Job: The Problem of Evil

Isaiah 55:8-9

Charles Templeton saw a picture in Life magazine that changed his life. Templeton was a contemporary of Billy Graham and traveled the world telling people about Jesus. Then he saw the picture—a mother in North Africa holding her dead child whose life had ended due to a devastating drought. Templeton said, 

…She was holding her dead baby in her arms and looking up to heaven with the most forlorn expression. I looked at it and I thought, “Is it possible to believe that there is a loving or caring Creator when all this woman needed was rain?”[1] 

We have followed Job through his suffering, questions, and restoration. Now, let’s reconsider and address some of the inevitable issues that the book of Job brings to light. Thoughts such as: 

Does Satan still have access to God?
Why does God allow suffering? 
Why do bad things happen to good people?

Today, we will start by addressing the problem of evil. Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 will help frame our discussion. 

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3
Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. ² And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. ³ But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. 

The world is filled with despair, disease, war, and oppression. And the macro gets micro. We have personally experienced the impact of evil. Who hasn’t been the recipient of hatred, jealousy, or envy? Whose life hasn’t been directly or indirectly affected by cancer, divorce, or dishonesty? Indeed, this is not how it’s meant to be. Nevertheless, here we are. As Solomon says, we have “seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.” 

Not only did Solomon and others throughout Scripture wrestle with the problem of evil, but many secular philosophers have as well. Epicurus was a Greek philosopher who lived from 341 to 270 B.C. First, Epicurus reasoned that God desires to abolish evil but can’t. That leaves him impotent. Second, If God can abolish evil and does not, he is wicked. Third, if God can abolish evil and desires to abolish evil, why is there evil in the world? Epicurus finally concluded that God must not exist. 

Many of us may not be drawn to the philosophical debate, but we are influenced by entertainment. In the movie Batman v. Superman: The Dawn of Justice, criminal mastermind Lex Luther says, 

If God is all powerful, he cannot be all good. And if he is all good, he cannot be all powerful.[2] 

So, here’s what we need to think through:

Can God be all-powerful, and all good and evil still exist?

Whenever we try to figure out God's actions, timing, and reasoning, we must start with the fact that God is God, and we are not. We are finite, and he is infinite. His thoughts are higher than ours. His ways are unsearchable, inscrutable, and unknowable. The prophet Isaiah said it this way:

Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

In Romans 9-11, Paul discusses the sovereignty of God as it manifests throughout history. He addresses some challenging questions and the mystery surrounding God’s grace and mercy. Then he states, “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’”

Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. 

God’s ways are unsearchable and unfathomable. We can’t expect to know his eternal mind. God has never asked us for advice on what he should do. His knowledge is perfect and complete. Remember how God answered Job? The righteous man’s suffering produced pride, bitterness, and a series of questions. After Job defended himself against the accusations of his three friends, he turned on God. It takes three chapters (Job 29-31) to record Job’s summary defense as he demands that God explain what has been happening. But God never comes forth with answers. He came onto the scene declaring his majesty and power.

Job 38:2-4
Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? ³ Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. ⁴ “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” 

We will continue to explore God’s power and goodness alongside the problem of evil, but we must begin where God started with Job—by honestly assessing our heart posture. This is not an excuse to avoid difficult questions. Indeed, we ask questions, seek understanding, and cry out to God in our pain. However, Job teaches us to approach God with humility. He is God, and we are not. 

I recently sat in a couple’s living room, enjoying a time of fellowship and prayer. The wife is suffering from cancer. We had a rich conversation about God’s love, grace, and mercy. We explored the questions of “Why?”, but these seasoned servants understand that God’s sovereign work doesn’t always make sense to our human minds. While discussing this, I said, “We just don’t understand the ‘whys,'” and I referred to the book of Job, where Job questioned God, and the Almighty responded by saying… but before I could finish my sentence, the husband interjected, “Yeah, where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” 

We have a lot of work to do as we grapple with the issue of evil. However, I want to ensure that we always approach this with surrender and humility before God. 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Isaiah 55:8-9 and Romans 11:33-36. What do you learn about the majesty of God in these passages? 

Talking to God
Ask God to help you humbly surrender your will to his. We can’t do that without his help. 

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