7 Lessons from Job: Can We Question God? – Part 2
In the Bible, the story of Job is the archetypal illustration of undeserved suffering.
As such, what are lessons we can take from Job to help us in our times of hardship?
A Quick Look:
Lesson 1)
God does not cause bad things to happen; however, He allows bad things to happen.
Lesson 2)
We can question and complain to God. We can ask “Why God?”
Synopsis of Job:
The book of Job discusses the problem of bad times, appalling circumstances, and suffering, especially when the reason isn’t obvious.
Job’s “friends” tell him his suffering is because of his sin. In their minds he must confess his sin in order to be reconciled with God.
Job asserts that he has not sinned.
And he wants God to explain: Why has all this happened to him?
Job rails in anger at God for this suffering, when Job is, and has been, righteous and faithful.
In the end, YeHoVaH addresses Job, without revealing to him either the “why” or the “who.”
Nonetheless, God reconciles His relationship with Job and restores Job’s family, his health, his wealth, and his position.
7 Lessons We Can Learn From Job’s Experience For Living Through Bad Times (Including a Pandemic) – Part 2:
It’s a funny thing about human nature.
How quick are we to question and complain to God about the bad things that happen in our life.
versus
How many times we question and complain to God about the good things that happen in our life.
No, we don’t question God to know why good things are in our life.
Often we don’t even thank Him for what He has done for us.
Can We Question and Criticize God?
Yes, we can question God, complain to God, criticize God.
God is God. He can take it. He can handle anything we can throw at Him.
[We can even doubt God. See It’s Ok to Doubt, If You Check It Out!]
Yes, like Job, it’s ok to question and complain to God. And it’s human nature to do so.
As Jenn Soehnlin, of Embracing Life, explains:
His plan isn’t always what our heart wants. We want to understand right now why this has happened. We want to know the reason for it. We want to know what good will come of it.
When You Find Yourself Asking God Why by Jenn Soehnlin
Yes, we can question YeHoVaH’s actions.
Yes, we can complain and rant at the Almighty for our circumstances.
Yes, we can criticize God for His failure to take care of us the way we want to be taken care of.
But we, like Job, may never know the “Why?” (In this life, anyway.)
For, as Laura Story, of Faith Gateway, reminds us:
It’s important to know that nowhere does the Bible promise that all our questions will be answered this side of heaven.
When We Ask Why, God? Why? by Laura Story
Lesson 2)
We can question and complain to God.
We can ask “Why God?”
The biblical book of Job in the Bible shows us that it’s ok to question and complain to God.
Job’s Questions his God, YeHoVaH Elohim
In chapter 3, Job begins to question and complain to God about his circumstances by regretting that he ever was born.
1 Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 And Job said, 3 “Let the day perish on which I was to be born, And the night which said, ‘A boy is conceived.’ Job 3:1-3 NASB
Job asserts his intention to complain to Elohim.
11 “Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Job 7:11 NASB
Job demands God to tell him how he has sinned. And why he has not been forgiven.
20 “Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself? 21 “Why then do You not pardon my transgression And take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust; And You will seek me, but I will not be.” Job 7:20-21 NASB
23 “How many are my iniquities and sins? Make known to me my rebellion and my sin. 24 “Why do You hide Your face And consider me Your enemy? Job 13:23-24 NASB
Job laments there is no one to speak to God on behalf of himself or others.
32 “For He is not a man as I am that I may answer Him, That we may go to court together. 33 “There is no umpire3198 between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both. Job 9:32-33 NASB
yakach3198 H to decide, adjudge, prove
And yet …
Even after all his pain and suffering, Job nonetheless holds to his faith in a saving, redeeming, God.
25 “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. 26 “Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; 27 Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me! Job 19:25-27 NASB
Others In the Bible Who Have Questioned God
Of course, Job is not the only person in the Bible to question and complain to God.
David, as shepherd, warrior, and king, wrote often of his questions and complaints to YeHoVaH.
1 How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? Psalm 13:1-2a,b NASB
Yeshua, on the cross, uses a Psalm of David to give voice to His anguish.
1 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. 2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Psalm 22:1-2 NASB
The prophet Habakkuk questions YeHoVaH.
3Why do You make me see iniquity, And cause me to look on wickedness? Yes, destruction and violence are before me; Strife exists and contention arises.
