By Elizabeth Prata
SYNOPSIS
This essay examines biblical suffering, distinguishing between suffering for obedience to God and suffering caused by rebellion or sin. Through Job, Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, and Jonah, it urges believers to examine their hearts, trusting Christ while avoiding unnecessary, self-inflicted sorrow.
Suffering. We are promised a life of suffering if we believe in Jesus and follow Him rightly. (John 16:33). But Jesus said immediately after, to take heart because He has overcome the world.
The Bible recounts much suffering among its people. Some suffering is because the people disobeyed and they suffered the consequences of their sins. Pagans suffered because even though they met God, they rebelled against him, like Pharaoh. Others suffered medically, like the woman with a 12-year blood issue, or the man born blind. Of the man, he was born blind on purpose, so that at the appointed time, “the works of God might be displayed in him”. (John 9:3).
That last one was part of the skewed concept the Jews had at the time that anyone who suffered, such as blind men or lepers, was because they had sinned. They thought that trouble in the world was solely due to some sin the person was holding onto.
That was what Job’s friends kept telling Job. Numerous chapters of speeches reminding Job that sin causes immediate suffering.
Yes, and no. Sometimes the consequences of sin catch up to a person. There is a kind of reaping and sowing. You become promiscuous, you might reap a venereal disease. You embezzle, you might land in jail.
But other times, the suffering is because the person is living for Christ. In that case, the world makes the person suffer. That was Job’s suffering. Elijah, and Moses. I chose those three men because all three at some point in their suffering, they stated they wanted to die. Job said it was better if had not been born. Moses asked God to kill him now (Numbers 11:15). Depressed and exhausted Elijah also asked to die.
10-15. Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant, &c.—It is impossible not to sympathize with his feelings although the tone and language of his remonstrances to God cannot be justified. He was in a most distressing situation—having a mighty multitude under his care, with no means of satisfying their clamorous demands. Their conduct shows how deeply they had been debased and demoralized by long oppression: while his reveals a state of mind agonized and almost overwhelmed by a sense of the undivided responsibilities of his office. Source Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary
Elijah lived 100% for God but even he came to a point where he said out loud he wanted to die. In 1 Kings 19:4 he had killed the 400 false prophets with a sword, heard Jezebel’s vow to hunt him down and kill him in retaliation, and Elijah ran and ran away and collapsed under a broom tree and said he was a failure, kill him now.
Job’s anguish was such that he wanted to die, he said ‘Why did You birth me? I wish I’d never been born’. Job 10:18-22.
Jeremiah expressed the same. He suffered mightily for the LORD and one day he lamented that the Lord did not kill him in the womb before he was ever born. (Jeremiah 20, lament for suffering).
These mighty men came to the end of their capacity. Sometimes that happens. Paul noted in 2 Corinthians 1:8 that he and his men had been burdened excessively, beyond what they could bear.
Now let’s turn to Jonah. Like Moses, Elijah, and Job, he also expressed that he wanted to die.
And when the sun came up God designated a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he became faint, and he begged with all his soul to die, saying, “Death is better to me than life!” (Jonah 4:8).
Jonah’s suffering was different than the men I’ve mentioned. Jonah’s was of own making, however. He had NOT been living for the Lord as Moses, Elijah, Job, and Jeremiah had. He was roiling up his own soul to the point of death because he was angry things didn’t turn out the way he wanted with the Ninevites. His was not a righteous lament. God replied tenderly to Elijah and sent an angel to minister to him. He promised Jeremiah that He was with him (Jeremiah 15:20) and encouraged Jeremiah to return to the work. Jeremiah was in bitter grief, whose human nature could not at present submit to the divine will. Jeremiah was spent, wrung out completely. Elijah too. Moses as well. God restored the strength of all three.
Jonah, though…his suffering was self inflicted. He was angry that God did not perform the way Jonah wanted- to smite the Ninevites. Jonah was angry that God displayed mercy. Jonah was sinning.
If we suffer, it would be helpful not to assume our suffering was tribulation brought on as described in John 16:33, that we are suffering because we are righteous, like Job. Sometimes it is true that our stance for Christ may lead to firing from our job, ejection from a wayward church, excommunication from our family, or even persecution or death. But it is pride to automatically assume this is the cause. Sometimes our suffering is of our own making. A terrible attitude, a hidden sin, an unrighteous lifestyle unrepented of, all could result in a suffering that wouldn’t exist if we had forsaken them.
Jonah ‘suffered’ because he rebelled. Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah suffered because they obeyed. Did Jonah have to be tossed overboard into the wild sea? Did Jonah have to live in the great fish for 3 days? No. Did Jonah have to pout on top of the hill because the plant had died and the Ninevites were still living? No. He brought it on himself.
If you are suffering, I am sorry. We are promised suffering from God. Just make sure it isn’t an additional suffering you did not have to endure due to your own attitude or habits. If so, we have a gracious savior who will forgive you if you appeal to Him in repentance.
I have found this song helpful and quieting when I am troubled: Dallas Holm, “I have Hope”. Jesus is a caring savior, who suffered more than anyone on earth ever has or ever will. He understands your righteous suffering.
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