The Mystery of Innocent Suffering

There is no such thing as innocent suffering in an absolute sense. It is directly and indirectly tied to sin, mainly the sin of the Fall. Yet there is significant reflection in Scripture on innocent suffering in some lesser sense, and no book reflects on it more probingly than in the Old Testament drama account of Job.

We’re told Job was a righteous man. That does not mean he was sinlessly perfect, but that he is just as good as they get .Job was unaware however, that there comes a time when Satan comes before God and offers a wager as it were, concerning this righteous man. That’s the way the drama is set up.

When Life Falls Apart God is Still in Control

Job 1:21 The house where his 10 children are partying collapses, and they’re all crushed to death. Job responds, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

In this, we’re told, Job did not sin or curse God foolishly. Then Satan comes back, and he says, “Yeah, yeah, but anybody can still be pious if they have their health, at least.” Then God allows Satan to harm his flesh, but not kill him.

When Life Falls Apart The Mystery Begins

Then his three friends arrive, acquaintances from former years. They fly in, see the suffering man, and do one wise thing: they sit with him and say nothing for a whole week. Then the theological debate that constitutes the drama of Job begins. The big question comes from their discussion with Job, “Job, do you believe that God is good?”

Job 2:13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

When suffering happens, the question is always, “Do you believe that God is sovereign? Do you believe that God is just? If so, explain the suffering.”

Job’s answer is absolutely “yes.” So, his friends conclude: “Then, if you’re suffering like this, it must be because you’re being punished for something. You have some sin you have committed.”

Job answers their theological position.
Job 5:7 Whoa, Job says, wait a minute: Human beings are born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. I know that God is good, and I know that God is sovereign. I’m not doubting that, but, quite frankly, I don’t deserve this.

They respond
Wait a minute, Job, are you challenging the fairness of God? If God is sovereign and God is good, then you can’t be suffering like this unless, in some sense, you deserve it! Or else, you’re arguing the justice of God! Job, you just need to admit your sinfulness?!

Without Answers, The Mystery Remains

Job says, “I know that God is sovereign. I know that God is good, but quite frankly, what’s happening to me is not fair. What I really wish is for God to come down so that I could ask Him a few questions! I don’t want to deny that God is good, but boy, do I have some questions to ask Him!

Job, are you crazy, are you going to stand in judgment of God? He’s sovereign, He’s righteous. If you have the attitude that you’re going to ask Him questions, then you are really arguing His goodness, His greatness and His Sovereignty. Job said, I just wish I had a mediator, someone to go between, and talk to Him about my suffering.

At one level: though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. On another level: I wish I had Him to hold to account, because what’s happening to me is not fair. His friends respond: Job, you’re blaspheming! You’re right on the edge of the most horrible language. To talk about God being unfair? Don’t you understand that our sins are such slippery things? They hide in such dark little corners. Believe me, God’s knowledge of your sin is absolute.

Sometimes, We Do Have a Clue To Our Suffering

God speaks. For two chapters, chapters 38 and 39, He asks many rhetorical questions, to which Job has no answer. Job concludes in chapter 40: Job said, ‘I obviously spoke too soon. Obviously, there are all kinds of things I don’t know. I’d like to back off. I’m sorry I’ve spoken like that.’ After all of that, Job does not say, ‘Oh, now I understand?’ Nope. He says, “I repent.” Too often we speak about suffering when we really don’t understand God at all.

God Confirms Job, Job 42:7

God says, Job, basically, you did say the right things about Me, and your friends did not. They did not get any mystery about Me right. You recognized there’s a mystery here. You didn’t work out the entailments very well. You do need to repent in some sense. Basically, you defended Me while still preserving your integrity.

No thoughtful Christian can ever say, ‘if you have problems with suffering, I have all the answers.’ Rather, at the end of the day, will still recognize there is mystery and hurt and a God who is still bigger:
We don’t know enough to stand in judgment of God when we suffer.  We must strive to trust as Job did. “Though He slay me, I will Trust Him.”