Gideon (6:1-8:32)

Gideon’s Commissioned To Lead Israel (6:11-24)

WHY IS THERE SUFFERING

JUDGES 6:11-16

Reading: Job 3:11-24

Song: Farther Along

INTRODUCTION

A. Have you ever wondered why bad things happen especially to good people? It is a puzzling of question as to why people do suffer. Why do disappointment, disease and other difficulties exist?

B. Some, attacking God's sovereignty, claim he is not powerful enough to prevent it, Otherwise, if he is able, his love for us cannot be sufficient enough to cause him to spare us. Some claim it is the result of personal sin. Though this may be sometimes close to the truth, many innocent or righteous people also suffer. We don't question why the wicked suffer, but why do the righteous suffer?

C. We must keep in mind in considering why there suffering exists, that there are things of which God has not revealed to us. To try to answer what God has not revealed is beyond our own wisdom or our own ability to comprehend (Deu 29:29; Isa. 55:8-9; Rom 11:33-34). If God has revealed an answer we must go to his written word to understand it (cp. 1Co 2:9-13).

D. Regardless, having a complete understanding of suffering is not as important as is applying our understanding of the reality of suffering to our lives. What is most important in considering suffering is, when the righteous suffer, how can they suffering righteously? Through study of God's word he will give us sufficient understanding to remain faithful or obedient to him in our suffering (2Pe 1:3).

E. Studying this question can give us comfort in suffering while at the same time supporting our faith.

F. Let’s consider:

The Call Of Gideon

I. SUFFERING (6:11-16).

A. ... Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites ... (6:11).

11 ¶ And there came <0935> (8799) an angel <04397> of the LORD <03068>, and sat <03427> (8799) under an oak <0424> which was in Ophrah <06084>, that pertained unto Joash <03101> the Abiezrite <033>: and his son <01121> Gideon <01439> threshed <02251> (8802) wheat <02406> by the winepress <01660>, to hide <05127> (8687) it from <06440> the Midianites <04080>. {Gideon: Gr. Gedeon} {to hide…: Heb. to cause it to flee}

1. An angel of the Lord wen to Gideon while he was threshing “wheat by the winepress.”

a. Normally grapes were processed at the winepress.

b. Gideon’s was working in secret to keep the enemy from discovering him and depriving him of his grain.

c. It described the severity of the conditions of life for the people in Israel.

d. Israel’s hardship was so great, life was so difficult for the people of Israel that they had to resort to hiding their food.

B. ... the angel of the LORD appeared unto him... (6:12-13).

12 And the angel <04397> of the LORD <03068> appeared <07200> (8735) unto him, and said <0559> (8799) unto him, The LORD <03068> is with thee, thou mighty <01368> man of valour <02428>.

1. Gideon was puzzled at why the “angel of the LORD” had declared, “The LORD is with them ... .”

13 And Gideon <01439> said <0559> (8799) unto him, Oh <0994> my Lord <0113>, if <03426> the LORD <03068> be with us, why then is all this befallen <04672> (8804) us? and where be all his miracles <06381> (8737) which our fathers <01> told <05608> (8765) us of, saying <0559> (8800), Did not the LORD <03068> bring us up <05927> (8689) from Egypt <04714>? but now the LORD <03068> hath forsaken <05203> (8804) us, and delivered <05414> (8799) us into the hands <03709> of the Midianites <04080>.

2. Gideon was puzzled as to why the angel would have declared the Lord was with Israel, given Israel’s condition; that it seemed as though God had forsaken them.

a. Gideon did not seem to understand the reason for Israel’s suffering.

b. Has suffering ever puzzled you?

Transition: Without God’s written world to appeal to, we would have very little understanding as to why there is suffering, especially for God’s people. With God’s word he gives us the understanding about suffering that we need.

3. SOURCES OF SUFFERING

a. Sources according to human speculation or human wisdom:

(1) God

(a) It is so easy to blame God.

(b) A tragedy such as a server illness or loss of someone loved can result in some turning away from God.

(d) King Ahab claimed Elijah was the one “that troubleth Israel” but Elijah set the record straight by saying, “I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim” (1Ki 18:17-18).

(e) (Jam 1:13).

(2) People and their sin

(a) Second to God, it is just as easy to blame the people for suffering in the world.

(b) Many tend to claim suffering in the various areas of life is always due to personal sins.

i) Are birth defects always the result of personal sins.

a) Jesus and his disciples saw a man blind from birth (Joh 9:1-2).

b) The disciples reasoned that either the man or his parents sinned.

c) The problem with such a conclusion is that babies are born free of sin, (Eze 18:4).

d) Jesus told his disciple the man blind from birth was so, that the works of God might be manifest (cp. Joh. 9:3).

i) An account was given of Pilate having killed some Jews with the sacrifices and of 18 who had been killed when the tower of Siloam fell (Luk 13:1-5).

ii) Jesus denied the consequences had anything to do with the personal sins of the people who suffered.

