to know ‘why’ when we experience hardships. But the question which Job’s friends find difficult is:- ‘Why is this happening to such an upright and religious man?’  

After wrestling with this question for awhile, the best answer they can come up with is:-  Job must have done something terribly wrong.  It was obvious to them that he was being punished,  why else would God allow such tragedies to occur?

Now, given the background and knowledge they had, that was a perfectly natural conclusion for them to reach.  They knew God was the ultimate controller of life, and they believed that God punished wrong doing. 

But Job isn’t satisfied with this kind of logic because you see, [although he knows he’s not perfect], Job was convinced his faithfulness to God was beyond question.   So Job comes up with a different response.  He concludes that God must be unfair!  From Job’s point of view, there could be no other rational conclusion.

Now, if he believes God is unfair, what can he do about it?  

Summoning all his wisdom, Job comes up with an idea.  He must find a way to plead his case before God, (to defend his innocence).  If he can just do this, he’s certain God will change His mind, and stop inflicting him with so many problems.

The problem with this strategy, of course, is that Job doesn’t have the authority to summon God to court.   So Job does the next best thing, he searches for a mediator; someone who can present his case to God.  We’ll talk about this later, but for the moment, let’s try to picture Job’s plight.

Although we may sympathize with Job, it’s really very difficult for most of us to fully grasp the magnitude of the trauma he was experiencing, because few [if any] of us ever experience such total devastation in our lives.

Think about it:-

a)                  From a personal point of view, Job lost all his money, his possessions and his family, and this (so the story states) he lost in a single day!   Even is his health is affected.  The Bible tells us that an awful disease left him with terrible boils over all his body.

b)                  From a social point of view, this poor man had fallen from a position of prominence in his community, to one of total desperation.  There is a graphic picture of him in this story, sitting alone on the garbage dump of his city; while his former neighbours are taunting him with cruel words.  Even Job’s closest friends, have turned against him.

c)                  But as traumatic as all this may be, Job’s greatest loss (in his estimation) was his separation from God’s favour.  It was the realization that he’d fallen out of grace, this is what caused Job to slip into a deep depression.

So overwhelmed was he by his plight, he wanted to die. 

I can think of only one more pathetic person in the whole Bible, and that of course, is Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus.  

To help us get some understanding of the trauma Job experienced, we can look at what’s happened recently to some people in our 21st century world.    Think, for example, of a quiet residential enclave, tucked away in a back corner of old Jerusalem.  It’s the Sabbath and a group of ultra conservative Jewish families have just walked out onto the street at the close of their synagogue service.  There’s a bustle of happy voices as parents converse with one another and children chat with their friends. 

On the fringe of the group, unseen by most, a figure approaches.  He’s dressed like any other Jew on the Sabbath, and so he attracts no special attention.   The young man moves closer to the group of families.  Suddenly, without warning, there’s an enormous explosion; and in an instant that tranquil scene is turned into one of utter chaos of death and destruction. 

Another suicide bomber, out of desperation or madness, has just inflicted horrible destruction upon that group of young families.   Those who survive that tragedy, share something of Job’s horror. 

Without attempting to pick sides in this Middle East conflict, the fact remains that once again individuals and families have [in an instant] lost everything that was important to them. 

Or,  changing location, picture a quiet rural scene in the province of Gujarat, in India.  A train is racing across the landscape.  On board are a group of Hindu families, returning from a pilgrimage to a holy site.  Many of them are singing nationalistic songs. 

Also on the train are some passengers of another faith who are angered by this display of religious fervour.   In a rage, - someone sets fire to one of the railway coaches.   Unaware of what has happened, the engineer continues to drive on for several more miles.  The resulting wind fans the fire, and before the train is stopped, four coaches have been gutted; and 58 people, mostly women and children are burned alive.

Here once more, the fortunes of human beings have taken a sudden and dramatic turn.  In an instant, those who were experiencing joy and happiness, loose all that’s important to them.

Of course, [as we all know] that isn’t the end of this story.  For several days following that tragedy riots rage across the province, leaving hundreds of other families to experience loss of their homes, physical suffering and even death.   That both of these incidents happened in the same week, only serves to emphasize that fact that people of faith can still experience catastrophic disasters that may strip them of all that’s important in their lives.

So let’s return to Job and see what we can learn from his story.

1.      SUFFERING – THE RESULT OF UNSEEN CONFLICT

There are at least three important lessons to be learned from Job’s story.  The first is: - that suffering is often caused by some unseen conflict.

In Job’s story, the unseen conflict is graphically described as a contest between God and Satan.   Satan tries to prove he has great power than God.  But God says, ‘you’re not as powerful as you think.  Take Job, for example, you can’t corrupt him!’   

But Satan just laughs, saying: “why of course Job’s faithful, why shouldn’t he be?  After all, he’s been showered with every blessing:-money; family; friends; great influence in the community.   Why anyone would be faithful if he’d received such wealth.”  To prove Satan wrong, God permits him to inflict Job with one tragedy after another.   God is confident that no matter what suffering he experiences - Job will remain faith.  

It’s a struggle between good and evil, waged in this case within Job’s life.   Job didn’t suffer because he’d sinned.  Just the opposite, he suffered because he hadn’t sinned!

Through history that same struggle between good and evil has been waged time and time again.  That surely is what’s happening in the Middle East, and in India.   Of course, it’s not just restricted to religious conflict.   Surely it’s also a factor in situations where there is political persecution; or war; or famine and poverty. 

Why is it, that some areas of our world suffer from starvation; while we here Canada live in the lap of luxury?  Why are there repressive regimes, which inflict terrible suffering upon men, women and children?  “WHY?”   Why do such terrible things happen?  That’s the question with which Job and his friends were struggling.   Why are there such inequalities?

