Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (Job 1:6-8)
You likely already know the rest of the story, but just in case, here is a snapshot: Satan claims Job is only faithful because God has protected and blessed him, and if God were to remove His protection and blessing, Job would surely turn away from God. God then gives Satan permission to test his theory. Job tragically loses everything, including his children, and is himself afflicted with excruciating sickness, all at the hands of Satan. Despite his torment, Job remains faithful. In the end, God restores everything Job lost!
I think most Christians read this story and think to themselves, what a tragic story…but look at how God was faithful to restore everything in the end. If that’s the case, I believe we are missing something very important. I think we miss it because we really don’t want to see it. Make no mistake about it; God suggested Job to Satan. It’s right there in black and white. “Have you considered my servant, Job?” God initiated all of it! Then – as if that wasn’t enough – God gives Satan permission to attack Job! So, I ask you; who is responsible for all of Job’s misfortunes? They came from the attack of the enemy. But did they really? It’s likely the very thought of what I am suggesting makes you squirm and grimace. It does not fit the image we have in our mind of God. We don’t want to see what is right in front of us! But God wanted us to see it. He made sure that the exchange between He and Satan, at the beginning of the story, was recorded in the scriptures for all believers to see for all generations. He wanted us to know how this whole thing went down. But why? Why does He want us to know that He was the ultimate initiator and source of all Job’s torment?
There is one verse that’s easily missed, at the very end of the story, which I believe sums up the heart of God in all of Job’s distress. Job finally responds to God’s questioning by saying these words… “I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees you” (Job 42:5). Those are the most beautiful words in the entire story. The restoration of all of Job’s stuff doesn’t begin to compare. In the midst of extreme suffering, God revealed Himself to Job.
Although the scriptures don’t say it, I believe that was the cry of Job’s heart before all of this went down. He wanted God to reveal Himself. How could this not have been his desire? We know Job was a man who loved and feared God. It was the cry of Moses when he prayed to God “show me your glory” (Exodus 33:18). It was the cry of David when he said, “This one thing I have asked of the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple” (Psalm 27:4).
And this is not only the cry of those great men in scripture, it is also the cry of all true believers everywhere. Our soul yearns for God to reveal Himself to us. We want more of Him. Because it is the revelation of Him that changes everything!
Every day He graciously sends trials and afflictions to His children so that they may be broken. So that His Spirit can pour out of a meek and humbled heart. So that His child may become “…perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4). He disciplines us as a loving father, so that He can give us the very thing our soul yearns for – more of Him. When a bone is broken it must be reset. That process is painful. If our muscles are to grow, we must break them down first. No pain – No Gain, right? Well, our inner man is no different.
Consider those words in Hebrews… “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?…but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:7, 10-11).
Perhaps one of the greatest New Testament examples is Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.” He says this, “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me – to keep me from exalting myself!” (2Corinthians 12:7). So here is what we know from this passage: The revelations Paul had received were so great that he was in danger of exalting himself (becoming proud). To keep him from this, he was given a thorn in his flesh. Now who would have given him something to keep him from becoming proud? God, of course! But then we also see Satan’s involvement. It was a messenger of Satan sent to torment him. I can’t help but wonder, was there a similar conversation in Heaven? Did Satan come before God and hear the words, “Have you considered my servant, Paul…?”
Paul then says he asked God three times to remove the thorn. How does God answer? He says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). So now we see the full picture; God afflicted Paul so that His power could be perfected in him, and He used Satan to do it.
Some may say that I am accusing God of being the author of evil. Oh no, that is not the case. We must understand that there are truths in scripture that cannot be reconciled by the finite mind of man. God is completely Sovereign, in control of all things. Yet man, somehow, has free will. And Satan also attacks! In Lamentations it says, “Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth?” (Lamentations 3:38). Or consider the words of Paul to the Philippians, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13). Why would I work out my salvation with fear and trembling if the very next words say that God is literally responsible for the entire process? Which one is it, Paul? Well, it is both! We must accept both! We must concede that there are seemingly contradictory truths taught in scripture that we will not be able to reconcile on this side of Heaven.
I know this can be a hard pill to swallow; especially considering the unspeakable pain, tragedies, and afflictions that many of you have endured. I know it may not line up with the version of
God you have in your mind. Nevertheless, this is what scripture teaches us, and we are called to embrace it!
But why, Mike? Why is it so important to embrace this truth?
