Title: Can I Prevent Suffering?
Text: Job 1.1-22
Series: Job: The Mystery of Suffering
Raymond Maurer
New Life Christian Church, Wixom, MI
www.NewLifeWithGod.com
E-mail me if you would like the Power Point Slides (Ray@NewLifeWithGod.com).
In 1741 an elderly stooped-over man wandered through the streets of London. Bystanders recognized this bum on his regular route. His angry mind raced back to the memories of the wonder years . . . For forty years the bachelor had written opera music that was adored by royalty in both England and Europe. He was honored and in-demand everywhere. Then things changed quickly and drastically. Fellow musicians became jealous and the royalty didn’t like his abrasive responses. A rival soon overtook his top spot.
If that were not enough, a cerebral hemorrhage paralyzed his right side. He could no longer write music. Doctors gave little hope for recovery. The old composer traveled to France and began to soak in baths rumored to have miraculous powers. Doctors warned him about staying in the scalding water for such long periods of time but he ignored their advice and gradually his weakened muscles began to receive new life. His health improved and he once again began to write. Soon, to his amazement, his works were being received with euphoric applause, and the honors again began to flow. But then he found himself in the pits once more after the death of Queen Caroline, who had been his loyal supporter.
On top of this, England found itself on hard economic times. Things were so bad they wouldn’t even spend money to warm a theater and his shows were canceled. He found himself again wandering aimlessly through the streets. And once again asking, where is God?
As he wondered home one day, he was shocked to find a wealthy gentleman waiting in his living room. The man was Charles Gibbon, who had startled England by rewriting Shakespeare. Gibbon explained that he had just finished writing a text for a musical that covered the entire Old and New Testament. He believed that the gifted musician was the man to set it to music. He gave the manuscript to the composer and challenged him to write. As he walked out the door, Gibbon turned long enough to say, “The Lord gave me those words.”
The great maestro scoffed to himself at the audacity of the young Gibbon. No one had ever challenged George Frederick Handel to write something he had not thought of first. Handel’s temper was violent, he was a dominating presence. Yet as he began to read the manuscript he was humbled and inspired by it. He read: “He was despised, rejected of men…he looked for someone to have pity on him, but there was no man; neither found he any to comfort him.” His eyes raced ahead: “He trusted in God…He will give you rest…O know that my redeemer lives… rejoice…hallelujah.”
He picked up his pen and began to write. Music seemed to flow through his mind as though it had been penned up for years. At age 57, Handel completed the Messiah in a mere 24 days. When the classical work was first performed in London, and the Hallelujah Chorus was reached, King George II stood because he was so moved.
(Robert Record. When Life is the Pits. Fleming H. Revell Co., 1987. 44-46. Sermon Central, John Hamby).
Like George Frederick Handel, Job’s life produced a masterpiece. The book of Job is a powerful classic. It’s a book that has the power make you stand in applause, and tear your clothes in anguish. It’s the classic work of God on the mystery of suffering.
As we read the book of Job, we are given behind-the-scenes information that Job never knew. Job struggled to understand the Mystery of Suffering. In the end it became clear that he wasn’t meant to understand all of the mysteries. Job endured tremendous suffering, yet he worshipped the Lord throughout. He said, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God (Job 19.25-26, NIV).
The book of Job isn’t about answering all of our questions. His friends tried to do this, and we’ll try to answer a few questions in this series, but part of suffering will always be a mystery…that’s the lesson of this book.
We live in an era that is obsessed with getting the answers to all of our questions. With all of the technology at our fingertips we almost expect that we’ll soon be able to control things that used to be a mystery. We’re not going to answer all of your questions. But the book of Job clearly answers some questions.
1. CAN I PREVENT SUFFERING? NO, EVEN THE RIGHTEOUS SUFFER.
A major theme in the book of Job is the mistaken notion that we can prevent suffering. It’s one of the lies of the enemy that still ensnares many today. Many are tormented with the thought that they could have prevented suffering for themselves or others who are close to them.
Others believe that wealth is always a reward from God, and poverty is always punishment. They believe that success always comes from righteousness and failure comes from sin. The people of Job’s day believed this as well. These things may be true some of the time, but the book of Job shows us that even the righteous suffer.
