GOD IS IN CHARGE: HUPOMONE

If God is sovereign and loving, why does He allow pain and suffering? The Bible does not deny the reality of pain and suffering. The book of Job shed light on this question. It is not just a story of pain and suffering but a story of God's love, mercy, compassion and sovereign plan. We can learn from Job's hupomone, which is steadfast perseverance and unwavering trust in what God's sovereignty in midst of suffering (James 5:11) "Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful." Hupomone is a positive anticipation in what God can do and will do amidst suffering

The Prosperity of job (Job 1:1-6) " There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them."
Job was a family man, blameless, prayerful, upright, and obedient to God. He was probably the wealthiest man of his time with a very good reputation He was also a spiritual leader.

The Pain & Suffering of Job ( Job 1:7-22) "The LORD said to Satan, "From where have you come?" Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." 8 And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" 9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and 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 stretch out your hand 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 hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. 13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you." 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "The fire of God fell 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 yet speaking, there came another and said, "The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you." 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you." 20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong."
From Job's experience, we see the reality that suffering is not always because of sins. God is not arbitrary. He always has the best purpose in mind, but we may not always understand these purposes. Another reality is the co-existence of the spiritual world and the physical world. Satan challenged God that if He removed His hedge of protection and His blessing from Job, he would curse Him. God places a hedge of protection around all of His children and nothing can harm us unless God allows it.

 

Job's Response. Job responded to all his trials by saying,"Naked I come from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of The Lord." (Job 1:21)

Job was able to worship God amidst pain. Hupomone is worshiping and trusting God in the midst of suffering, believing that there is a purpose behind everything, even if we do not understand.
God did not answer Job's question of 'why'. Instead, He asked Him several questions about creation, light, how the world was made and how it operates. If Job could not even understand these things, then he must trust God who knows everything.
At the end of story, Job was doubly blessed material, but the blessing is not just material. Job's suffering resulted to the transformation of his character, greater humility, growth in faith, and most importantly, the greatest of all blessings-greater intimacy with God.