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Suffering II

Job and his hmmm friends. Image by Free Bible Images.

We’ve got Questions:

Why? Why me? How long? Is God angry? Is it my sin? Is it another’s sin? These questions in every form imaginable run through the mind of the sufferer, and in Job’s case without pause for his suffering from boils all over his body would prompt them. From the book of Job we get the idea that presuming to know the simple answer to such questions makes God angry for we cannot but misrepresent Him as we rattle off glib and canned answers such as, “… there must be sin somewhere.” There is sin EVERYWHERE! The entire planet is plagued with it! That’s why there’s sin and sickness and suffering and pain.

God’s got Answers:

God’s answer to all these questions seems to be, “That’s for me to know. I’m God and you’re not.” He further suggests that the idea that Job deserves an answer because Job didn’t fully grasp the awesome gap between Him (Creator) and men (creatures). Job did not have the humility nor the patience to bear suffering because he judged himself righteous therefore undeserving of it. In reality, all have sinned, all have a sin nature, and no one can claim an exemption from suffering based on his righteousness.

Disciples’ Perspective: Enter Jesus!

We learn from the New Testament . . . “How God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power, Who went about doing good and healing ALL (emphasis mine) that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him.” Jesus didn’t debate the “who sinned?” question; He simply said what you see are the works of satan, and God wants to replace it with His works! He commissioned His followers to take His kingdom everywhere with this same authority and His command to continue in His wake as they went about to make disciples. This is the life Jesus has called us to live: as we make disciples, healing the sick and setting captives free. The very same works He did. We find that when we abandon the Old covenant under which the likes of Job suffered, we are free of the same kind of accusatory counsel of his friends, and we find deliverance. Believers who stay with any of the vestiges of the old covenant such as those who observe days, places, and seasons and are bound to the ideas, authority and approval of men, cannot walk in the authority and power with which Jesus has commissioned them.

Newsflash: We are in a war.

Onrushing army by tvtropes.org

We must however realize that we are in a war. Those who fight on the battle front where the battle is most fierce will suffer a blow or two just like Jesus did. This is persecution for Jesus’ sake. Jesus warns us of this and counsels us to bear the persecution that comes as a direct result of being a follower and witness of Jesus Christ even to death. This is a hard word! which is why He said to count the cost. We must however be clear that He does not expect His body to suffer the curses He as delivered them from and from which He liberated everyone that was brought to Him – sickness, demonic oppression, disease, etc.

This is a huge topic! If you have comments or questions please do not hesitate to enter the conversation! And please continue reading with me! Blessings.

Bible Reading list – Jan 29 – Feb 4 

DATE READING Commentary 
Jan 29 Job 35-37  
Jan 30 Job 38-39  
Jan 31 Job 40-42 Suffering II 
Feb 1 Exodus 1-3  
Feb 2 Exodus 4-6  
Feb 3 Exodus 7-9  
Feb 4 Exodus 10-12  
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Suffering

Suffering – Part 1

The issue of human suffering is universal in that we all experience it, all hate it, all crave an answer, and usually come to the end of ourselves. Job is the enigmatic poster child of suffering. He echoes the same questions we all have when we suffer except he voices them out over and over. Job’s story is further complicated by the fact that God seems to have colluded with satan (in attacking Job’s perfect life though he was “…blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” In Job 2:3b God says of Job after he had lost his property, his livestock and his children, “he still holds fast to his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him without cause.” Without cause!?  Scary! Job protests based on his righteousness and according to God’s estimation of him he would be right.

Job’s friends though! The only thing worse is being alone! They are not the picture of how to comfort a person who is suffering or grieving the loss of their children and of everything else. Their one mantra is, ‘the only way this could have happened to you is if you had sinned, if you are a wicked man.’

Disciples’ Perspective:

First of all a disciple needs to be clear that the singular source of ALL suffering – physical, emotional, or otherwise – is original sin. Even if you bang your head against a wall and it hurts, it’s because of what our bodies are now due to the effects of the fall. We should hate sickness and disease as we do sin.

Secondly we need to understand that Jesus took ALL our sin and suffering. It was ALL nailed to His cross. And when He declared over 2000 years ago that “it is finished!” he had paid for it all and healed us ALL completely. This is good news! When we repent and are baptized we identify completely with His death and burial; and when we come out of the water, we identify with His resurrection and are new creatures! Ones that never existed before.

So when we minister to people, we need to understand that there is no excuse. Even if they had surgery, we can speak healing. Even if they had an accident and there is a legitimate reason for their suffering, we can still take authority over it.

Thirdly, there is a kind of suffering that we are called to as we identify with Christ, and that is suffering persecution for righteousness sake. We should expect it so we are not thrown off course by it. Jesus told us plainly, “in this world you will have tribulation. . . but I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33). Paul also cautioned Timothy (3:12) thus: “. . . everyone who wants to live a godly life in /christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Bible Reading list – Jan 22-28

DATE READING Commentary
Jan 22 Job 12-14 Suffering – Part 1
Jan 23 Job 15-18  
Jan 24 Job 19-21  
Jan 25 Job 22-25  
Jan 26 Job 26-29  
Jan 27 Job 30-31  
Jan 28 Job 32-34  

This topic is to be continued as the book of Job provides more insight into suffering. Blessings.

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Joseph a type of Jesus

Luke 24:27 states that Jesus began to show his disciples all the things the scriptures said about Him from Moses and the prophets! We also learn that the Old testament is a shadow and the new is the reality. So in every book we will see Jesus portrayed.

