INNOCENT BLOOD Lesson-8 Nov. 19, 2016

The reality of suffering: The suffering of the faithful. In Job 10, Job complains about his suffering which he considers to be unfair. His suffering was not a case of retributive punishment. God created and supports everything with love, so how could He punish him this way? There’s no easy answer for that question in this sinful world. We cannot find a satisfactory explanation to suffering and evil. Let’s look into two realities: The reality of suffering: The suffering of the faithful. The suffering of the innocent. The unfair suffering. The reality of evil. Our everyday evil. Beyond the visible.

“You know that I am not guilty.” (Job 10:7 NIV) THE SUFFERING OF THE FAITHFUL “You know that I am not guilty.” (Job 10:7 NIV) Job just wanted to understand why he was suffering that way. “Do not condemn me; show me why You contend with me.” (Job 10:2) Everything he knew about God didn’t match the reality of his suffering. He believed that: God is superior to man (v. 4). God is eternal (v. 5). God is my Creator (v. 8-11). God is merciful (v. 12). God cares about me (v. 13). God is just (v. 14). On the other hand, he was willing to admit his guilt and not to boast in his innocence (v. 15). He didn’t know that he was suffering because he was faithful. Does that happen in our lives anytime?

THE SUFFERING OF THE INNOCENT “They gather together against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.” (Psalm 94:21) “Innocent blood” can be found several times in the Bible to describe those who died blamelessly (Isaiah 59:7; Jeremiah 22:17; Joel 3:19). What do we understand by Blameless? Isn’t it truth that “death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)? In an absolute way, don’t we all deserve suffering and death just because we sinned? Does that put Job in the sinner’s position? Does that help us to see our absolute need of the cross? Nevertheless, God talks about innocent blood being spilled, so even sinners may suffer unfairly. That is, not every suffering in this life is caused by our own sins.

THE UNFAIR FATES “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?” (Luke 13:4) Not all suffering is caused by a specific sin, but all suffering is a consequence of sin. If sin hadn’t entered this world, then suffering wouldn’t have existed. Why did Job’s children die? Why did his servants die? Why did his livestock die? Were they guilty? How about people who die because of natural disasters or terrorist attacks? What about accidents, cancer or violent people? Should we expect some justice in this life?

“It is true that God loves us, that He is working for our happiness, and that, if His law had always been obeyed, we should never have known suffering; and it is no less true that, in this world, as the result of sin, suffering, trouble, burdens, come to every life. We may do the children and the youth a lifelong good by teaching them to meet bravely these troubles and burdens… They should be taught that this world is not a parade ground, but a battlefield. All are called to endure hardness, as good soldiers. They are to be strong and quit themselves like men. Let them be taught that the true test of character is found in the willingness to bear burdens, to take the hard place, to do the work that needs to be done, though it bring no earthly recognition or reward.” E.G.W. (Education, cp. 34, p. 295)

OUR EVERYDAY EVIL “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matt. 6:34) Evil is all around us and every day comes with its own dose of evil. Therefore, Jesus invites us to fully trust God every moment in our life. However, God sometimes allows evil to be fiercely present in His children’s lives. Let’s see some examples. Abel (Genesis 4:8) Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11:17) Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:6) The children in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16) John the Baptist (Matthew 14:10) Stoned, tormented, sawn… (Hebrews 11:35-38)

BEYOND THE VISIBLE “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) How can we explain the suffering that makes no sense to us and that spills innocent blood? The only valid explanation is beyond what our eyes can see. It’s an invisible battle, but it’s so real that it affects every aspect of our lives. It’s a Great Controversy between good and evil, between Christ and Satan. Satan is a real being and is the cause of suffering! We are helpless before the evil powers, so we must fully trust God and His promises. God has promised that ‘affliction shall not rise up the second time.’ (Nahum 1:9).

“The whole universe will have become witnesses to the nature and results of sin. And its utter extermination, which in the beginning would have brought fear to angels and dishonor to God, will now vindicate His love and establish His honor before the universe of beings who delight to do His will, and in whose heart is His law. Never will evil again be manifest. Says the word of God: ‘Affliction shall not rise up the second time.’ Nahum 1:9. The law of God, which Satan has reproached as the yoke of bondage, will be honored as the law of liberty. A tested and proved creation will never again be turned from allegiance to Him whose character has been fully manifested before them as fathomless love and infinite wisdom.” E.G.W. (The Great Controversy, cp. 29, p. 504)