Posted by
EddieB on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 12:00:00 AM
Hi Mr. Prager,
It's a fascinating topic and an enteristing conversation you had with Mr. Kushner. But I'm sad to hear that Mr. Kushner lost his faith on God the Almighty because of not getting a satisfactory answer to the question; Why we suffer. As I was listening to the conversation, I was glad to hear that you brought up the book of Job as it is one of the Bible books that offer a satisfying answer to the question; Why we suffer. Mr. Kushner mentined why God did not answer Job right away of why he was suffering. Well, the simple answer is in the book: Job's loyalty and love for God was being tested. More importantly, as drama goes, Satan challenged God's Sovereignty, his right to rule mankind and in addition, that man was only serving God for selfish reasons. Satan claimed that if given a chance, he can prove that man will curse God if tested. And that man will turn against Him if tested even to the point of death. God can easily dismiss this challenge but the question will still remain. Now in this drama angels were also listening and wathching. Thus, the question arosed from this drama: who is correct? Satan or God. So at this point in time Job was chosen to be the bearer of the test. Will he remain loyal to God if calamity befalls him or will he curse and blame God for his suffering? Now if God is going to reveal to Job the reason for his suffering, then what will be point of the test (Mr. Kushner said bet). So a decision was made that Satan can test Job but to a certain point. In the end as the story went, Job remained faithful to God and because of his loyalty and love, he was blessed tenfold. Satan was proven a liar. But his challenge still continues.
From this drama, we can see that God is not the source of suffering but Satan is and his followers. In fact God promised that in time all the suffering in the world will disappear when the earth is returned back to its original purpose: a paradise earth under the management of his Son Christ Jesus the King. Revelation 21:4 says that God "will wipe out the tears from our eyes and death will be no more neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away"
Question for us is: Will we reamin loyal to God if Satan is going to test us?
The ball is on our side.
--> if it does come Proverbs 3:5-6 advised us to:
"Trust on Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take noticed of Him and He Himself will make your path straight."
Ps.
Bad things happen to ALL people but especially to good people because they are Satan's target.
It also as the book of Ecclesiates says: "Time and unforseen occurencess befall us all" -- being in the wrong place at wrong time.