Why do righteous people like Job suffer?
By Yanelis Lopez, Ministry Director
It seems that COVID-19 wants to take the center stage in 2020 and in some ways it's succeeding. These days I have been reading the book of Job: it seemed appropriate under the circumstances. This man's experience of pain makes us ask ourselves the same questions he had at the time:
Is God just?
Does God rule the world according to his justice?
Why do good people suffer?
The book of Job is the story of a righteous man (from present day Iran) who lost his family and wealth, and who in the midst of pain responded faithfully to his God. Through all of his trials, Job retained his integrity and trust in God, even when the only person close to him suggested, “Curse God, and die” (Job 2:9). His closest friends made him question his integrity, trying to find in this man's behavior some error, that would justify the torrent of misfortunes he was going through.
Desperate and misunderstood, Job understood that the answers to his questions and his consolation are not in his wife, friends, or in the circumstances. His answers and comfort are in the God he trusts, and that’s when he seeks Him with despair, anger, and uncertainty- a great mix of emotions.
Job 31:35 “Oh, that One would hear me! Behold, my desire is that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book!"
It is interesting how God's answer and consolation are another list of questions focused on the complexity and details of the universe that He keeps in order and in control. It shows that the universe is too wide and diverse and that He sustains it and maintains its order. God's world is good, but it is not perfect. It is neat and wild. It is beautiful and dangerous like the Behemoth (Job 40:15) and the Leviathan (Job 41: 1). Instead, Job can only see his life experience, he is very limited to only his circumstances, how can he question the Creator's actions? To understand divine justice, Job would have to understand the entire universe and how it operates. If God punished every sin and repaid good deeds as Job and his friends were hoping for, the world would simply not exist. We would no longer exist.
In the entire book, God does not answer the question: “Why do righteous people like Job suffer?” It invites us to understand that we live in an amazing and complex world that is not designed to prevent suffering. But in the midst of all this, there is an enormous God who loves in a profound way. It would be much more liberating and hopeful if instead of looking for reasons, we trusted in his wisdom and character. It's ok to have questions. It’s ok to question what's going on. But at the end of each of our stages of confusion, our soul and mind rest in the truth that He rules and does it well. May our conclusion be the same as Job's in every difficult circumstance:
"I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’
My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."
Job 42: 2-6
Volunteer Orientation - September 12th + 14th
We want to invite you to volunteer with us during the fall trimester! Come join us for a socially-distanced orientation on Mission Adelante, September 12th and 14th. You can register here: MissionAdelante.org/orientation