Sunday, January 26, 2014
pm
BACK TO BASICS - God
Difficult Questions
about God
This month we have been studying about God.
As we have noted there are many who reject the God of the Bible.
Addressing the subject of God is not an easy thing (but it is
fundamental to our faith).
Even as we read His word we come across difficult passages and concepts
about Him. These concepts
are used by critics to discredit or reject the God of the Bible (or god
in general). At times they
even shake the faith of believers – questions such as: Why is there a
hell? Why does God allow
evil? Why does God allow
suffering? How do you
explain the harsh commands of God in the Old Testament?
While these questions are difficult to answer, there are
answers. And while we may
not have perfect understanding in our answers, that does NOT mean there
are not good answers for the questions. One thought about such questions
is that the difficulties reside in our limited human understanding.
WE try to relate things related to God in terms of humanity.
We cannot do that with complete accuracy, but we must try – both
to give answers to the critics and to ourselves for the sake of our own
faith.
With these thoughts in mind, tonight as we conclude our study
of God, we want to briefly answer some of the difficult questions asked
about God as we find Him in the Bible. Tonight
we will focus on 3 questions: 1) Why is there evil in the world? 2) Why
does God allow suffering? 3) Why did God command Israel to utterly
destroy the Amalekites? (Why did He command such harsh treatment of
enemies including the innocent?)
a.
As we
begin we emphasize that God does not commit evil nor does He tempt us to
(James 1:13). In fact, He
hates evil in its every form.
Evil cannot approach Him, “God is light and in Him is no darkness
at all” (1 John 1:5). So as
evil exists in this world, why does God allow it?
b.
The
question of God and evil is sometimes directed against His power or His
goodness. Some reason that
if God could not stop evil then He is not all powerful and if he can
stop evil but will not then He is not good.
This is the arguments of skeptics!
But is it valid?
c.
Understand
the origin of evil – Satan
i.
What is evil? In its
simplest definition it is that which is bad or malicious.
Evil has been described as the absence of good.
In the same way that darkness is the absence of light, and cold is the
absence of heat.
When God created this world it was good.
6 times in Genesis 1 we read the phrase, “God
saw that it was good” and in vs. 31 it says, “Then
God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was VERY good.
So the evening and the morning were the sixth day”.
ii.
There is
debate as to whether or not God created evil.
(Cf. Isa. 45:7 – KJV says, “I form the light, and create
darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these
things.” But most other versions use the word “calamity” which is a
plausible meaning, especially considering the context.)
That is a question that I cannot answer with certainty or complete
understanding.
iii.
But this I
do know - Satan introduced that which is evil (i.e.NOT good) to this
world when he tempted Eve and Adam(Gen. 3:1-7) ).
AND the reason man is susceptible to it is because he CHOSE to
accept it. They sinned and
as a result this world is cursed (Rom. 5:12-19).
Friends, this is what we inherit from Adam – the CONSEQUENCES of sin,
not HIS sins.
d.
So why
does evil exist?
i.
Because
God ALLOWS it to exist! But
with reason. We cannot fully
comprehend the reason for this and that is why we must be careful before
we accuse Him. Isa. 55:8-9
tells us that His thoughts are not our thoughts nor are His ways our
ways.
ii.
Because
man is a free moral agent.
It is important that we understand this.
If there were no evil (either moral or physical) in this world, we would
not have choice. But
there is, and every time man faces it.
He must choose between right and wrong.
God could have created us without the ability or need to make choices,
but God wanted someone who would serve Him because he WANTED to, not
because he had to.
He wanted one who would truly LOVE him and not by force, cf. 1 John
4:19, 1 Peter 1:6-8.
That is why in the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve a CHOICE WITH
consequences based upon the choice he made (Gen. 2:16-17).
This choice has continued to this day with every person of
accountable age.
Since the garden, the Bible has continually offered man the CHOICE of
obeying God or disobeying Him – Joshua 24:15, 1 Kings 18:21, “How long will you falter between two opinions?
