Hope - The Case for God's Love - Job 40, Romans 8 - September 19, 2010

Bible Study – Hope – The Case for God’s Love – September 19, 2010

This is lesson three (3) in our series “The Case for Hope.”
Our scripture is Job 40:1-9, Romans 8:18-21and Romans 8:28-30.


People and especially Christians understand that GOD is love, omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent (present everywhere) and omniscient (all knowing). Therefore, when bad things happen especially to good people and innocent children, our first response is “Where was GOD?”


The simple answer is sin. Not that the person or persons who experienced the bad situation sinned but the fact that we live in a sinful world. GOD created a perfect world with restrictions. Adam and Eve disobeyed GOD and this perfect world became an imperfect world. Ushered in with sin was death, decay, disease, tragedy and all sorts of problems. Woman experienced pain during child birth and man had to work for a living. But as quickly as mankind was subjected to the bad things GOD gave mankind hope through CHRIST – Genesis 3:15 - 15 I (GOD) will put hostility between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your • seed (Satan and his offspring) and her seed (CHRIST). He (CHRIST) will strike your head, and you (Satan) will strike his heel.[11]


GOD’S desire is for no one to go to Hell. HIS desire is for all to be saved and go to heaven for eternity. That is why HE allowed CHRIST to come to earth as a human, live, be tempted in all ways as any human. HE remained sinless by choice and gave HIS life for the original sin and the sins of all who will believe in HIM. Through this act HE redeemed nature and all who will believe HE is the SON of GOD, the Messiah. The resurrection of CHRIST is proof that HIS shed blood paid the price for sin and satisfied the death penalty which resulted because of original sin. GOD’S plan to redeem mankind from the penalty of death is for anyone who believes and accepts what CHRIST has done for him/her. This was and is GOD’S plan of salvation. Those who reject CHRIST are still under the death penalty. Accept CHRIST and you become a child of GOD through the miracle of rebirth of your Spirit.


Does being a child of GOD mean that you will have smooth sailing for the rest of your life on earth? No! CHRIST suffered and so will we. GOD’S goal for every Christian is for him/her to be made into the image of CHRIST.


So why do bad things happen to good people? Second Corinthians 1:3-4:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our affliction,[2] so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.


Christians who go through various situations in life are better equipped to help others as GOD leads and guides those who obediently serve HIM.


I recall years ago, I was very upset with GOD because a person several of us had been praying for died. My expectation for GOD was for HIM to physically heal the person and HE did not. I was having a very serious discussion with HIM about this situation. Why did this lady die when there was so much earnest prayer being poured out n her behalf? HE gave me an answer that astounded me then and still astounds me now. HE brought to mind another lady who had cancer. A number of us had been praying for her and she died. GOD through the HOLY SPIRIT asked me a question. “Do you recall praying for this certain lady? I said, yes. HE said, I did not cause her to have cancer but she was willing to have cancer and endure cancer if it would glorify ME. (She was getting medical treatment.) She wanted to be obedient to ME. Her willingness to endure cancer was the same as if she had gone to Africa and been captured by a hostile tribe and gave her life for ME. When she died, I met her in heaven, put MY arms around her and said, “Well done good and faithful servant.” Then, we turned and walked down the streets of gold which were lined with the saints cheering for her because she had remained faithful to the end and had overcome. HE asked me, “Would you deny that of any person?” I shamefully said no.”


There is another dimension which we have no clue about. Earth is not our final destination but eternity is. I came across this scripture while studying for this lesson which sheds light on this other dimension. It is 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:
16 Therefore we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary light affliction[4] is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.


Let’s examine our selected scripture.


Let’s read Job 40:1-9:
1 The LORD answered Job: 2 Will the one who contends with the • Almighty correct [Him]* ? Let him who argues with God give an answer.[1]3 Then Job answered the LORD: 4 I am so insignificant. How can I answer You? I place my hand over my mouth.[2]5 I have spoken once, and I will not reply; twice,[3] but [now]* I can add nothing. 6 Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:[4]7 Get ready to answer Me like a man; When I question you, you will inform Me.[5]8 Would you really challenge My justice? Would you declare Me guilty to justify yourself?[6]9 Do you have an arm[7] like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His?


