How would you answer this question:
The Lord answered prayer miraculously for my son when he was eight years old. He had open heart surgery and survived without any permanent problems. But my husband was diagnosed with cancer three years ago, and we prayed for him night and day. Nevertheless, he died last January. I just can’t understand why God heard my prayer for our son but allowed my husband to die. Is He there-or isn’t He?
This emotion is well understood and quite common. Most Christians have had a moment when they asked similar questions. They defy easy explanation because the pain is so very deep.
Another mother said, “I believed in God until my child was killed.” How do you not accept that heartache. It is so real. People cry, “it makes no sense” and “God is not fair.”
Another example came from a pastor. His child was in the hospital, extremely sick with Leukemia. The CHILD (Emphasis mine) received a letter and some books in the mail.
Dear Susan:
You do not know me personally, but I have seen you in church many times. I have interceded on your behalf, and I know that the Lord is going to heal you if you just let Him. Do not let Satan steal your life-do not let religious tradition rob you of what Jesus did on the cross-by His stripes we were healed.
I have done what the Lord has instructed me to do, but I cannot make you read these books; only you can do that. Be whole, Susan-spirit, soul, and body.
What a tragedy. That someone would put the responsibility for recovery on the child. It is part of the effort to give an excuse for the suffering people have. Such an effort is called theodicy.
Theodicy deals with question of the justice of God. A theodicy is a rational attempt by theists to exonerate God as being the source of evil. Basically, these attempts try to modify one or more of the above assertions about God.
The entire middle section of Job is just such a theodicy. Although they would not have known the word, that is their exercise. Job and his friends seek to answer three questions about God.
Why Isn’t God Fair? (Job 19:6-13)
Job first cries this cry in 19:6-13.
6 then know that God has wronged me and drawn his net around me. 7 “Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice. 8 He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; he has shrouded my paths in darkness. 9 He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head. 10 He tears me down on every side till I am gone; he uproots my hope like a tree. 11 His anger burns against me; he counts me among his enemies. 12 His troops advance in force; they build a siege ramp against me and encamp around my tent. 13 “He has alienated my family from me; my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.
The cry of Job is deep and painful. He feels that justice is delayed. He believes God has wronged him. Further he cries that God is mute and distant.
The problem is one of human reasoning. The argument begins with an incorrect assumption. It assumes human innocence.
People express this kind of faulty logic when they accuse God of not being fair. They believe that God has not treated them as they deserved.
It is not easy to face the scriptural answer and the answer does not solve our hurts. The truth is that no one is righteous. Not for one day does He give us what we deserve. Scripture makes it clear that none is righteous. (Psalm 14:3, Romans 3:10-18)
Psalm 14:3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Romans 3:10-18 “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” 14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.” 18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
No one can stand before God and truly claim that He has been unfair. If He gave us for one moment what we truly deserve we would be judge, condemned, and sentenced. And Job knows it. Listen to him in 13:26.
26 “For you write down bitter things against me and make me reap the sins of my youth.”
Why is God so Distant?
Almost as painful as the other question is the struggle when we feel that God is distant. Even if we believe that He is out there somewhere we think it is just that…out there…somewhere. But not here. Not with us.
Job asks, “Why does God hide his face?” (13:24-25)
Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy? 25 Will you torment a windblown leaf? Will you chase after dry chaff?
He further asks, “Where are you, God?” (23:3-4, 8-9)
3 If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! 4 I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.
8But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. 9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.”
Painful words. Job wants God to summon him to a trial. He wants desperately to feel God’s presence. He searches for God. He cries that wherever he looks he cannot find God.
The answer of Scripture is clear. God calls you child and friend. No matter what you do you cannot be anything less than His child. He has made it possible for you to be His friend and He welcomes you into presence.
Job reflects on this promise in 29:4-5.
4 Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house, 5 when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,
Job has doubts about prayer. (9:15-16)
Finally, Job struggles with his prayer life. Job feels, like so many of us have, that our prayers merely bounce off our roofs. God is there, but He is not listening. His silence is deafening.
14 “How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him? 15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. 16 Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing. 17 He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason.
What good does prayer do? (21:15)
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?’
Even one of Job’s friends, Elihu, piles on. (35:9-16)
9 “People cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful. 10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, 11 who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?’12 He does not answer when people cry out because of the arrogance of the wicked.13 Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea; the Almighty pays no attention to it. 14 How much less, then, will he listen when you say that you do not see him, that your case is before him and you must wait for him, 15 and further, that his anger never punishes and he does not take the least notice of wickedness. h 16 So Job opens his mouth with empty talk; without knowledge he multiplies words.”
With friends like this who needs enemies? He accuses Job of being arrogant. He states the problem of prayer in a painful way. God is not listening when Job prays in the good times, so why would he listen when Job is being punished. He assumes Job is under God’s hand of judgment and gives him no hope of being heard. Ouch.
The promises of God regarding prayer are myriad. Consider two:
Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Of course, our prayers must be in line with God’s will and consistent with His purposes. Our prayers must bring Him glory. But we can be assured that He is listening. Our Great High Priest, Jesus, sits beside the Father making intercession for us all the time.
So, what do we do when the theological stress comes? I offer six pieces of advice in conclusion.
- The ultimate answer to human suffering is the Cross. God did not avoid pain and suffering when He sent His Son to the cross. Jesus embraced it.
We can answer the question, “Where was God when my son died (got cancer, I lost my job, etc.)? The answer is the same as where He was when His Son died. He is on the throne, watching and helping us.
- God is present and involved in our lives even when He seems deaf or on an extended leave of absence. Do not depend on your emotions. He is there.
- God’s timing is perfect, even when He appears catastrophically late. Mary and Martha certainly asked this question, “If only you had been there…” They thought Jesus was late. He never is. God’s economy of time and energy is quite different from ours.
- For reasons that are impossible to explain, we human beings are incredibly precious to God. He knows you personally. The King of Kings is aware of every detail of your life.
- Your arms are too short to box with God. Do not try it! God is simply too big for our understanding. (Job 38:2-7)
- If you do not know the answer, instead of accusing Him put it in the category of: “Thing I Don’t Understand.” Leave it there!
