Some Die Once – Many Die Twice [Part 23]
In Part 23 of our series of Blog Posts from our upcoming book titled “One Way or Another Your Eternal Destination is Guaranteed” the question today looks at: “The Problem of Human Suffering”
A Man Named Job
The Book of Job (pronounced Jōb) tells us of a man named Job who suffered severe, almost unbearable hardships. Job was a blameless and upright man who revered God. When God allowed Satan to curse Job with evil destruction, it resulted in much pain and sorrow to overcome. In the first two chapters of the Book, all of Job’s sons and daughters were eating a meal in the oldest son’s house when suddenly a great wind collapsed the house and killed them all.
On the same day, while Job’s servants were plowing, villains killed the workers and stole Job’s oxen and donkey livestock. At the same time the murdering and thievery were taking place, a fire burned up all the sheep and killed the shepherds with them. While this was happening, three other bands of thieves and killers stole Job’s camels and killed the workers tending them. But Job still respected God and shunned evil.
Then, God allowed Satan to strike Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. Job scraped himself with broken pieces of clay pots and sat in the residue of the dead ashes of skin. His wife tempted him to curse God, but Job still, in all this, did not sin with his lips. Perhaps there were things amiss in Job’s heart that God knew about, but things Job was unaware of… This was the benefit of his suffering.
Three Close Friends
Job had three close friends who came to mourn with him and comfort him. When they saw him, they did not recognize him. They stayed with him day and night for a full week. By now Job was so distressed that he wished he’d never been born. But the first two of his three friends pour out their hearts to reassure and encourage him, and, as well, rebuke and condemn him. In Job 6:14 one of them tells Job that to whoever has no hope, kindness should come from his friend. But with their speech, Job sees it as if they were mocking him, because Job was righteous in his own eyes (Job 32:1). Job did not give glory to God for his previous upright life. Finally, Job’s wrath was aroused against those two friends for their condemnation of him.
Then, the third and more mature friend, who’d only been listening so far, speaks up in Job 32-37, speaking as a spokesman for God. After those six chapters, God speaks to Job in chapters 38-41. After God reminded Job of God’s omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence, Job states in the last chapter (42) to God in verse 2 that God can do everything.
The Lord’s Blessings
And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversary that the LORD had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold. Now the LORD blessed the latter days of job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. Job 42:10-13
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
The Book of Job in a Nutshell
William MacDonald explains the Book of Job in a nutshell:
The subject of the book is the mystery of human suffering and the problem of pain. Why do all people suffer some, and especially why do the righteous suffer? In Job we see a man who was probably exposed to more catastrophes in one day than any other person who has ever lived, with the exception of the Lord Jesus. The Lord allowed these sufferings to come into Job’s life in order to enlarge his capacity for communion [fellowship] with God.
Source: Believer’s Bible Commentary copyright 1995, 1992, 1990, 1989, by William MacDonald, p. 515
Warren Henderson provides the following commentary:
Job shows us man possesses an inherent desire for preservation but resides in a world plagued with evil. This means that human suffering is inevitable, and that even the innocent and God-fearing cannot escape it. Although God does not originate evil, the narrative demonstrates He is in complete control of it. God is sovereign over all His creation, and even though it has been ruined by sin and rebellion, He is able to affect His own glory and our betterment in it, no matter the circumstances.
Without God, suffering would be a most miserable experience! It is only through Him that our human misery can have a foreknown and profitable purpose. He ensures the outcome of our suffering can accomplish a greater good; hence we can be thankful despite the hardship (Rom. 8:28; Eph.5:20).
Our affliction may be the consequence of sin (Heb. 12:6), or for personal refinement (Jas. 1:2-3), or to prepare us for further blessing (Job 42:12), but it is always for the glory of God (John 11:4). Thus, Paul could confidently write: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18 NKJV). In this sense, suffering for righteousness better prepares believers for heaven! Righteous Jōb would learn through adversity what it means to be delivered from himself for God’s glory.
Source: The Beginning of Wisdom- A Devotional Study of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Song of Solomon, by Warren Henderson Copyright© 2016, p. 12
God is in Control
God’s Word tells us that it is He who created us and it is He who determines our days:
Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass. Job 14:5
Yes, the Lord determines our days on this earth. But He gives us the freedom to determine our long-range future by simply making the decision to accept His free offer.
If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes. Job 14:14
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6
Next Blog Post on July 17, 2025: “Significance of Looking Ahead”
Pray that people will come to the saving knowledge of the Truth before it’s too late, and love their children to teach them the Truth.
Thank you for reading and God bless you!
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What is a Believer? What is an Unbeliever?
The Decision – Is it only for Self?
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version, unless stated otherwise. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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