(d) Are attacks by beasts or creatures always the result of sin?

i) Paul was bit by a poisonous viper and it was supposed by those who saw it that it was a judgment against Paul for his sins (Act 28:1-4).

ii) The miracle that saved contradicted proved the contrary (Act 28:5-6).

(3) Therefore, suffering is not always the result of personal sin or anything those involved necessarily caused for themselves.

(a) The four who spoke at Job, believed he had greatly sinned or he would not have been suffering.

(b) They encouraged Job to confess his secret sins and perhaps God would extend mercy to him.

(d) A elderly woman I knew, Miss. Wiley, was severely beat up in her home by two young strangers. She suffered the hardship of the sins of those who beat her severely but she was in no way responsible for their sin.

b. Sources according to the scriptures.

(1) Adam's sin (cp. Gen. 3).

(a) As a result of his losing access to the tree of life, he died physically and all others as his offspring, therefore, also not have access to the tree of life, face physical death.

(b) The scriptures teach the principle of the susceptibility of children to the consequences of their father's sin (cp. Ex. 20:5; 34:;7, Heb. 7:4-10).

(d) This is why infants or mentally incompetent (unable to reason) people, though not capable of sin, share in death with the rest of mankind.

i) The consequence however are physical not spiritual.

ii) Each person faces spiritual death as a result of his or her own, personal sins, Rom. 5:12; 14:12; cp. 3:23; 6:23).

iii) On the other hand, let's not loose heart. We also share in Jesus' sacrifice for our sins, 1Cor. 15:22; cp. Rom. 5:12.

(2) The earth

(a) When God created, he put laws into his creation, what many call nature.

(b) Gravity is one of those laws.

i) We risk injury when we place ourselves in a position to experiencing a dangerous fall or put ourselves under something suspended above us.

(3) Disease, drought and natural disasters such as tornados are the consequences of the cursed earth.

(a) This is another result of Adams sin, cp. Gen. 3:17-19.

(b) Just as with death, all people are susceptible to these.

(4) The influence of the devil on men.

(a) Though during the writing of the word of God, Satan was able to affect men physically, that is no longer in his power (cf. Job. 1:12; 2:7; Luk. 12:11-12, 16; 2Cor. 12:17).

(b) His power has been limited to only that of influence or temptation so that now he works through tempting men toward committing evil and harm.

(c) God has allowed us the freedom of choosing to do good or evil. This inevitably includes the possibility of misusing these laws which can result in suffering; even for the innocent.

c. We should be able to realize that suffering happens for many other reason other than own person sin.

Transition:

4. GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY AND SUFFERING

a. There are people who either doubt God's power in reigning over us or at least his love for us because of the suffering which exists in the world

b. However, the suffering of the righteous is in harmony with God’s sovereignty.

c. The Bible clearly states that God rules over all,

(1) We know from the basic sources of suffering, God does not cause suffering but he must allow it to occur, since we have freedom of choice.

(2) Therefore, our question should not be, "Why do people suffer" but "Why does God allow it?"

d. All God does is good and for the benefit of the faithful (Psa 145:17; Rom 8:20, 28; Jam. ).

(1) Now we are coming to our answer. There must be good in the righteous suffering.

(2) Look at the suffering of Joseph (Gen. 45:4-8; 50:28).

(3) Consider the suffering of the Lord.

(4) When persecution came upon the church in Jerusalem, it resulted in the preaching of the gospel throughout the world, Acts 8:4; Phil 1:12.

(5) It is good for the righteous to die.

(a) It brings departure from this part of life to eternity with God, Phil. 1:21; cp. 2Cor. 5:6-8.

(b) It teaches us the brevity of life and encourages preparation for eternity, Ps. 90:12.

(6) Pain and devastation teach compassion or empathy for the less fortunate, cp. 2Cor. 1:3-6.

(a) It removes the desire to remain on the earth, 1Pet. 2:11.

(b) It also teaches patients, Rom. 5:3-5.

(7) Temptation offers us testing to build us up, 1Pet. 4:12. It also teaches dependence on God, Isa. 54:5.

e. Poverty.

(1) Most of the time it is better then great material wealth, Luk. 12:15.

(2) Too many material things can blind our mind to what is most important as is the case when many have much but refuse to share it with those that little.

(3) Wealth can give us the attitude, that regardless of our sin condition, everything is alright.

(4) Suffering teaches discipline (Heb 12:11).

(5) Suffering has much from which we may benefit. We should be able to see that Gods sovereignty continues though suffering exists.

Transition: When the righteous suffer it does not erase God’s good rule over us but there still remains the question of ...

5. SURVIVING SUFFERING

a. Our example - "entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1Pet. 2:21-23).

b. Our advise - "entrust their souls to a faithful creator" (1Pe 4:19).

Conclusion:

Other Sermons In This Series: Questions Asked In The Bible

How Oft Shall My Brother Sin Against Me And I Forgive Him (Mat 18:21-35)?

Is It Lawful To Give Tribute To Ceasar (Mat. 22:15-22)?

Will ye also go away (Joh 6:60-71)?

in charity through Christ, Ra ym ond Wis em an

More on suffering and along with god
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