Jesus suffered. When God showed up He suffered! The only perfect man that we’re aware of was Jesus, and he suffered.
Job is never described as perfect, but he’s a good man. We read: There was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless, a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil…He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area (Job 1.1, 3b, NLT). Job was a rare breed. He was a man of complete integrity and the richest person in that entire area.
He worshipped the Lord. He sought to live a righteous life. He lived in the patriarchal era when there were no prescribed rules for making sacrifices to atone for sin, yet he instinctively offered sacrifices, as a few others did, to atone for sin and draw closer to God.
He offered sacrifices on behalf of his entire family. After his grown children had their parties, which lasted several days, Job would purify his children. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom (Job 1.5, NIV).
There is no question that Job was a righteous man. The Lord holds him up to Ezekiel as one of three great righteous men. God says, 13 “Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its men and their animals, 14 even if these three men - Noah, Daniel and Job - were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD (Ezekiel 14.12-14, NIV).
Noah, Daniel, and Job were all righteous men who overcame adversity. You cannot prevent suffering. God says, Even if these three pillars of righteousness prayed together for mercy in a land under judgment, their praying for others would be of no avail; they could save only themselves (Bible Knowledge Commentary Electronic Version).
Let’s look at the start of Job’s suffering: 14 a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: 15 … the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. 19 Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the desert and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you” (Job 1.14-19, NLT).
People say that bad things happen in threes; for Job it was four. Four messengers, one after the other came to throw another dagger in him. Each one came with devastating news.
• Some of your herds/wealth was stolen
• The rest of your herds/wealth were destroyed by fire
• All of your workers were kidnapped / killed
• All ten of your grown children are dead.
Job lived in the land of Uz. I’m sure he wished he could click his heels together and wake up in a safe place, but this wasn’t Oz. He wasn’t in Kansas anymore…he was in the midst of a heavenly battle.
Job’s friends were uncomfortable with his theological position. He asserted innocence. He worshipped God; yet he wondered aloud to a God who would allow a righteous man to suffer.
We don’t know who wrote the book of Job. Whoever it was wrote it after things were resolved. At the end of the book we read: 10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before…12 The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first (Job 42.10, 12, NIV).
Whoever wrote this book also wrote it with the knowledge of the spiritual battle that was taking place in the heavenly realms. The Bible tells more about this spiritual battle. It tells us about things that are difficult for our natural minds to grasp.
Review: Can I prevent suffering? No, even the righteous suffer.
2. WHO CAUSES SUFFERING? SATAN, BUT HE’S ON A LEASH HELD BY GOD.
The book of Job shows us that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in many philosophies (David Atkinson, The Message of Job, 20). Job and his friends all assume that God caused all of the suffering. Insurance companies today are of the same mind. They refer to many losses as an act of God. The Bible tells us it may be an act of Satan. Can you imagine how people would respond if insurance companies began saying, this was an act of Satan?
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan the Accuser came with them…8 The LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth - a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil.” 9 Satan replied to the LORD, “Yes, Job fears God, but not without good reason! 10 You have always protected him and his home and his property from harm. You have made him prosperous in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11 But take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” 12 “All right, you may test him,” the LORD said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically” (Job 1.6-12, NLT).
God allows Satan to test Job. This shows us that Satan is on a leash held by God. The enemy could do nothing without permission from God. Like Job, many are unaware of the heavenly battle that’s behind unwelcome events in our lives. Satan is our adversary that is capable of messing up our well-laid plans.
Paul reminds us of this when he says: Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6.12, NIV).
We also have to be careful that we don’t misunderstand this spiritual reality. Many Christians today subscribe to a Dualism where everything is either good or evil. It’s sometimes easier to interpret the events of our lives this way. But the Bible tells us that sometimes we cause our own problems. James reminds us 13 No one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed (James 1.13-14, NIV).
Others are so consumed with the dualism -- there is only good and evil -- that they give the enemy more power than he has. The contest is not between equals. There is no equal and opposite force of evil in tension with the goodness of God…God is always sovereign. And Satan is always only an adversary on a chain
(David Atkinson, The Message of Job, 23).
