Lesson 8 for November 19 2016

Adapted from www.fustero.es

www.gmahktanjungpinang.org

The reality of suffering. The suffering of the

faithful. The suffering of the

innocent. The unfair suffering.

The reality of evil. Our everyday evil. Beyond the visible.

In Job 10, Job complains about his suffering which he considers to be unfair. God created and supports everything with love, so how could He punish him this way?There’s no easy answer for that question in this sinful world. We cannot find a satisfactory explanation to suffering and evil.

THE SUFFERING OF THE FAITHFUL

“You know that I am not guilty.” (Job 10:7

NIV)Job just wanted to understand why he was suffering that way. “Do not condemn me; show me why You contend with me.” (Job 10:2)Everything he knew about God didn’t match the reality of his suffering. He believed that: God is superior to man (v.

4). God is eternal (v. 5). God is my Creator (v. 8-11). God is merciful (v. 12). God cares about me (v. 13). God is just (v. 14).

On the other hand, he was willing to admit his guilt and not to boast in his innocence (v. 15).He didn’t know that he was suffering because he was faithful. That doesn’t really fit in with God’s character.

THE SUFFERING OF THE INNOCENT“They gather together against the life of the righteous, and

condemn innocent blood.” (Psalm 94:21)

“Innocent blood” can be found several times in the Bible to describe those who died blamelessly (Isaiah 59:7; Jeremiah 22:17; Joel 3:19).Blameless? Isn’t it truth that “death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)?

In an absolute way, don’t we all deserve suffering and death just because we sinned? That helps us to clearly understand how much we need the Cross.Nevertheless, God talks about innocent blood being spilled, so even sinners may suffer unfairly. That is, not every suffering in this life is caused by our own sins.

“Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?” (Luke 13:4)Not all suffering is caused by a specific sin, but all suffering is a consequence of sin. If sin hadn’t entered this world, then suffering wouldn’t have existed.Therefore, there are many unfair situations. Why did Job’s children die? Why did his servants die? Why did his livestock die? Were they guilty?

Nowadays, why do people die because of natural disasters or terrorist attacks? What about accidents, cancer or violent people?

Should we expect some justice in this life?

THE UNFAIR SUFFERING

E.G.W. (Education, cp. 34, p. 295)

OUR EVERYDAY EVIL“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the

evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34)Every day comes with its own dose of evil. Therefore, Jesus invites us to fully trust God every moment in our life.Nevertheless, God sometimes allows evil to be fiercely present in His children’s lives. Let’s see some examples.

Abel (Genesis 4:8)

Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11:17)

Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:6)

The children in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16)

John the Baptist (Matthew 14:10)

Stoned, tormented, sawn… (Hebrews 11:35-38)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own

understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

How can we explain the suffering that makes no sense to us and that spills innocent blood?The only valid explanation is beyond what our eyes can see. It’s an invisible battle, but it’s so real that it affects every aspect of our lives. It’s a Great Controversy between good and evil, between Christ and Satan.We are helpless before the evil powers, so we must fully trust God and His promises. This is very important when we cannot find anything good in the evil and suffering around us.

God has promised that all this evil will

someday become water under the

bridge and will never happen again (Nahum 1:9).

BEYOND THE VISIBLE

E.G.W. (The Great Controversy, cp. 29, p. 504)