If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him”,
Rom. 6:16, etc.
Being free moral agents we will determine our own destiny based upon the
choices we make. God doesn’t
force us to do anything.
iii.
Because
man CHOOSES to sin! Evil
continues to exist because man continues to participate in it (i.e.
sin). John 3:19 says that men loved darkness rather than light.
Friends, the overwhelming majority of evil is produced by the
choices of men.
e.
God DOES
prevent some evil!
i.
In many
ways God has done things to prevent evil.
ii.
He has
given us a conscience – which
convicts us to do the right thing, unless we damage it.
iii.
He has
given us the gospel - A guide
designed to improve this world in every way.
iv.
He sent
Jesus to this earth – He sent
His only begotten Son into this evil world (John 3:16) to live, suffer
and die so that we can overcome evil.
Jesus faced the hardships, temptations, humiliation, poverty,
inconveniences of life, and many other things FOR US! We CANNOT say that
He does not understand: Jesus lived it for us!
“For whatever reason God chose to
make man as he is—limited and suffering and subject to sorrows and
death—He had the honesty and the courage to take His own medicine.
Whatever game He is playing with His creation, He has kept His own rules
and played fair. He can exact nothing from man that He has not exacted
from Himself...” (Dorothy Sayers,
Creed or Chaos? New York:
Harcourt, Brace and Col, 1949, p. 4)
[1]
v.
He has
promised us help – Matthew
10:28-30, 1 Cor. 10:13, etc.
vi.
Who knows when He does
intervene? Throughout
history, He has intervened – in the Bible you have the flood, Sodom and
Gomorrah, Babylon destroyed, the fall of Israel, the Fall of Rome
(foretold), etc. I shudder
to think what this world would be like IF GOD did not have the power to
control all things!
f.
Let us
understand that the existence of evil does NOT limit the power of God
nor does it make Him uncaring!
When we understand evil and how to overcome it, it causes us to
better appreciate God.
g.
Finally, evil is not eternal –
there will come a time when evil will be destroyed.
a.
The answer
is related to evil in this world.
i.
Both evil
and suffering are products of the sin of Adam.
When Adam sinned and was punished, the earth was cursed (Gen.
3:17). The suffering in this
world is a product of that curse.
ii.
Much of
the sufferings we face is directly related to sinful behaviors –
sometimes the consequences of our own sinful behavior but at other times
the result of the sinful behavior of others.
For the Christian, it might even be the chastisement of God (Heb.
12:5-8, Deut. 8:5).
While not always so, at time even birth defects and disasters are the
results of men behaving badly.
b.
Like evil,
suffering actually can produce many good results
i.
It can humble us.
Suffering in this life often helps us realize how helpless we
really are. That can cause
us to turn to God.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
ii.
Suffering can also build our character
-
James 1:2-4, Rom. 5:3-5
iii.
It can
cause us to turn to Him or back to Him
– There are many examples in scripture of trials and tribulations
causing some to become closer to God – Joseph in prison, Jonah in the
fish, the blindness of Saul’s (Paul) (Acts 9) and don’t forget the
prodigal son in Luke 15:11-18.
iv.
It can
encourage us to become “other worldly”
– if there were no suffering, why would we want to leave this world?
Difficulties and disappointments in this life keep us from
becoming too attached.
2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “For
our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
v.
It can
bring out our best and cause us to appreciate what we do have.
c.
Why
does God allow the godly to suffer?
i.
Many obey
the gospel (or repent and turn back to Him) thinking their troubles will
go away. But quite often,
instead of making life easier, their life becomes more challenging in
many ways. This causes some
to turn away from God (Cf. Luke 8:13 – the stony soil) disenfranchised.
People often ask, especially Christians, “Why me?” Often this is a
response to misdirection, such as the health and wealth gospel (i.e.
“God wants to bless you”).
Consider this, “Why not me?”
But know that you CAN handle what happens if you put your trust
in Him.
ii.
BUT, if
the godly truly understand and LOVE God, suffering makes them stronger.