Satan means accuser. He’s a prosecuting angel in God’s heavenly court who fell from grace. Satan is an angel who was created by God. When he tried to become like God he was thrown out of heaven with a third of the angels.
Now he’s living with a death sentence.
If we read what happens at the end of the book we know that Satan will be cast into eternal torment. He’s a walking dead man, so he’s trying to bring others with him. Here’s what we read about the end of the road for Satan in Revelation: 9 The great dragon was hurled down- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony (Revelation 12.9-11, NIV).
Job overcame Satan by the word of his testimony. The rest of this book will address this for Job. We also have the benefit of the blood of the lamb. Jesus defeated Satan on the cross, but it doesn’t stop him from accusing us before God.
• Satan was there in the Garden of Eden twisting God’s words to lead Adam and Eve to rebel against God’s commands.
• He was there to encourage David to take a count of his people and depend on numbers rather than the Lord (1 Chronicles 21.1).
• When God’s people were coming back to the Lord and rebuilding after the Exile, Satan was there accusing Joshua the high priest:
There are some powerful verses where the Lord showed Zechariah the invisible reality that exists. He showed him the nature of the spiritual battle. We read: He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him (Zechariah 3.1, NIV).
Satan is a being who seems wholly committed to the downfall of righteous and godly people…His preoccupation with hunting out wrongdoing has produced a cynicism which is destructive (David Atkinson, The Message of Job, 21).
Satan tells God, Job is not a good man. He’s merely a man spoiled by your protection. Let me take some things away from Job and he will curse you to your face. Do people only follow God to get something in return? Or is there a relationship with God that will last through difficulties? These are the questions addressed in the book of Job.
Review: Can I prevent suffering? No, even the righteous suffer. Who causes suffering? Satan, but he’s on a leash held by God.
3. HOW SHOULD I RESPOND TO SUFFERING? EXPECT IT. BE HONEST ABOUT THE PAIN AND LIVE BY FAITH AND GOD’S POWER.
Let’s jump ahead to the NT. How should I respond to suffering? Jesus said we should expect it: These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world (John 16.33, NIV).
How did Job respond to suffering? 20 Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing (Job 1.20-22, NIV).
Satan underestimates the faith and the power of someone who has a strong relationship with God. He thought he knew Job’s motives for righteousness. He thought it was a contract. Satan thought Job benefited by becoming prosperous and God benefited by gaining a walking illustration.
One day Linus and Charlie Brown are walking along and chatting with one another. Linus says, "I don’t like to face problems head on. I think the best way to solve problems is to avoid them. In fact, this is a distinct philosophy of mine. No problem is so big or so complicated that it can’t be run away from!" (Sermon Central :Rich Young)
Job did not run away. He faced his problems. Job did not curse God. He did not begin blaming other people. He acknowledged that God was still on the throne. Job shows us how to worship in the midst of suffering. He shows us how to be honest about the pain, yet live by faith and by God’s power.
We’re going to look more at how to worship in the midst of a crisis next week.
COMMUNION
There are things that Satan can honestly accuse us of before God. We’re not perfect. There are things he can throw at us and they will stick. Let’s look at a few more verses from Zechariah’s vision from the Lord. He was given a glimpse into the reality that we often don’t see. Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.” 5 Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by (Zechariah 3.1-5, NIV).
God’s people were described as burning stick snatched from the fire. They were rescued to carry out the purposes of God. They dressed in filthy clothes, in fact this word has been used to describe clothes covered with excament. They stood before God with their awful sins. The Hebrew word …is "the strongest expression in the Hebrew language for filth of the most vile and loathsome character" (Feinberg, p. 58). Some interpreters maintain that Joshua was covered with excrement -only in the vision, of course! Such clothes represent the pollution of sin (Expositors Commentary)
So how can God bless a filthy nation like Israel was at this time? How can he bless a filthy church?
Through the blood of Jesus his Son. Through Jesus you can overcome sin and Satan. He will continue to accuse you, and there may be some truth in his accusations. But God will cleanse you and the accusations will disappear. The Lord will provide new clothes that are brilliantly clean.
