Lessons In Suffering From The Life Of Joseph
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Suffering Injustice
A. THE WORLD’S VIEW OF SUFFERING
The world views suffering as either the result of something you have done and so you deserve it
or just your bad luck, or your karma - fate.
"What’s for you’ll no go by you." Suffering is also viewed by some people as evidence that God doesn’t
exist.
eg
"I can’t believe in a God who’d let two year old weans die of
leukaemia.”
B. A BIBLICAL VIEW OF SUFFERING & LOSS
The Bible views suffering as having several possible causes -
(1) NATURAL EVIL: The Result Of Living In A Fallen World as a result of Adam & Eve’s
rebellion. Jesus describes satan as “the Ruler of this world” JOHN 14:30; 16:11
Ever since Adam and Eve’s
disobedience, limited authority over this world passed to satan and his angels,
although God is still in overall control. Much of the chaos and suffering in the
world is a result of this situation. We also suffer the effects of death through
the pain of bereavement.
(2) MORAL EVIL as a result of
(a) sin committed by me against others
I can suffer the painful consequences of my own sin committed against
God’s laws and against others. For example, if I drive a car under
the
influence of alcohol, I may kill myself or others and go to prison. If I break
God’s laws regarding sexual behaviour, I may suffer the consequences by
contracting a sexually transmitted disease;etc.
(b) sin committed against me by others
At the individual
level suffering can also be the result of others’ sin against me - for
example, bullying, physical or sexual abuse, discrimination, etc. Much of the suffering throughout the world is the result of man’s inhumanity
to man. This includes famines and other large-scale suffering caused by wars and
political decisions taken by dictators or ungodly regimes.
(3) SATANIC EVIL The Bible is clear that suffering is, either directly or indirectly, the
result of the activities of supernatural forces opposed to God and his kingdom
and organised by the Adversary - satan.
(4) SUFFERING AS PART OF GOD’S DISCIPLINE & TRAINING The Bible
also sees some suffering as God’s way of disciplining His children to
develop their faith and perseverance.