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==148:6. THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF SUFFERING—DISCOURSE ON JOB==

==148:6. THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF SUFFERING—DISCOURSE ON JOB==

148:6.1 It was this same evening at Bethsaida that John also asked Jesus why so many apparently innocent people suffered from so many diseases and experienced so many afflictions. In answering John's questions, among many other things, the Master said:

148:6.1 It was this same evening at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethsaida Bethsaida] that [[John, the Apostle|John]] also asked [[Jesus]] why so many apparently [[innocent]] people [[suffered]] from so many [[diseases]] and [[experienced]] so many afflictions. In answering [[John, the Apostle|John]]'s questions, among many other things, [[the Master]] said:

148:6.2 " My son, you do not comprehend the meaning of adversity or the mission of suffering. Have you not read that masterpiece of Semitic literature—the Scripture story of the afflictions of Job? Do you not recall how this wonderful parable begins with the recital of the material prosperity of the Lord's servant? You well remember that Job was blessed with children, wealth, dignity, position, health, and everything else which men value in this temporal life. According to the time-honored teachings of the children of Abraham such material prosperity was all-sufficient evidence of divine favor. But such material possessions and such temporal prosperity do not indicate God's favor. My Father in heaven loves the poor just as much as the rich; he is no respecter of persons.

148:6.2 " My son, you do not [[comprehend]] the [[meaning]] of [[adversity]] or the [[mission]] of [[suffering]]. Have you not [[read]] that [[masterpiece]] of [[Semitic]] [[literature]]—the [[Scripture]] [[story]] of the afflictions of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job]? Do you not recall how this [[wonderful]] [[parable]] begins with the [[recital]] of the [[material]] [[prosperity]] of the Lord's servant? You well remember that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] was [[blessed]] with [[children]], [[wealth]], [[dignity]], position, [[health]], and everything else which men [[value]] in this [[temporal]] life. According to the [[time]]-honored teachings of the [http://books.google.com/books?id=Zu6EAAAACAAJ&dq=children+of+abraham&hl=en&ei=BiufTfaaJ8TAtgfz7KH1Ag&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAQ children of Abraham] such [[material]] [[prosperity]] was all-sufficient [[evidence]] of [[divine]] [[favor]]. But such material [[possessions]] and such [[temporal]] [[prosperity]] do not indicate [[God]]'s [[favor]]. [[Universal Father|My Father]] in heaven loves the [[poor]] just as much as the [[rich]]; he is no respecter of persons[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Wisdom_of_Jesus,_Son_of_Sirach#Sirach_35].

148:6.3 " Although transgression of divine law is sooner or later followed by the harvest of punishment, while men certainly eventually do reap what they sow, still you should know that human suffering is not always a punishment for antecedent sin. Both Job and his friends failed to find the true answer for their perplexities. And with the light you now enjoy you would hardly assign to either Satan or God the parts they play in this unique parable. While Job did not, through suffering, find the resolution of his intellectual troubles or the solution of his philosophical difficulties, he did achieve great victories; even in the very face of the breakdown of his theological defenses he ascended to those spiritual heights where he could sincerely say, `I abhor myself'; then was there granted him the salvation of a vision of God. So even through misunderstood suffering, Job ascended to the superhuman plane of moral understanding and spiritual insight. When the suffering servant obtains a vision of God, there follows a soul peace which passes all human understanding.

148:6.3 " Although [[transgression]] of [[divine]] [[law]] is sooner or later followed by the [[harvest]] of [[punishment]], while men certainly [[eventually]] do reap what they sow, still you should know that human [[suffering]] is not always a [[punishment]] for antecedent [[sin]]. Both [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] and his [[friends]] failed to find the true answer for their [[perplexities]]. And with the [[light]] you now enjoy you would hardly assign to either [[Satan]] or [[God]] the parts they [[play]] in this [[unique]] [[parable]]. While [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] did not, through [[suffering]], find the resolution of his [[intellectual]] troubles or the solution of his [[philosophical]] [[difficulties]], he did [[achieve]] great [[victories]]; even in the very face of the breakdown of his [[theological]] [[defenses]] he [[ascended]] to those [[spiritual]] heights where he could [[sincerely]] say, `I abhor myself'; then was there granted him the [[salvation]] of a [[vision]] of [[God]]. So even through misunderstood [[suffering]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] [[ascended]] to the [[superhuman]] [[plane]] of [[moral]] [[understanding]] and [[spiritual]] [[insight]]. When the [[suffering]] servant obtains a [[vision]] of [[God]], there follows a [[soul]] [[peace]] which passes all [[human]] [[understanding]].

148:6.4 " The first of Job's friends, Eliphaz, exhorted the sufferer to exhibit in his afflictions the same fortitude he had prescribed for others during the days of his prosperity. Said this false comforter: `Trust in your religion, Job; remember that it is the wicked and not the righteous who suffer. You must deserve this punishment, else you would not be afflicted. You well know that no man can be righteous in God's sight. You know that the wicked never really prosper. Anyway, man seems predestined to trouble, and perhaps the Lord is only chastising you for your own good.' No wonder poor Job failed to get much comfort from such an interpretation of the problem of human suffering.

148:6.4 " The first of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job]'s [[friends]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliphaz_%28Job%29 Eliphaz], exhorted the sufferer to [[exhibit]] in his [[afflictions]] the same [[fortitude]] he had prescribed for others during the days of his [[prosperity]]. Said this false comforter: `[[Trust]] in your [[religion]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job]; [[remember]] that it is the [[wicked]] and not the [[righteous]] who [[suffer]]. You must deserve this [[punishment]], else you would not be afflicted. You well know that no man can be [[righteous]] in [[God]]'s [[sight]]. You know that the [[wicked]] never really prosper. Anyway, man seems [[predestined]] to trouble, and perhaps the Lord is only chastising you for your own [[good]].'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.4] No [[wonder]] poor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] failed to get much [[comfort]] from such an [[interpretation]] of the [[problem]] of [[human]] [[suffering]].

