by Harry Osborne
Do you sometimes wonder why there is so much human suffering in our world? The existence of such suffering causes some people to question why a good and loving God would allow these things to take place. Some have even been moved to doubt God's existence because they have seen the fact that good people suffer in a way that does not seem just to them. There is no doubt that good people sometimes suffer, however, this fact does not demand a conclusion that God is unjust for allowing the existence of such suffering.
Before considering a book that addresses this problem, let us think about how we should reason regarding this world and God's part in it. First, the proper way to reason about the existence of God is to evaluate the evidence of the order and design He manifests in His creation and His divine power as seen through His word, the Bible. Second, we need to understand how God made that creation. Did He make us like robots programmed to every action or as creatures of free will?
If God had created people as mere robots programmed to act in a predetermined way to predetermined situations, we would have no ability to choose our actions. However, the Bible teaches that we do have the ability to choose our path of action (Joshua 24:14-15; Jeremiah 35:13-15; Ezekiel 33:10-11; Revelation 3:20; Romans 6:16-18). Thus, the Bible teaches that God has not predetermined and caused all actions, but leaves many decisions and actions to us.
How, then, is it logical for us to blame God for all evil that happens in this world when the Bible teaches that He does not cause all actions in this world? In fact, the Bible teaches that God is not responsible for any of the evils of sin in this world (James 1:13-17). The choices of evil which cause much of the suffering in this world are the responsibility of people who have turned their backs upon God, not upon the God who calls them to repent.
A perfect explanation for why suffering is allowed would have to come from God who alone possesses the infinite knowledge to provide such answers. Yet, in some cases, humans can observe some facts about the suffering of good people. For instance, the drunken driver who kills an innocent child should be blamed for that tragedy, not God. It is obvious that God does not tolerate drunkenness, but condemns such. How could God be blamed for any tragedy stemming from willful disobedience to His commands. Another example may be seen in the case of a man who suffers physical impairment from an accident which changes the direction of his life and causes him to benefit multitudes by the new direction taken. We have all seen cases, first appearing to be tragedy, becoming a blessing in the end. Suffering may be a path to a greater good yet unseen. Man's finite perspective is not always able to see that final good.
We are then told of a great calamity that fell upon Job. In one day, Job lost all of his wealth and possessions. In the same day, his servants were killed. But worst of all, on the same day, his children were all killed by a great storm. Job was convinced that this happened because "the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away" (Job 1:21). We are told of his reaction when the Bible says, "In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong" (Job 1:22).
Job's righteousness is seen in that he did not blame God with wrong, but Job was incorrect in his belief that his suffering was a result of action taken by God. The Bible very clearly tells us that Satan caused Job's suffering (Job 1:6-12). Since Job labors under the incorrect assumption that God had brought the suffering upon him, he struggles with questions about how God can justly do such throughout the book.
In chapter 2 of the book, Job's suffering increases when Satan causes Job to have painful boils from head to toe upon his body. He again wrongly concludes that God has brought on the affliction, but does not respond in a sinful way (Job 2:10). In his agony, Job searches even more diligently for the cause of his suffering.
Three friends of Job then join him and discuss his situation. All conclude that Job is being punished by God for sin he had committed. Job shows the fallacy of their arguments in numerous ways, but still does not have the answer for the cause of his suffering. Later in the book, another man named of Elihu seeks to blame Job's condition upon some sin for which Job was being punished. All fail because they wrongly conclude that God is the source of all suffering.
In the latter part of the book, God talks with Job regarding some of his questions, but God never tells Job that which the reader of the book knows -- that Satan, not God, was the source of Job's suffering. Instead, God tells Job to have confidence in His omnipotence and omniscience.
Job is told to remember his place as a finite man and not question the infinite God. Job is reminded of God's wisdom and perfection in every action He has taken. The effect of God's answer to Job was to humble him and remind him of man's unworthiness to question or accuse God of wrong. At the conclusion, we are told "the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10).
Why is Job not told what the reader is told about the source of his suffering? Maybe it is to show us how we should react when in suffering. We must remember that we may be incorrect in blaming God for suffering in this world. Instead of wrongly concluding that God is to blame for suffering, we should recognize Him as the one who blesses mankind. When we view God in this way, we will seek to learn about Him and serve Him as He instructs.