For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment” (Job 34:11,12).
TEXT — Job 34:7-12
Message
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the renowned English preacher, once shared a profound thought on human suffering: “Any man can sing in the day. It’s easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight, but the true artist is the one who can sing even when there’s not a glimmer of light to guide them. Songs in the night come only from God; they are not within the power of man.” This sentiment hits home, especially when we think about Job’s struggles or our own tough times.
In this passage, Elihu addresses Job’s grievances about God’s fairness, rebuking him for suggesting that God is unjust. Elihu asserts that God is just, incapable of wrongdoing, all-wise and sovereign. He also mentions the universal principle of sowing and reaping, or cause and effect, making it clear that God’s justice is never random.
Reflecting on Job’s story, most people find it difficult to explain what looks like a discrepancy between human suffering and the justice of God. They ask: Why would God allow Job, whom He had declared righteous, to suffer such great afflictions? And we can ask the same question of men in general: How can a just God permit the innocent to suffer while the wicked seem to thrive without consequence? Elihu’s speech suggests a helpful perspective. It encourages us to trust God’s unwavering justice, even when we can’t see the whole picture.
God’s judgments are profound and beyond human grasp. He understands what we don’t. For instance, Job’s friends were unaware of Satan’s involvement or God’s higher purpose behind Job’s trials. This lack of understanding of the significant factors involved in human suffering can easily lead to misguided conclusions.
Instead of questioning God’s justice in our difficulties or focusing on our pain, we should redirect our attention to God’s greatness and goodness. By recognizing and yielding to His sovereignty, we can discover peace and receive illumination to sing a “song in the darkness” of our struggles.
Thought for the day
The best way to turn pain into gain is by trusting that God can never do wrong.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