To ask why does God allow such suffering? - is a very human response.   Even Jesus, dying upon the cross, cried out:-  “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  (Mark 15:34)  Job blamed God.  Jesus felt abandoned by God.  But both shared the agony of separation from God.  We all search for answers when tragedy strikes.  Some of us, even today, assume we’re being punished for wrong doing.  While others accuse God of injustice.

But, as Christians we are aware that throughout history there’s a basic struggle between good and evil.

2.      HUMAN REASONING CAN NOT EXPLAIN SUFFERING

And this leads us on to the second lesson we learn from Job.   There are times when human reasoning alone is simply inadequate.

No matter how much we try, we’re often incapable of solving the dilemma of human suffering.   This is a reality which clergy and many others in the helping professions regularly confront.  We simply don’t have any answer to suffering!

I’m reminded of the story of a rabbi, who had endured persecution many years ago during the Russian revolution.  He was once heard saying:  “I wish I were God.”   Friends asked him, “Rabbi, do you want to be God so you can do things differently in the world and change bad things into good?”  “No,” replied the rabbi, “I wouldn’t change anything.  I want to be God so I can understand.”

But you see, we aren’t God.  And when we come up against horrendous human suffering, we may not have an answer.

Ø      Yes, we can blame evil deeds on cruel people.

Ø      Or, we can argue that suffering is put into our lives to make us stronger; and there may be some truth in this.

But as appealing as these answers may be, they really don’t explain why.   Why, for example, a little child has to suffer terrible pain; or die prematurely.   Sometimes we simply have to admit we just don’t know why!   And that was Job’s dilemma.  He didn’t have any answers either.  All through his terrible ordeal, he struggled with the question, – WHY?

And that unfortunately is the human predicament.  If only we could see into the mind of God, to see His plan for creation from its beginning to its end; then perhaps suffering might have a purpose that makes sense.  Unfortunately, we can’t see into the mind of God.   

But this, my friends, - is where the real test of faith comes in!   And this is an important lesson we learn from Job.  You see, God never does tell Job why he’s been struck with so many tragedies.  God simply says to Job trust Me.

Rather than providing an explanation for his suffering, God says: "Did you create this world, Job?   Did you make the rain?  Who is it that controls nature?  In other words, "Job, are you really calling Me into question?” 

Do you see the point?  When we’re faced with difficult suffering; when our life is in shambles; do we trust God; or do we think God owes us an explanation?  God doesn’t answer all our questions.  But what God does do is assure us that He loves us.  In the words of Jesus: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”  John 3: 16.

The real test of our faith is found in our willingness to trust God, even when things go terribly wrong and we don’t understand. 

3.      GOD IS IN CONTROL

And this brings us to our third and last lesson from Job.  God is the One in ultimate control!

You’ll notice as you read the story of Job that when Satan is challenging Job’s faithfulness, in his conversation with God, he always asks God for permission to test Job.   This happens not once, but each time he inflicts more pain upon Job.   He asks for God permission.  The message is clear!   Evil may be very powerful in our world, but it’s not all-powerful.  Only God is all powerful!

Thus, two basic truths leap out of this story:–  

Ø      First, God is all-powerful and

Ø      Secondly, this all-powerful God loves us!

In the absence of these two truths, suffering, tragedy, and untimely death   are  unbearable.   And those who don’t believe in an all-powerful, loving God are doomed to feel lonely, and empty, and defeated.  For without God in the picture, there is no rhyme or reason to the traumas of life.  But, [thank God], when we are equipped with these truths, there is nothing we can’t face!

Listen to the powerful words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Christians in  Corinth:-

“We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair.  There are many enemies, but we are never without a friend.  And though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed!”  (II Cor. 4:8-9)

Paul experienced unbelievable hardship and suffering in his life.  How was he able to be so strong?   His strength came from his belief in an all-powerful; all-loving God.  And while he could not explain or understand the calamities of his life, he knew (beyond the shadow of a doubt), that God was in control.

Paul’s message to the Corinthians continues with these words: 

“The Scripture says, ‘I spoke because I believed.’   In the same spirit of faith, we also speak because we believe.  For we know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus to life, will also raise us up with  Jesus, and bring us (together with you) into his presence.”

CONCLUSION

As we mentioned earlier, when Job was seeking a way to plead his case before God, he looked for a mediator.   He wanted someone, not just to plead his case, but also to sympathize with his predicament.  

Thanks to Jesus, we have just such a mediator.   Someone who has lived as we live;  who has been tempted as we are tempted; but who, [unlike us] was without sin."   Because He knows us as we are; because he understands our emotions and knows our weaknesses; and has lived like us on earth; Jesus can be our mediator.  And it is from this context that, He welcomes us to the throne of God’s grace, and  is our help in times of need. 

There is huge difference between our situation today and that of Job’s, for we have the benefit of the revelation of Jesus Christ who has  not only told us,  but shown us, that God loves us unconditionally.    And through Jesus Christ, we have direct access to our God.   Jesus taught us that with every problem, every challenge, every tragedy, we are to come to Him to find strength, mercy and peace, so that we may meet life’s challenges with courage and faith.

We may not always know why we suffer, but we do know that God can be trusted.  God who is all-powerful and all-loving.  And through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, we have access to God.

And so, while we may often be troubled, we’ll not be crushed; and although sometimes in doubt, we’ll never be in despair.  And while there are many enemies, we are never without a friend.   And though badly hurt at times, we will not be destroyed for we have a God who is all-powerful, who loves us unconditionally; and Jesus Christ our Mediator, who opens the way to full communion with God.  Thanks be to God!