True Christians are best equipped to handle suffering and
tragedy.
iii.
What if
God exempted the godly from suffering? Would
not more come to Him, but not out of love but for self-serving motives.
iv.
Again, as Christians we get help handling it -
1 Cor. 10:13, Matt. 11:28-30
d.
How much suffering should God allow?
i.
Most of us
accept that there is going to be a certain amount of evil and suffering
in this world. But our
problem usually arises when we or others are affected by it in a way
that we view excessive. (i.e.
natural disasters, innocent suffering, etc.)
Isn’t that the REAL issue with
us? Isn’t that when we begin
to blame God and become angry at Him?
ii.
THOUGHT:
How do we know how much suffering is the right amount to allow?
iii.
Let us
be careful before we question God!
Don’t blame Him!
Romans 9:19-24, “…Who
are you to reply against God?
Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you
made me like this?’…”
iv.
He is a
sovereign God which means He can do what He wants to do!
However consider that:
1.
We KNOW
that He loves us – John 3:16, etc.
2.
We DON’T
know what IS best
3.
We don’t
know His motives -
Isa. 55:8-9, “My way and
thoughts are not yours.”
4.
Realize
that while He cares for each of us, He also has the overall scheme of
the world and His plans to consider.
Romans 8:28 says, “And
we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to
those who are called according to His purpose.”
5.
He is in
control and WILL win!
1 John 4:4 says, “He who
is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
v.
Romans 11:33, says, “Oh,
the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments and His ways past finding out.
‘For who knows the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His
counselor? Or who has first
given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?’
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be
glory forever. Amen.”
vi.
It
is in trusting Him that we find our real hope! Proverbs 3:5-6
says,
“Trust in the LORD with all your
heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Do you trust Him?
e.
Finally,
consider
2 Peter 3:9 which says He
does not want anyone to perish (also Ezek. 33:11, “I have no pleasure in
the death of the wicked.”). God
wants what is best for us and He wants to save us.
For example: Consider how when disaster strikes it usually drives
man toward God.
a.
A
question about genocide that
included the Amalekites (1 Sam. 15: 1-3),but could also include the
Canaanites (which included at least 7 nations – Deut. 7:1-5), Sodom and
Gomorrah, the flood, etc. and other acts, whether by divine act or
divine command, which called for the utter destruction of these nations,
including those supposedly innocent.
Critics of God and His word question His goodness because of such
commands.
b.
Reminder
– again, be careful in questioning God!
We don’t know all the facts of these incidents and don’t have the
ability to know them.
c.
Were the Amalekites and Canaanites really
innocent?
NO!
i.
Concerning the Canaanites,
Abraham was to be sent to Egypt for 400 years because the their
wickedness had not yet reached a point to which they deserved to be
destroyed.
Genesis 15:13–16, says, “…16
But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for
the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
Also,
Deuteronomy 20:16–18 they
were to remove the nations there, “lest
they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have
done for their gods, and you sin against the Lord your God.”
The Canaanites were NOT innocent people.
History records their pagan
religion with its immorality, their CRUELTY, utter destruction to THEIR
enemies, etc. Is
it possible that their punishment was actually, “an eye for an eye and a
tooth for a tooth”?
ii.
The
Amalekites were condemned
because of their own actions against God and Israel.
We are given some specific details of their sins -
1 Samuel 15:2–3 says, “Thus
says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish
Amalek for what he did to Israel,
how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go
and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not
spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox
and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”
Deuteronomy 25:17–19,
“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of
Egypt, 18 how he met you on the
way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when
you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. 19 Therefore it
shall be, when the Lord your God has given you rest from your enemies
all around, in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess
as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from
under heaven. You shall not forget.
The point is that the Amalekites were NOT at all innocent.
iii.
Other
examples of corruption include Sodom and Gomorrah and the pre-diluvian
world which were also judged for their wickedness, but the difference is
their Judgment was more directly the hand of God.
But the reason for destruction is the same – they were NOT
innocent!
d.
They
were given opportunity to repent.
i.
