Job and Sources of Suffering

(Links for Crossword puzzles on Job 28-30 found at endof this article. Check on previous articles for puzzles on Job 1-27. Check in upcoming articles on matters related to Job for puzzles on Job chapters 31-42).

C. S. Lewis is quoted as saying, “We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, “Blessed are they that mourn.” Even though we know that suffering is inevitable in this life, the questions of “Why?” or “Why me?” are still often asked by many a sufferer. Job asked this question numerous times as he endured his sufferings.

His three friends had only one explanation – that being that all suffering is the result of sin. Their lack of understanding led them to be miserable comforters to a sufferer. A better understanding of suffering should make us better supporters to those who suffer, and it should help us see our own sufferings that we may experience from a whole new light. Consider the following possible sources of suffering.

One source of suffering is man’s inhumanity or mistreatment of man. God has made man a free moral agent. As a result, God does not infringe upon man’s choices and actions whether they are good or bad. As Satan sought to cause Job to curse God to his face, he used various peoples – the Sabeans (Job 1:14-15) and the Chaldeans (Job 1:17) – to inflict suffering upon this just and upright man. Man’s unjust treatment of his fellow man has existed from the outset of humanity as is seen in Cain’s murder of his brother Abel (Genesis 4:4-8). In the days of Noah, the Bible says that violence had spread throughout the world (Genesis 6:11).

Another source of suffering is man’s own mistreatment of himself. The Bible instructs us that one should possess a healthy love and respect for oneself. Paul, for instance, taught that a man’s estimation of his wife is equivalent to his estimation of himself. If a man demonstrates love to his wife, then, he shows love for himself as well (Ephesians 5:28). Also, the Bible teaches that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Sadly, though, many times, individuals do not treat themselves as they ought (drinking, smoking, drug abuse, unhealthy dieting, personal neglect, fornication, risky behaviors, etc.).

Still, another source of suffering is the environment in which we live. In the account of Job, Satan used the forces of the environment to bring about the death of Job’s children (Job 1:18-19). Whether God continues to allow Satan to operate in the area is unknown and questionable (Deuteronomy 29:29). At times, in Scripture, the environment (that is, natural law) played a part in man’s suffering (Luke 13:4; John 9:1-3).

The chastening of God can also be a source of suffering. God often used wicked nations or natural disasters to carry out His divine will. Sometimes, this would be to bring about just punishments upon His people – as in the Babylonian Captivity. At other times, it would be to bring about repentance – as in the three-year drought in the days of king Ahab (1 Kings 18:1). The Bible teaches that the reason God chastises us is because He loves us as a father loves his son (Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:6; Revelation 3:19).

A source that is closely tied in with the first one we considered is the influence of Satan. Job did not realize that it was really the working of Satan that brought such horrible suffering into his life. While Satan’s power has been limited by the work of Christ and by the Gospel (Luke 10:17-19; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:1-2), we must ever be watchful of his continuing influence (1 Peter 5:8).

The apostle Paul describes Satan’s work as subtle (2 Corinthians 11:3), which means that he uses trickery, sophistry, cunningness and craftiness to accomplish his goals. Also, he works through those who appear to be righteous (Prov. 7:1-14; 2 Corinthians 11:14-15). His goal is always to destroy, oppress, and lead people away from God (Acts 10:38; James 1:13-15). Nevertheless, Paul reminds us that we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11) and that we can overcome his influence by resisting him and by drawing nearer to the Lord (James 4:7-8).

Still another source might be one that is never known. One may suffer and may never find an explanation for the suffering. In the account of Job, Job is never told why he suffered. In his desperation throughout his various speeches (Job 6:26), he believed that it was God that was putting him through such terrible torment and that his suffering was undeserved. Like many a sufferer, He asked the question “Why?” again and again in his speeches (about twenty or so times). Like Job though, the answers that are expected may never come.

We know that from the opening chapters of the Book of Job that Job suffered, because he was a righteous man; but God never directly answered Job’s “Whys”. God’s response from the whirlwind (Job 38-41) regarding His control and care of His creation was enough to suffice Job from all that He endured. In the end, Job was satisfied with the response he received, and based upon that satisfaction, he submitted to God and repented (Job 42:1-6).

- Adapted from class notes on Job by Curtis Cates (9-8-94)

Here are the puzzles for the Book of Job 28-30.