Why Does God Allow Bad Things to Happen?

The genealogical introduction to Abraham in the last study, chronologically ordered by a Skip Andrews study, brought us to about 2000 BC. Job probably lived about the same time.

(Job 1:1) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. (2) And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters. (3) His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. (4) And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day, and sent and called their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

Most of the early commentaries suggest feasting "every one his day" probably meant on their appointed days, perhaps birthdays, and the fact that they always invited all their sisters indicate much family harmony and good will. It should not be reasoned that these were drunken rebel-rousing type parties because they would have never invited their sisters to such events.

(5) And so it was, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all, for Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually.

There was no indication that his children did anything wrong in their celebrations, but when the cycle of feasts were done, Job, being the pious man that he was, did these things just in case they had sinned or blasphemed God in their festivity.

(6) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

The sons of God here are generally understood to mean angels by all the early commentaries.

(7) And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

Notice that this seems to be a rather matter-of-fact question and answer, as God does not become angry with Satan, but continues the discourse. Remember that Satan is the god of this world and that he continually walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, as Peter tells us in the New Testament.

(8) And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a pious and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" (9) Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? (10) Have You not made a hedge around him, around his house, 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. (11) But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face." (12) And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

There are people who believe this was either the act of a cruel God, or must be only a story because how could a loving God allow Satan to destroy such a good man? The old taunt of Satan's to get us to question God, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Once again Satan is the god of this world. When God told Satan that all that Job had was in his, Satan's, power, once again he was stating a matter of fact. But Satan can only do what God allows him to do, and in this instance, He did not allow Satan to touch Job's body.

Why has Satan been allowed to do all that he wants to do to us? Therein lies our choice. Do we willingly CHOOSE God or do we choose the world, and therefore Satan? If God never allowed evil and therefore evil choices, if we all lived in the Garden of Eden with no serpent ever tempting us with anything, what choice is there? We would merely be God's dolls and robots.

(13) And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house; (14) And a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, (15) When the Sabeans descended upon them and took them away; indeed, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you." (16) While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you." (17) While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you." (18) While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, (19) And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you." (20) Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and fell down on the ground and worshiped.

These were actions of grief, but he did not blame God, but instead worshiped Him.

(21) And he said, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

I believe this is my favorite memory scripture in all the Bible. The Lord is still the Lord and He has given us salvation, true eternal life; anything else is just frill that comes and goes. The true blessing of the Lord still stands, and He is to be blessed INDEED!

(22) In all this Job did not sin, nor charge God foolishly.

Once again the question might be asked, why did Job have to suffer so much loss in so short a time? Once again the answer lies in the fact that Satan is the god of this world. Some times more bad may happen to good people because Satan thinks it takes more to drive them away from God. With some, it doesn't take much. Satan is all about keeping us from the Truth and our salvation. But why does God allow Satan to do so much? I already said I believe giving us a true choice is one reason. Another thing to remember is that God sees a much bigger picture than we do. He wants us ALL to be saved. If by allowing an example to be made of Job, more people are brought to salvation, then that is a good thing in God's eyes. And we should be willing to do God's will. Think of a parent who would willingly give his life to save his child's life. We like to think of it as being the parent's choice, like standing in the line of bullet fire to protect the child. But what if it is not the parent's choice, but it is his or her faith through a trial like death by cancer? Suppose through that child's witness of that faith or by their own grief bringing them back to the Lord, the child is saved as a result of that parent's death. Is that not a good and wonderful thing? We humans have a very different idea of what good and evil are. Although Satan does bring the evil things in our lives, God allows them because He uses them for good as we are told in the following scriptures:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. - Genesis 50:20

Blessed be the name of the LORD!