Epicurus:
“If God is both willing and able “to prevent evil, then why does evil exist?” Why did God let it
We Know:
God is
God is Holy.
God is Love,
You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor, and power. For you created all things and they exist because you created what you
. —Revelation 4:11
The only way love is possible is to have a
Suffering isn’t evidence of a lack of
Jesus Suffered:
- (Mark 14:33-34) he was deeply distressed and troubled. His soul was “
- (Luke 22:44) he literally shed drops of blood. He showed all the signs of being in physical shock.
- (Luke 22:42a) He begged the Father to save him from what was about to happen. He wanted to
- (Matthew 27:46) He felt
In Jesus, we discover…
- That even the best of the good suffer.
- It’s OK to not be
.
- A God who
our pain.
1. Job
Though He slay me, yet will I
Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. —Job 13:15
I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye. —Job 42:5
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the
. —Matthew 5:45b
Luke 13:1-5
Explains that great sufferers shouldn’t be accounted as great.
In this world you will continue to experience difficulties,” Jesus says, “But take! I have overcome the world!” —John 16:33
As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full ofand mercy. —James 5:11
2. Joseph
As you know, we count as You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. —Genesis 50:20
Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?”
Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what. —John 9:1-5 MSG
3. Habakkuk
- Meansor to cling.
- Comes to firm faith after grappling with difficult questions.“How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! ‘Violence is everywhere!’ I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence.” —Habakkuk 1:2-3a
The answer to Habakkuk’s “Why?” is “__Who!”
The ever-present “Why?” is best answered by the everlasting “Who!”
Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by theirto God. —Habakkuk 2:4
“Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.”
To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments. —Habakkuk 3:17-19