Example:
The book of Jonah was written to warn the city of Nineveh as it was
developing into what would become the Assyrian Empire.
As a result of God’s warning, they repented with sackcloth and
ashes. But it did not last.
ii.
Could it
be possible that in Canaan there were prophets of God who warned the
people? What happened during
the 400 years from Abraham to their inheritance?
Consider Joshua 2:8–11 when Rahab hid the 2 spies, “Now
before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the
men: “I know that the Lord has
given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that
all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 For
we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you
when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the
Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom
you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we heard these things, our
hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone
because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on
earth beneath.”
This text points out that they HAD been warned.
Certainly they had opportunity to repent.
iii.
When
Abraham & Isaac dwelt in Canaan did the people know that Jehovah God
blessed them (Gen. 12:1-3, cf. Gen. 21:22-23, 26:28, etc.).
Righteous Lot dwelt in Sodom (2 Peter 2:7).
Noah preached to a condemned world while preparing the ark.
e.
What
about the children and those who were innocent?
If we are speaking of infants and young children, know that even
though they died, God would take care of their souls.
f.
A
lesson in divided loyalties.
Many of God’s laws to Israel really don’t make logical sense –
don’t wear mixed garments, breed mixed animals, sow fields with mixed
seed (Deut. 22:9-11, Lev. 19:19).
But they DO teach a lesson in distinction and separation!
See
2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
God DEMANDS loyalty to Him.
The destruction of the ungodly is a warning to serve Him with
your whole heart or face the same!
g.
One
final thought: Why is this
world in such a depraved state?
Why are nations becomingly increasingly ungodly? (Psalm 2:1-2)
I contend one reason is because
we do not deal harshly enough
with crime and disorder.
We defend criminals and let them go on technicalities.
We tolerate mischief in our communities.
We have watered down accountability! Instead of swift and
appropriate punishment we want to “counsel them” and “build up their
self-esteem”. (That way they
can become confident criminals – TT)
And our prisons are too comfortable.
They are not places that people dread returning to.
In some cases prisoners have better conditions and benefits than
struggling families trying to do the right thing.
What kind of deterrent is that?
Society has failed to teach our
children the need for real morality and respect for authority.
The result is a corrupt society
that is getting worse and worse.
I am convinced that the world can only tolerate so much evil
before it spews it out! History reveals this.
Friends the solution is NOT to just slap someone on the wrist.
Murderers need to be put to death! (Rom. 13, Gen. 9:5-6 – God’s
law after the flood, Lev. 24:21, etc.) It needs to be done swiftly,
Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, “Because
the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore
the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”
Num 35:33-34, which is
addressing intentional murder, advocated putting the guilty to death, “So
you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the
land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is
shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it. Therefore do not
defile the land which you inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I
the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.'"
Criminals need swift and appropriate punishments that will DETER future
misconduct. Stealing in some
places, used to result in the loss of a hand.
Other crimes resulted in the loss of other body parts.
While I am not necessarily advocating such, I do believe we
coddle our criminals and reward their bad behavior.
h.
I realize
that being human, we make mistakes in our judgments and often let the
wicked go and occasionally punish the innocent.
But that is no excuse to do nothing.
But GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES!
His solution,
with perfect knowledge was
designed to preserve the righteous and remove the wicked.
i.
The
failure of Israel to destroy
both the Canaanites and the Amalekites resulted in their eventual
downfall as they adopted the very corrupt ways God wanted them to avoid.
IT seems to me that God KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT!
DON’T QUESTION HIS ACTIONS!
As we study about God and the Bible, there are difficulties
and concepts we may not understand.
But that does not mean there are not good answers that keep the
goodness of God intact. We
do know that regardless of what happens, if we are faithful to Him, when
we leave this life we will NOT have to deal with such problems anymore.
So instead of letting such problems drive you away from God, let
them bring them TO HIM! That
IS His desire! Think about
it!
[1]
McDowell, J., &
Stewart, D. D. (1993).
Answers to tough questions. Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.