If the Creator Cares, Why So Much Suffering? - The Person Behind the Suffering

One book of the Bible is especially revealing as to what the prime cause of suffering is and why the caring Creator has permitted it.  This book, Job, can clarify any blurred vision on the matter of suffering. It does so by offering insight into the invisible realm, where certain key events occurred.

Some 3,500 years ago, shortly before Moses wrote the first Bible books,the man Job lived in what is now Arabia. The record shows that Job was upright, benevolent, and well respected. He had great wealth in the form of livestock, even being called "the greatest of all Orientals."  On a personal level, Job had a fine family-a wife, seven sons, and three daughters.  (Job 1:1-3; 29:7-9, 12-16)   One day a messenger rushed in to report that some of Job's valuable herds had been plundered by a raiding band.  Soon another reported the loss of flocks of Job's sheep.  Then the Chaldeans took away his 3,000 camels, killing all but one of the attendants. Finally, came the worse news. An unusual wind devastated the house of the firstborn and killed all his children, who were gathered there.  Faced with such suffering, would Job blame God? How would you have felt in his place? -Job 1:13-19. 

More calamities were to come, though, Job was afflicted with a horrible disease that covered him with malignant boils.  He became so sick and repugnant that his wife blamed God.  "Curse God and die!" she said. Job did not know why he was suffering, he would not accuse God of causing it. We read:  "In all this Job did not sin with his lips."  -Job 2:6-10. 

Hearing of Job's vexations, three acquaintances came to him.  "Where have the upright ever been effaced?" asked Eliphaz, who assumed that Job must have acted wickedly. (Job, chapters 4, 5)  He accused Job of secret sins, even of denying his bread to the needy and having oppressed widows and orphans.  (Job, chapters 15, 22)  The two other sham comforted also berated Job as though he were responsible for his sufferings.  Were they correct?  Not at all. 

The book of Job helps us to identify the root cause of Job's suffering and to see why God allowed it. Chapters 1 and 2 reveal what had recently taken place in the invisible heavens, in the spirit realm.  The rebellious spirit called Satan assembled with other spirit's in God's presence. At the mention of Job's blameless course, Satan challenged :  "Is it for nothing that Job has feared God? . . .  for a change, thrust out your hand, please, and touch everything he has and see if he will curse you to your very fact." -Job 1:9-12. 

Next time: If the Creator Cares, Why So Much Suffering? -Conclusion of  The Person Behind the Suffering.

From the book: Is There a Creator That Cares About You?