GOD SUFFERS, TOO!
Fifth of twelve parts in Breathtaking Promise series
Genesis 6:5-6: “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that He had made man on the earth, and His heart was filled with pain.”
The opening Scripture is a far cry from Genesis 1:31 when “God saw that all He had made…was very good.” There were six creation days when there was no suffering on earth. We’ll see that it was always mankind who made God suffer.
The opening Scripture shows that the events committed by man caused God great emotional anguish. God was “grieved” that He made man! His heart was searing with pain. (Evidently, pre-flood people were schemers). God reacted to wretched human events with a suffering heart.
Our world-God relationship isn’t simple. Needy people relate awkwardly to an omnipotent (all-powerful) God. Our resistance to a heartbroken God changed Him. Humans’ “free will” gift from God led us to behave polar opposite from the way that God intended.
Our Creator’s reactive judgment is His very personal decision—mixing sorrow and anger with compassion. A suffering God makes fatherly decisions affecting the very people whom He loves dearly. Exodus 3:7-10 clearly shows a tender, personal God who “has indeed SEEN the misery of the people in Egypt, … have HEARD them cry out, … and am CONCERNED about their suffering.”
The Father decides radical intervention is the way to rescue His children. He uses Moses’ staff as His presence to not only remove them from their horrible condition, but bring them into their own homeland.
A land “flowing with milk and honey” hardly sounds like punishment for bad behavior. Awkward relationship. They’re rewarded instead.
All because of love!
Revelation 5:5 shows John’s weeping revelation when no one was found worthy to open the scroll: “Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’” John saw a lamb looking as though it had been slain. The Lamb appears throughout the Bible as the Passover Lamb, designating Christ (1 Corinthians 5:7).
The Lion and the Lamb together form a new symbol—conquest by sacrificial death. Evil lost to power defined by weakness instead of military strength. Christ joined humanity in His suffering which was the key to victory! The spectrum of God’s suffering demonstrates profound love—no greater than what’s highlighted by the cross. Torture + pain + Calvary + nails = forgiveness and salvation! From Creator to Savior, God has chosen to show us His vulnerability.
Can we see a God who is relationally intimate with His creation, especially those He made in His own image?
Take Home Nugget
Job shows that intimacy with God is born from suffering and affliction. We approach the Almighty in the deepest levels when suffering. Our souls are laid bare before the Almighty.
After God comforts and heals our pain, we’re equipped to comfort others who are hurting (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). Might we minister to them offering the comfort we ourselves have received from God?
Just as we share in Christ’s sufferings, so the comfort we offer others overflows through Christ.
Adapted from “What Does the Bible Say About Suffering? If God loves us, why do we suffer?” by Lesli White. http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-suffering.aspx?p=2#LHhTTaTRVzALmkjx.99. September 18, 2016.
J.D. Griffith
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