*The Book of Job — Bible* *Lesson* 30
*Just for your thoughts.*
*The Book of Job — Bible*
*Lesson* 30
What Is the Basis on Which God Allows Suffering?
Job 34:23
There are several different translations of this verse. I would like to point out only two of them.
1. Power Translation:
“He will not impose on man anything beyond what he can bear, so that man would have to contend with God.”
— Job 34:23
2. Catholic Translation:
“He needs no investigation to crush the mighty; He will appoint others in their place.”
I would like to meditate on this thought based on the Power Translation.
As a supporting Scripture for this verse, I would like to mention the words of Paul:
“God knows our spiritual condition. He does not allow us to be tested beyond what we can bear; along with the temptation, He also provides a way for us to endure it.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:13
God does not allow everyone to experience every kind of trial. The nature of our trials is related to our spiritual strength and capacity to endure.
Those who are like children in their spiritual life will not be allowed to face the kind of trials that are appropriate for spiritually mature young people. Likewise, those who are spiritually mature will not necessarily face trials that belong to another level of spiritual maturity.
The nature of our trials depends on our spiritual growth, not on our physical age.
Just because I am getting older does not mean that I have grown spiritually. Spiritual maturity is one thing, while physical maturity is another. They are two completely different dimensions.
In the Bible, there are very few people who endured trials and sufferings as severe and successive as those experienced by Job.
God knew Job’s spiritual strength and capacity. That is why He permitted such great trials in his life.
Even when everyone abandoned him, even when his body no longer cooperated with him, even when people who should have supported him accused him, and even when his wife, who should have comforted him during such a difficult time, misunderstood his suffering, Job continued to hold firmly to the Lord.
This demonstrates his spiritual strength.
The reason was that he had received a good testimony from God. God Himself spoke twice about Job’s good testimony.
At the same time, it is also wrong to conclude that those who experience fewer sufferings are spiritually weak.
God allows each person to endure trials according to His purpose and according to that person's spiritual capacity.
Only our God knows exactly how much suffering a believer can endure and how long that person can stand firm.
We may complain and say, “I cannot bear this trial.” But God alone knows the limit up to which a trial can be permitted in our lives.
Blessed are those who endure suffering.
When someone endures great suffering, it can demonstrate that he possesses genuine spiritual strength.
Therefore, we should not judge those who are going through suffering, as Job’s friends did, by concluding that they are suffering because of sin. We must examine ourselves carefully before making such judgments.
Those who are enduring suffering need to understand two things:
1. We need to understand that these sufferings are within the measure of our spiritual capacity to endure.
2. We need to understand that God allows suffering for a purpose.
A person who rightly understands these two truths will certainly overcome suffering. That is all.