Because, then you will be able to submit to your trials rather than resist them; and His power will be perfected in you.
Because, then you will realize that you are not in control; and upon such realization, step into the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Because, then you may cry out along with Job… “I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees you” (Job 42:5).
11 Responses
Also read ur article in Living (Cypress). Really good and thought provoking. God indeed uses suffering to draw us to Himself. He disciplines us as our loving Father and is the perfect parent we all need. I’m following u now and look forward to reading ur past blog posts. I appreciate ur authenticity. Press on, my brother in Christ!
I saw this in the Living magazine and I am thankful to you for submitting messages about God. We need more of this.
I do have to say that if we desire clarity in the scripture we must study the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to open our heart and minds to understand.
Read this in Prosper living and I have to politely disagree. I don’t believe that God sends trials but I believe he allows them in some circumstances. I can’t, for the life of me, understand how someone would believe in a God who would allow their baby to die or take their mother at a young age? We’re missing so much about God if we see him as the author of evil. Because babies being killed in schools is pure evil and that is not of God.
Hey “not actually bob”…. I appreciate your comment and thoughts and understand that what I write is difficult. I don’t think that what I have written equates to God being the “Author of Evil necessarily”. I believe , as stated in the expanded article posted on the site here, there are things that we cannot reconcile with our finite minds in the Scriptures. The minute we begin to try and reconcile two different truths that are irreconcilable we end up diminishing both of them. We simply have to accept that both of them co-exist at the same time and we cannot reconcile how that could be so. Would love for you to reply and give your responses to the multiple scriptures I have cited here within the expanded version of the article here on my site and let me know how you would explain/interpret these things.
also… I believe we say things like “God allows evil” without giving that statement the thought that it deserves. Lets be real…is there really a huge difference between what I have written in my post and you saying that “God allows evil”?? I don’t believe there is! I don’t think anyone disagrees that God allowed Satan to attack Jobs children. It is right there in the story in black and white. Remember, all Jobs children died! Was that different because they weren’t “babies”(referencing your comment)? So we have an all powerful and loving God that was approached by Satan and God gave him permission to kill all Jobs children and afflict Job terribly!! He could have said NO…but he didn’t. Does that not imply a level of complicity?? What do you do with that? Lets say a murderer knocks on the door of your house and politely asks you if he can come in and kill your children, and you say yes, go ahead. You move to the side and let him walk in and kill your children. Isn’t that kinda similar to what happened in Job? But I think everyone is so quick to say…God doesn’t send trials and afflictions but he just “allows them”… as if there is really a huge difference between the two when in reality there isn’t. How do you feel about the father that stepped aside and “allowed” the murder to come in and slaughter his kids? Was he complicit? Could he not be considered an accomplice in the act? Obviously I realize that isn’t a perfect analogy but I think it makes the point well enough. In conclusion…You may think I am saying God is evil…but I am certainly NOT. I am saying there are things about His nature that we don’t understand and cannot reconcile with our finite minds. I am saying that our “view” of trials and afflictions may not be the same as His! I am saying that He seems to be using trials and afflictions in our lives to reveal more of Himself to us. And I am saying that I believe many have a false view of God in their minds that may not actually line up with the Scriptures, because they don’t want to really deal with some of the difficult passages that contradict their pre-conceived notion of who God is.
I hear you and agree. The God I know isn’t cruel or sadistic. The author overlooks the verse where God put all Job had into Satan’s power. (Job1:12) The point of the story, IMO, is God knew Job’s faithfulness would withstand Satan’s attack. It was an attempt to prove to the devil he isn’t as great as he thinks he is, and that God’s true people will stick with Him through thick and thin because their faith isn’t based on the material world. It wasn’t God being cruel to Job, it was making Job a hero of the faith, despite the evil things Satan did to him.
I think the verses on discipline are being interpreted by modern definition, aka painful correction. There are other ways to discipline that are gentle and loving. When it talks about the pain of correction in the those verses, I believe it means the contriteness of a humbled spirit, that regrets its sin.
I believe disease, disaster and death are all part of the curse. (Though I’ve read a very good treatise on death ultimately being a blessing in this sin filled world.) I also believe human freewill and evil forces exist in the world. They are different entities, and both are responsible for needless human suffering.
Read your article in the living magazine. Very thought-provoking, interesting and believable. Thanks for your insight.
You are very welcome Linda!!
Beautiful!
thank you!!