13 Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You cannot look on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor On those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up Those more righteous than they? Habakkuk 1:3, 13 NASB
As Jenn Soehnlin explains:
In every case, God either answered them directly, reminding them that He was in control, or the person asking the question later recognized it on their own and was able to see how God was working in their suffering and struggles and that God had a bigger plan in place.
When You Find Yourself Asking God Why by Jenn Soehnlin
Yes, We Can Question God
Yes, like Job, we can question God:
- “Why am I suffering?”
- “Why is this happening to me, to my family?”
- “Why do You not answer me?”
Yes, we can complain to God:
- “Aren’t You in charge?
- “How dare You let this happen to me, to my family”
- “I’m a good Christian. I don’t deserve this.”
Perhaps something positive can come from asking “Why?” if we use the “Why?” question to draw closer to God.
Laura Story, of Faith Gateway, says:
…my why questions allow me to go before my heavenly Father and pour out my heart to Him. They help me process what I am going through.
When We Ask Why, God? Why? by Laura Story
However, we cannot continue to wallow in the morass of “Why?”
Again, Laura Story:
I’ve discovered that the longer I focus on why, the less progress I make. When I continue to ask why, somewhere deep inside me the repeated questioning and lack of answers feeds a sense of entitlement. When that sense of entitlement grows, it usually leads to bitterness.
The answer to why doesn’t help us heal. But knowing that God’s glory can be displayed, even in the brokenness of our lives, gives us hope despite our circumstances.
When We Ask Why, God? Why? by Laura Story 11 29 2018
But we need to remember not to sin in our attitude toward the Father.
Fritz Chery, of Bible Reasons, declares:
The problem is many people often question God with a rebellious untrusting heart not truly trying to get an answer from the Lord.
They try to attack the character of God because God allowed something to happen, which is a sin.
We don’t have eyes to see in the future so we don’t know the brilliant things God is doing in our lives. Sometimes we might say, “why God” and later find out the reason that God did this and that.
It’s one thing to ask God why and another thing to doubt His goodness and His existence. In confusing situations pray for wisdom and expect an answer.
Questioning God by Fritz Chery
So Then, What Are We To Ask God?
Asking “Why does _________ happen?” does not bring peace.
Nor does it usually bring answers.
We probably won’t ever know (in this life).
And when we do know (in the next life), it probably won’t matter.
Instead,
Let us ask:
What can this hardship teach me?
- Humility?
- Gratitude?
- Dependence?
- Love?
- Patience?
- Discernment?
- Obedience?
- Compassion?
What can I learn from this suffering?
- About God?
- About Jesus?
- About the Holy Spirit?
- About me?
What could be the reason for this difficulty?
- Is this spiritual warfare?
- Is this punishment or the consequence of my choice to sin?
- Is this to discipline me or give me the opportunity to grow spiritually?
- Is this the result of the sins of others, and not my own?
- Is this the effect of the brokenness of the sinful world?
Jenn Soehnlin found:
The question to ask was not “why?” but “what?” with a heart to learn God’s heart. For example, “What do you want me to learn from this journey? What good do you want to come from this? What testimony will I have from this?”
God had never answered any of my ‘why’ questions, but He started answering those ‘what’ questions.
When You Find Yourself Asking God Whyby Jenn Soehnlin
It’s Our Choice.
Yes, we can question and complain to God about our circumstances. We can ask “why” has He done __________ to us.”
But.
What if the question was not “Why?”
What if the question we asked was “What?” instead?
How are you going to ask God about the circumstances of your life? “Why? or “What?”
Consider what you can learn from where you are, right now, in good times or in bad.
It’s your choice.
Let me know in the comments your thoughts on questioning and complaining to God about His (apparent) actions.
Let’s start a conversation.
Blessings,
TLThomas
It’s ok to doubt, if you check it out!
Be a Berean!
10The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:10, 11 ESV
Please join me in this journey of discovery.
- Leave a comment, or ask me a question.
- Share this blog with others, whether they are doubting, or not.
- Take what I say and CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF!
The 7 Lessons From Job will continue with the question:
“Is it wrong to be mad at God?”
See also
Is God to Blame For the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Suffering? – Part 1
Is It Wrong to Be Angry at God About the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Suffering? – Part 3
Biblical Truth During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Part 4
Forego Fear, Practice Prudence, Pursue Peace
TLThomas ©2020