God actually set limits on what Satan could do to Job. The Mystery of God and Suffering 81 on the Mount describes God as showering rain on evil persons as well as good ones (Matthew 5:45). God permitted Satan to implement the torment, but when he was petitioned "why" by Job, He did not skirt the responsibility by pointing blame on Satan. Likewise, God wants us to have that same “for-realness.” In many ways suffering is a mystery. When we realize Who is in control of our suffering, what He is like, and what His purposes are, we can endure faithfully, giving God glory even in our pain. The Mystery of Suffering and God's Sovereignty Richard P. Belcher, Jr. ... At the heart of the book of Job is a question about the character of God - and about how we should respond to Him. Enemy rule. Job had a “for-realness” about his pain. The Bible affirms that God is sovereign over the storms of this life and that he has good in store for his people in their suffering. When we realize Who is in control of our suffering, what He is like, and what His purposes are, we can endure faithfully, giving God glory even in our pain. God is growing our faith in the midst of our trials. Job teaches us that, though suffering is mysterious, we can and must trust in God, who is good and sovereign. There is a great mystery in the relationship between God’s sovereignty and the existence of evil. It is vitally important to understand that even though God ordains and uses suffering, He does not commit sin or evil. Based on the book of Job, David Platt urges us to respond to suffering by meditating on God’s sovereignty. Similarly, John’s Jesus heals the blind man and explicitly rejects the idea that suffering is punishment for sin (John 9:1–41, especially 2–5). To deepen the mystery, no matter how you slice it we cannot absolve God of the ultimate responsibility for Job's suffering. Based on the book of Job, David Platt urges us to respond to suffering by meditating on God’s sovereignty. The account of Job shows us that God will not abandon those who suffer for his sake. Download the weekly Bible reading plan to follow along with each sermon. In the first round of suffering, God said, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him” (1:12). Then Satan went out and caused the loss of Job’s possessions and children, but he was not permitted to harm Job … Job (pronounced "jobe"), was a rich farmer living in the land of Uz, somewhere northeast of Palestine. The book of Job, one of the wisdom books of the Bible, deals with two issues crucial to every person: the problem of suffering and the sovereignty of God. He's drawing us closer and teaching us things about himself. Sin and suffering entered the world through Adam and fractured God’s perfect design. 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