The Danger of Assumptions
The Danger of Assumptions
Job 20-21
“The wicked say to God, ‘depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.” (21:14)
When people are going through difficulties, it is easy for those on the outside to give advice and make judgments. Because we have not experienced their pain, we draw our own conclusions, and when they challenge those conclusions, we take offense. Such was the case of Zophar. In 20:3, he takes Job’s response personally. As Job struggled to understand his suffering, he asked difficult questions about God and faith. As a result, Zophar takes offense because Job questions what Zophar believes. Instead of showing compassion, love, and understanding, Zophar accused Job of sin. Zophar failed to recognize that struggling with our faith in trials and questioning why God allows certain events to happen does not mean that we are rejecting our faith. Zophar failed because he made some wrong assumptions about faith and God’s activity in the world. Because Zophar assumed that only the wicked suffer, he argued that God would bring swift judgment upon the wicked, even though they may enjoy a time of prosperity. Therefore, the prosperity of Job and now his tragedy were signs that God was punishing Job for his sin. Zophar based his arguments on the assumption that when destruction occurs, it is always because of sin. The wicked enjoy their wickedness for a time, but it brings only momentary satisfaction. In the end, it will turn sour in their stomach and they will still bring about their destruction (20:12-19).
In response, Job points out that those who are suffering need to be heard rather than lectured. (21:1-6). When ministering to people who are going through times of tragedy, the most important thing we can do is listen to them without judgment. Instead of trying to “fix” them, we need just to listen and respond with compassion. Job goes on to point out that life in a fallen world is not always as clearly defined as his friends portray it. The wicked enjoy prosperity even in their rebellion, and there are many occasions when they do not receive any punishment for their sin. The wicked enjoy their prosperity and ignore God. They live without consideration of God’s ways and serve themselves rather (21:13-16). However, despite their sin, they seem to enjoy prosperity without any punishment. Thus, Job concludes in 21:27-34 that rigid assumptions about how God acts in the present can distort reality. Job affirms that the wicked will face judgment after death, but that does nomen that he will suffer in the present.
This raises several questions about suffering, sin, and judgment. First, does God care about evil? When the righteous suffer and the wicked seem to sin without impunity, we begin to wonder if God does not care about evil and if he is indifferent towards sin. Peter answers this question in 2 Peter 3:3-9. The delay is not because God is not concerned about evil; rather, it is an opportunity for repentance. The delay is an expression of his grace rather than complacency towards sin.
Second, does God act arbitrarily towards people? God has given common grace upon all people, so prosperity is enjoyed by even the wicked. But common grace should never be mistaken for redemptive grace. Just because a person enjoys the present benefits of God’s grace does not mean that God will ignore sin and leave it unpunished. There is still the need for repentance and the surrender to God’s will.
In the present, the righteous may suffer and the wicked may enjoy prosperity. Therefore, we cannot assume that suffering is a result of sin. Instead, we are to show compassion and grace towards those going through trials and recognize that there will come a time in the future when God will bring final salvation to the righteous and judgment to the wicked. The most important thing we do for those going through trials is to listen. Instead of trying to “fix” them, we need to show love and grace, pointing them to the grace and compassion of God.
Job 20-21
“The wicked say to God, ‘depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.” (21:14)
When people are going through difficulties, it is easy for those on the outside to give advice and make judgments. Because we have not experienced their pain, we draw our own conclusions, and when they challenge those conclusions, we take offense. Such was the case of Zophar. In 20:3, he takes Job’s response personally. As Job struggled to understand his suffering, he asked difficult questions about God and faith. As a result, Zophar takes offense because Job questions what Zophar believes. Instead of showing compassion, love, and understanding, Zophar accused Job of sin. Zophar failed to recognize that struggling with our faith in trials and questioning why God allows certain events to happen does not mean that we are rejecting our faith. Zophar failed because he made some wrong assumptions about faith and God’s activity in the world. Because Zophar assumed that only the wicked suffer, he argued that God would bring swift judgment upon the wicked, even though they may enjoy a time of prosperity. Therefore, the prosperity of Job and now his tragedy were signs that God was punishing Job for his sin. Zophar based his arguments on the assumption that when destruction occurs, it is always because of sin. The wicked enjoy their wickedness for a time, but it brings only momentary satisfaction. In the end, it will turn sour in their stomach and they will still bring about their destruction (20:12-19).
In response, Job points out that those who are suffering need to be heard rather than lectured. (21:1-6). When ministering to people who are going through times of tragedy, the most important thing we can do is listen to them without judgment. Instead of trying to “fix” them, we need just to listen and respond with compassion. Job goes on to point out that life in a fallen world is not always as clearly defined as his friends portray it. The wicked enjoy prosperity even in their rebellion, and there are many occasions when they do not receive any punishment for their sin. The wicked enjoy their prosperity and ignore God. They live without consideration of God’s ways and serve themselves rather (21:13-16). However, despite their sin, they seem to enjoy prosperity without any punishment. Thus, Job concludes in 21:27-34 that rigid assumptions about how God acts in the present can distort reality. Job affirms that the wicked will face judgment after death, but that does nomen that he will suffer in the present.
This raises several questions about suffering, sin, and judgment. First, does God care about evil? When the righteous suffer and the wicked seem to sin without impunity, we begin to wonder if God does not care about evil and if he is indifferent towards sin. Peter answers this question in 2 Peter 3:3-9. The delay is not because God is not concerned about evil; rather, it is an opportunity for repentance. The delay is an expression of his grace rather than complacency towards sin.
Second, does God act arbitrarily towards people? God has given common grace upon all people, so prosperity is enjoyed by even the wicked. But common grace should never be mistaken for redemptive grace. Just because a person enjoys the present benefits of God’s grace does not mean that God will ignore sin and leave it unpunished. There is still the need for repentance and the surrender to God’s will.
In the present, the righteous may suffer and the wicked may enjoy prosperity. Therefore, we cannot assume that suffering is a result of sin. Instead, we are to show compassion and grace towards those going through trials and recognize that there will come a time in the future when God will bring final salvation to the righteous and judgment to the wicked. The most important thing we do for those going through trials is to listen. Instead of trying to “fix” them, we need to show love and grace, pointing them to the grace and compassion of God.
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