Joseph provides that picture of Jesus and the likeness is striking indeed. He was His father’s favorite but hated by His brethren. He was sold for silver to enemies. He descended from His status to the lowest social strata and was exalted to the highest in due time. Through His descent and ascent He remained true and faithful and feared God doing His will from the heart. In the end we see God allowed His suffering because He had called Him to be Savior for His people.

Joseph though a type of Christ, and though he received a double portion of inheritance, was not the inheritor of the covenant and the promise. Judah was. He presents another type. Levi presents another type because he was chosen by God for the priesthood. Jesus is our High Priest entering into the presence of God with the propitiation for our sin.

Disciple’s perspective:

God in befriending Abraham begins to show us His heart toward us: He desires relationship and wants to create a nation that are His special people. In all His dealings with Abraham we begin to see the gospel unfold as God makes a way for humans to be reconciled to Himself.

Later on this week we’ll be dealing with the issue of suffering: The disciples asked Jesus: Who sinned? This man or his parents that he was born blind?

Bible Reading list – Jan 15-21

DATE READING Commentary
Jan 15 Genesis 40-41   Joseph – a type of Jesus
Jan 16 Gen 42-45  
Jan 17 Gen 46-47  
Jan 18 Gen 48-50  
Jan 19 Job 1-4   Job – how to deal with suffering.
Jan 20 Job 5-7  
Jan 21 Job 8-11  
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Genesis a book of firsts . . .

Genesis is a book of firsts.

First of creation. First light, sky, land, water, birds, fish, animals. First world; perfect world. And God thought it was very good. First man and woman draw their first breaths. First marriage. First sin. First sacrifice. First curse. First births. First family. First murder. First messianic prophecy. First covenant.

Disciples’ perspective:

We also see our first building project, the Tower of Babel in Genesis. The construction project must have been so fulfilling and the owners must have been proud! They sought to make a name for themselves! The only problem was that it was in direct opposition to God’s instructions. Look back at Genesis 1:28, “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it . . .” Instead these men came up with the idea to “build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

This story is a great analogy for the church today. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and make disciples. . . ” and instead the church starting in 300 AD begins to build. That first gift from Constantinople that established a location for the church was the beginning of the end of the going church. Like the architects of the tower, church building projects have been motivated and fueled by all kinds of ambition, and a need to make a name. A people seeking to go do not first build a house, a tower, an auditorium or a dome. Will you go?

In the 2nd week of Bible reading we’re still in Genesis and the genealogies we see are also corroborated in Chronicles. Below is the reading plan for Week 2.

Bible Reading list – Jan 8-14

DATE READING Commentary
Jan 8 Genesis 25; 1 Chron 1 Abraham’s Family
Jan 9 Gen 26-27  
Jan 10 Gen 28-30  
Jan 11 Gen 31  
Jan 12 Gen 32-35  
Jan 13 Gen 36  
Jan 14 Gen 37-39; 1 Chron 2 Joseph
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INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS

THE BEGINNING! AND THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

Creation:

Genesis boldly opens with the words, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  This book is about God, His creation and how it was marred by the fall; and how the ensuing consequences shaped earliest human history.  In Genesis, we learn how it all began.

The oldest Torah scroll of the Pentateuch

Place in OT:

Genesis is the first Old Testament book; and the first book of the Law, or the Pentateuch or the Torah: The first of the first five books of the Bible.  It was written by Moses.  In this book you will meet Adam, Eve – the first humans, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Judah and Joseph.  It is the book of beginnings – the first humans, animals, marriage, etc. When Jesus was asked about marriage and divorce in Matthew 19:3-9, He immediately referred to Genesis 2:24! Genesis answers the question: What was the original design before it was broken.

Jesus in Genesis:

The OT is a portrait of Jesus painted by dozens of artists as moved by God; each stroke a testimony, an account, a prophecy, a statute, a judgment . . . so we cannot help but recognize Him!

The Old Testament (Covenant) is the shadow and the New Covenant is the reality.  So in every book of the Old testament, we will see the portrait of Jesus being painted – stroke for stroke by different authors – prophets, kings, priests, and ordinary men. Not just a portrait of His appearance but His person, His position, His power, His character, His mission and all He would accomplish. In Genesis, Joseph is the boldest type of Jesus.

A disciple’s insight:

A disciple of Christ must understand God’s original intent.  We are called to reconcile people to God and restore them to Eden. We must understand CLEARLY that everything absent in Eden before the fall – all sin, sickness, and suffering; be it physical, emotional, mental or spiritual -is the consequence of the Fall and are works of satan. God’s perfect creation before sin entered the world gives us a glimpse of the reconciliation we are called to minister today.  God could have had Adam and Eve worship but instead He walked and talked with them; He wants intimate relationship.  Also we must keep in mind that God is a spirit.  His communion in Eden was not with flesh but with spirit.  Some of the most profound moments I’ve had with God occurred with people around totally unaware of the dialogue I was having with God in the spirit.  We must be careful that though we must engage in physical activities – singing, reading, praying – that we commune with God on a spiritual plane.

Mark 11:22-24 “. . . for assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ . . . he will have whatever he says.

The last thing I wish to point out is that God created the entire universe out of nothing! except His word – “Let there be . . . Nothing is too hard for Him to do through us. In the same way as He did, we speak in Jesus’ name into situations that are hopeless and God has not changed – He heals, restores, binds, looses, brings to life as we obey Him by faith.

I’m playing catch up as I’ve been traveling in December and into January but I trust you are well into Genesis by now. Blessings.