We are not sure who wrote Job (Job is pronounced with a long “o”). We know when we read the beginning of the book that Job was being tested. What happened to Job had nothing to do with sin. Job knew he had not sinned but his three (3) friends kept telling him that his plight was the result of sin.


The same is true today. Some things that happen to us are the result of our sin, the sin of others or simply the results of living.


We do learn from this story that GOD is always in control. Satan could only go so far in tempting Job. Job was prosperous and a good man. During his testing Job expressed hope and faith but when his suffering went on and on, he cursed the day he was born.


Job wanted to meet with GOD and discuss what was happening to him. Job questioned GOD’S justice and fairness. Job mentioned several sins he could have committed but he did not commit them. Job was puzzled and wanted GOD to explain his suffering to him. In Chapter 38, GOD answered Job by asking him a barrage of questions about the world and how it works. GOD was leading Job to a point for consideration. GOD was all powerful and Job was not. Who was Job that he questioned GOD and what was happening to him? In fact, GOD referred to Himself as GOD Almighty.


Job had concluded that he had done nothing wrong to merit what was happening to him. He wanted GOD to agree with him, to vindicate him. The bottom line was GOD was GOD and HE was in control. Job was finite and not in control. This was the ultimate test. It sounds as if GOD is arrogant. But was HE testing Job to the max? Job finally gets the message and in essence states in verse 5, “I have already pushed the limits with YOU and now I will keep my mouth shut and listen.” Since Job came to the conclusion to listen, GOD told him to get ready to answer ME like the man I know you to be. Let’s discuss the accusation you made against ME that I was unjust. Verse 8 is very clear when GOD asks Job “Would you really challenge MY justice? Would you declare ME guilty to justify yourself?”


GOD asked Job if he had the power that GOD has as referenced by HIS arm, which represents HIS power and HIS voice which represents HIS authority.


The bottom line is that GOD is Sovereign. JESUS put it best in Matthew 7:10 - 9 What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! We have to trust HIM with the answer because from HIS vantage point, HE sees the big picture.


Let’s read Romans 8:18-21:
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children.


The Apostle Paul puts the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” into proper perspective. When a Christian compares their temporary life on earth to eternity in heaven, heaven is the clear winner. Paul knew there was another dimension for those remaining faithful, staying the course and finishing the race.


He gives us insight regarding nature. When man sinned and death came into the world, nature was subjected to death and decay as well. All of nature eagerly awaits the day that it too will be redeemed. “Eagerly” carries the connotation of standing on your tippy toes in great anticipation of something very good that is about to happen. Nature waits for the moment Christians are fully redeemed. CHRIST is the first fruit of fully redemption, which is when Christians receive their new glorified bodies. Nature knows that when that happens it will be the confirmation that it, too, will be fully redeemed. The final act by GOD will be to create a new heaven and a new earth.


Let’s read Romans 8:28-30:
28 We know that all things work together[16] for the good[17] of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those He foreknew[18] He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.


Paul tells us that “GOD is in all things working for good to come out of bad situations and circumstances for those who are called and obediently serve HIM.” A person’s decisions and choices in life lead them in a certain direction. A person has to suffer the consequences of his/her decisions and choices. For those who are Christians, GOD will work within the framework of these circumstances to bring about the best that can be achieved. But there may still be consequences.


GOD does not make HIS children robots but gives them freedom of choice. A few weeks ago we studied the life of King David, a man after GOD’S own heart. Yet David committed adultery and murder. GOD forgave him but he had to suffer the consequences.


Why do people suffer? For some, it is their own doing. For others, it is the result of sin and living a life led by the flesh. For some it is the result of life in a fallen/sinful world and has nothing to do with what they have either done or not done. GOD is not out to zap people. But HE does try to get their attention often through circumstances.


We must keep in mind that GOD is love and John 3:16-18 states it best:
16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His • One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.[10] 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the • One and Only Son of God.


JESUS was not spared suffering and the disciples suffered. When we consider Paul and his life before CHRIST and his life after CHRIST we see his tremendous Spiritual growth and maturity. Was he perfect? No but he remained faithful to the end. None of us knows what life has in store for us. Each Christian is writing his/her own gospel account of obediently serving CHRIST. The Book of Acts written by Doctor Luke is the workings of the HOLY SPIRIT in the lives of the Apostles. What is the Acts according to the workings of the HOLY SPIRIT in you? It is being written whether or not we want it to be written. Blessings to all.