“I form the light and create darkness; I make peace and create calamity. I the Lord do all these things” (cf. Is45:7)

Reflecting on the divisions, injustices and suffering in the world, some might be inclined to share comic writer Woody Allen’s view that if there is a god, then he, she or it “is at best an under-achiever”. Such a case could be made if evil and suffering existed to the degree that it does and God had no real use for it, but He does, for I now perceive from Scripture that it is an essential ingredient within His plans for creation. Suffering is not a result of divine impotence or accident as Isaiah makes quite clear (above). As well as being the backdrop to highlight the beauty and loveliness of the good and therefore of God Himself, the existence of evil and the suffering that results from it is a means of preparing humanity for the next phase in her development. And that has application to “the Fall” and why God permitted it as Paul hints at in Rom8:17-21. Initially the passage is referring to the privileges of the elect but typically for Paul (as well as Old Testament Scripture) the perspective broadens to incorporate God’s plan to restore the Earth: “If we are God’s children then we are heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, providing that we share His sufferings so as also to share His glory. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility; not willingly but because of Him who subjected it in the hope that the creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God”.

So according to Paul it is necessary that the elect suffer with Christ, and according to the writer to the Hebrews it was fitting even for Christ Himself to be perfected through suffering in the process of bringing His chosen ones to their glorious inheritance (Heb2:10 cf. Heb2:18). So God Himself participates in our suffering as I endeavoured to explain in my book from which I will quote directly in this instance:

Suffering for all parties, for our God is no deistic, impassionate chess master overseeing this wondrous plan. He had been perfectly entitled to enjoy unbroken felicity but for mankind’s sake He was prepared to endure the agony of observing His only begotten Son’s humiliation and death. If Satan had been barred from planet earth or Adam and Eve had been erased for their disobedience and replaced, Christ need not have died. But He permitted His enemy what appeared to be an extraordinary victory for the sake of what He knew would be the ideal preparation for the beings created in His image to be raised from dust to glory. This is the third reason apart from Satan’s treachery and our first parents’ disobedience that things have been as they have been in the world and in the Church. Suffering partnered with essential spiritual healing and progressive enlightenment are the means by which God is drawing man toward his ultimate destiny as exemplified by His Son’s own experience. .
[Excerpt from chapter 7- The Little Book of Providence**]

“I form the light and create darkness; I make peace and create calamity. I the Lord do all these things” declares Yahweh through Isaiah. “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God; how inscrutable is His decision-making and His ways are quite beyond our discovery!” exclaimed Paul (previous post). One suspects the apostle knew more than most (2Cor12:3,4). Likewise, when the fuller picture is revealed to us we shall also be lost in wonder, love and praise.

** Free PDF of e-book HERE

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