Suffering in the Bible and the World
by Owen Borville
November 19, 2018
Bible
We see major suffering in the world today. Death, disease, famine, natural disasters, poverty and many more tragic events and circumstances occur in the world today as seen in news headlines and media outlets. There have been two World Wars, and many other major wars throughout the world during the history of humanity that have claimed the lives of many people. Great plagues and diseases have also killed many people, in addition to floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Many question why God would allow such suffering in the world. If God is a loving God, why does such suffering occur in the world today? For those who are familiar with the Biblical scriptures, suffering has occurred throughout history. Even the central figures in the Bible experienced suffering, from Joseph, to David, to Job, and to Jesus Christ.
Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers, who were jealous of his telling of dreams that suggested that he would rule over them. His brothers also lied to their father by telling them that Joseph had died when they instead sold him into slavery. While in Egypt, Joseph would eventually become the second most powerful man behind the Pharaoh and rule over his brothers and father, just as his dreams confirmed. Falsely accused of rape, Joseph spent time in Egyptian prison but his unique gift of dream interpretation helped him to be released from prison and rise to power again, while he would eventually reconcile his relationship with his family.
David was appointed to the King of Israel but had many enemies, particularly King Saul who wanted to kill him because he was jealous of his quick rise in popularity. David experienced much suffering and felt alone and abandoned by God. In Psalm 22, David asks God, "Why have you forsaken me?" as his enemies wanted to kill him. However, David kept his faith in God and continued to believe that God would deliver him from his enemies as he would continually praise God.
The Sufferings of Jesus Christ Leading to the Crucifixion. The Roman government was constantly on his shoulder, in addition to the Jewish leaders who did not believe in his mission or who he was. He was falsely accused and was sentenced to death because his persecutors did not realize who he was. Because of their own sin, they could not recognize Jesus Christ and did not believe that which he claimed to be. However, Jesus Christ stayed faithful and true to the mission of being the God-Anointed Savior of the World and being the Sacrifice for Humanity.
The Book of Job includes and account of a wealthy man who lost everything, including his material possessions and his children while suffering from disease himself. Job was "blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1). Satan questions Job's faith and suggests that Job would turn against God if his possessions were taken away. God then allows Job to be tested for his faith. Job's friends cannot understand why he is experiencing so much suffering and even suggest that he is being punished for sin while his wife told him to curse God and die. Job suffers deep depression from his losses and never knew the reason for his sufferings. After God responds to Job's questions of why he is suffering, Job repents of his questioning of God's work. God describes his unique creations on earth and describes himself as the all-powerful creator of everything, including man and implies that humans and the creation cannot question the ways of God. However, Job kept his faith and his possessions were eventually returned to him even more abundantly, along with his health and new children.
There was once a perfect world in the Garden of Eden as described in the Book of Genesis where man lived in paradise and had a command to not eat of the forbidden fruit. Man sinned and ate the fruit, and therefore was kicked out of the Garden of Eden and was sent to a place that was less perfect. The world after the Fall was less perfect than the Garden, however man still could live up to 1000 years and environmental conditions were much more favorable. As the world became extremely corrupt and sinful, God sent the Flood, after which man could only live about 80 to 100 years and many environmental conditions on Earth worsened.
The Biblical scriptures teach that there are consequences for sin as we observe the earth becoming more cursed as a result of the corruption and sinful lifestyles of man. God is a just God and whenever there is sin, there must be judgement. However, we must trust God and because He is all-powerful and the creator of the universe, we cannot question His actions. God has a plan for every human soul and has an appointed time for all to leave this earth.
We cannot question God's plan and can only trust in Him.
by Owen Borville
November 19, 2018
Bible
We see major suffering in the world today. Death, disease, famine, natural disasters, poverty and many more tragic events and circumstances occur in the world today as seen in news headlines and media outlets. There have been two World Wars, and many other major wars throughout the world during the history of humanity that have claimed the lives of many people. Great plagues and diseases have also killed many people, in addition to floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Many question why God would allow such suffering in the world. If God is a loving God, why does such suffering occur in the world today? For those who are familiar with the Biblical scriptures, suffering has occurred throughout history. Even the central figures in the Bible experienced suffering, from Joseph, to David, to Job, and to Jesus Christ.
Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers, who were jealous of his telling of dreams that suggested that he would rule over them. His brothers also lied to their father by telling them that Joseph had died when they instead sold him into slavery. While in Egypt, Joseph would eventually become the second most powerful man behind the Pharaoh and rule over his brothers and father, just as his dreams confirmed. Falsely accused of rape, Joseph spent time in Egyptian prison but his unique gift of dream interpretation helped him to be released from prison and rise to power again, while he would eventually reconcile his relationship with his family.
David was appointed to the King of Israel but had many enemies, particularly King Saul who wanted to kill him because he was jealous of his quick rise in popularity. David experienced much suffering and felt alone and abandoned by God. In Psalm 22, David asks God, "Why have you forsaken me?" as his enemies wanted to kill him. However, David kept his faith in God and continued to believe that God would deliver him from his enemies as he would continually praise God.
The Sufferings of Jesus Christ Leading to the Crucifixion. The Roman government was constantly on his shoulder, in addition to the Jewish leaders who did not believe in his mission or who he was. He was falsely accused and was sentenced to death because his persecutors did not realize who he was. Because of their own sin, they could not recognize Jesus Christ and did not believe that which he claimed to be. However, Jesus Christ stayed faithful and true to the mission of being the God-Anointed Savior of the World and being the Sacrifice for Humanity.
The Book of Job includes and account of a wealthy man who lost everything, including his material possessions and his children while suffering from disease himself. Job was "blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1). Satan questions Job's faith and suggests that Job would turn against God if his possessions were taken away. God then allows Job to be tested for his faith. Job's friends cannot understand why he is experiencing so much suffering and even suggest that he is being punished for sin while his wife told him to curse God and die. Job suffers deep depression from his losses and never knew the reason for his sufferings. After God responds to Job's questions of why he is suffering, Job repents of his questioning of God's work. God describes his unique creations on earth and describes himself as the all-powerful creator of everything, including man and implies that humans and the creation cannot question the ways of God. However, Job kept his faith and his possessions were eventually returned to him even more abundantly, along with his health and new children.
There was once a perfect world in the Garden of Eden as described in the Book of Genesis where man lived in paradise and had a command to not eat of the forbidden fruit. Man sinned and ate the fruit, and therefore was kicked out of the Garden of Eden and was sent to a place that was less perfect. The world after the Fall was less perfect than the Garden, however man still could live up to 1000 years and environmental conditions were much more favorable. As the world became extremely corrupt and sinful, God sent the Flood, after which man could only live about 80 to 100 years and many environmental conditions on Earth worsened.
The Biblical scriptures teach that there are consequences for sin as we observe the earth becoming more cursed as a result of the corruption and sinful lifestyles of man. God is a just God and whenever there is sin, there must be judgement. However, we must trust God and because He is all-powerful and the creator of the universe, we cannot question His actions. God has a plan for every human soul and has an appointed time for all to leave this earth.
We cannot question God's plan and can only trust in Him.
