2. September 11, Americans lost their lives when terrorist flew high jacked planes into the World Trades Center.

3. December 26, 2004 a tsunami in the Indian Ocean hit several countries killing an estimated 230,000 people.

4. August 27, 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana & Mississippi killing 1833 people.

5. The Cause Of Suffering
“My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience” (James 5:10).

6. The Cause Of Suffering
Sin & Suffering

7. Sin and Suffering 1) Before sin entered the world.
“Genesis 1:4,10,12,18,21,25 the record says what God created was good.
“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day” (Genesis 1:31).
Genesis 2:7 formed man; 2:8 garden of Eden; 2:9-10 trees & river; 2:15 employment; 2:18 a companion; 2:19 named the living creatures; 3:8 walked with God.

8. Sin and Suffering 2) After sin – the woman.
“To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you” (Genesis 3:16).

9. Sin and Suffering 3) After sin – the man.
“Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:17-19).

10. Sin and Suffering 4) The spread of sin and suffering.
“Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him” (Genesis 4:8).
“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).

11. The Cause Of Suffering
Sin & Suffering
Freewill & Suffering

12. Freewill and Suffering
1) Violate natural law one will suffer.
“Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:7-9).

13. Freewill and Suffering
2) Our own sins can cause others to suffer.
“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine” (Proverbs 23:29-30).

14. Freewill and Suffering
3) One’s choices can cause others to suffer.
“Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house” (2 Samuel 11:2-4).

15. The Cause Of Suffering Sin & Suffering Freewill & Suffering
Satan & Suffering

16. Satan and Suffering 1) In the case of Job.
“So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (Job 1:9-11).

17. Satan and Suffering 2) In the life of Paul.
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

18. Satan and Suffering 3) Satan is trying to destroy us!
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

19. The Cause Of Suffering Sin & Suffering Freewill & Suffering
Satan & Suffering
God & Suffering

20. God and Suffering 1) God does chasten His people.
“And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives” (Hebrews 12:5-6). Quoted from Proverbs 3:11-12).

21. God and Suffering 2) God working to bring about repentance.
“Also I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities. And lack of bread in all your places; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the LORD. “I also withheld rain from you, When there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, And where it did not rain the part withered” (Amos 4:6-7).

22. God and Suffering 3) God chastises David.
“Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun’” (2 Samuel 12:10-12).

23. God and Suffering 3) God chastises David.
“So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die” (2 Samuel 12:13-14).

24. The Cause Of Suffering Sin & Suffering Freewill & Suffering
Satan & Suffering
God & Suffering
Question God?

25. Who Are We To Question God?
1) Job’s charges against God.
“Know then that God has wronged me, And has surrounded me with His net. “If I cry out concerning wrong, I am not heard. If I cry aloud, there is no justice. He has fenced up my way, so that I cannot pass; And He has set darkness in my paths” (Job 19:6-8).

26. Who Are We To Question God?
2) God’s question to Job.
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7).

27. Who Are We To Question God?
3) Job’s answer.
“Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know…“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:1-3, 5-6).

28. The Cause Of Suffering Sin & Suffering Freewill & Suffering
Satan & Suffering
God & Suffering
Question God?