148:6.5 " But the counsel of his second friend, Bildad, was even more depressing, notwithstanding its soundness from the standpoint of the then accepted theology. Said Bildad: `God cannot be unjust. Your children must have been sinners since they perished; you must be in error, else you would not be so afflicted. And if you are really righteous, God will certainly deliver you from your afflictions. You should learn from the history of God's dealings with man that the Almighty destroys only the wicked.'

148:6.5 " But the [[counsel]] of his second [[friend]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildad Bildad], was even more [[depressing]], notwithstanding its soundness from the [[standpoint]] of the then accepted [[theology]]. Said [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildad Bildad]: `[[God]] cannot be unjust. Your [[children]] must have been [[sinners]] since they perished; you must be in [[error]], else you would not be so [[afflicted]]. And if you are really [[righteous]], [[God]] will certainly deliver you from your [[afflictions]]. You should [[learn]] from the [[history]] of [[God]]'s dealings with [[man]] that the [[Almighty]] destroys only the [[wicked]].'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.8]

148:6.6 " And then you remember how Job replied to his friends, saying: `I well know that God does not hear my cry for help. How can God be just and at the same time so utterly disregard my innocence? I am learning that I can get no satisfaction from appealing to the Almighty. Cannot you discern that God tolerates the persecution of the good by the wicked? And since man is so weak, what chance has he for consideration at the hands of an omnipotent God? God has made me as I am, and when he thus turns upon me, I am defenseless. And why did God ever create me just to suffer in this miserable fashion?'

148:6.6 " And then you [[remember]] how [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] replied to his [[friends]], saying: `I well know that [[God]] does not hear my [[cry]] for help. How can [[God]] be [[just]] and at the same time so utterly disregard my [[innocence]]? I am [[learning]] that I can get no [[satisfaction]] from [[appealing]] to the [[Almighty]]. Cannot you [[discern]] that [[God]] [[tolerates]] the [[persecution]] of the [[good]] by the [[wicked]]? And since [[man]] is so weak, what [[chance]] has he for [[consideration]] at the hands of an [[omnipotent]] [[God]]? God has made me as I am, and when he thus turns upon me, I am [[defenseless]]. And why did [[God]] ever [[create]] me just to [[suffer]] in this miserable [[Manner|fashion]]?'

148:6.7 " And who can challenge the attitude of Job in view of the counsel of his friends and the erroneous ideas of God which occupied his own mind? Do you not see that Job longed for a human God, that he hungered to commune with a divine Being who knows man's mortal estate and understands that the just must often suffer in innocence as a part of this first life of the long Paradise ascent? Wherefore has the Son of Man come forth from the Father to live such a life in the flesh that he will be able to comfort and succor all those who must henceforth be called upon to endure the afflictions of Job.

148:6.7 " And who can [[challenge]] the [[attitude]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] in view of the [[counsel]] of his [[friends]] and the [[erroneous]] [[ideas]] of [[God]] which occupied his own [[mind]]? Do you not see that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] longed for a [[human]] [[God]], that he [[hungered]] to [[commune]] with a [[divine]] [[Being]] who [[knows]] man's [[mortal]] estate and [[understands]] that the [[just]] must often [[suffer]] in [[innocence]] as a [[part]] of this first life of the long [[Ascension Career|Paradise ascent]]? Wherefore has the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_Man Son of Man] come forth from [[the Father]] to live such a life in the [[flesh]] that he will be able to [[comfort]] and succor all those who must henceforth be called upon to [[endure]] the [[afflictions]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job].

148:6.8 " Job's third friend, Zophar, then spoke still less comforting words when he said: `You are foolish to claim to be righteous, seeing that you are thus afflicted. But I admit that it is impossible to comprehend God's ways. Perhaps there is some hidden purpose in all your miseries.' And when Job had listened to all three of his friends, he appealed directly to God for help, pleading the fact that `man, born of woman, is few of days and full of trouble.'

148:6.8 " [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job]'s third [[friend]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zophar Zophar], then [[spoke]] still less [[comforting]] [[words]] when he said: `You are [[foolish]] to claim to be [[righteous]], seeing that you are thus [[afflicted]]. But I admit that it is impossible to [[comprehend]] [[God]]'s ways. Perhaps there is some hidden [[purpose]] in all your miseries.' And when [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] had [[listened]] to all [[three]] of his [[friends]], he [[appealed]] directly to [[God]] for help, pleading the [[fact]] that `man, born of woman, is few of days and full of [[trouble]].'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.11]

148:6.9 " Then began the second session with his friends. Eliphaz grew more stern, accusing, and sarcastic. Bildad became indignant at Job's contempt for his friends. Zophar reiterated his melancholy advice. Job by this time had become disgusted with his friends and appealed again to God, and now he appealed to a just God against the God of injustice embodied in the philosophy of his friends and enshrined even in his own religious attitude. Next Job took refuge in the consolation of a future life in which the inequities of mortal existence may be more justly rectified. Failure to receive help from man drives Job to God. Then ensues the great struggle in his heart between faith and doubt. Finally, the human sufferer begins to see the light of life; his tortured soul ascends to new heights of hope and courage; he may suffer on and even die, but his enlightened soul now utters that cry of triumph, `My Vindicator lives!'

148:6.9 " Then began the second session with his friends. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliphaz_(Job) Eliphaz] grew more stern, [[accusing]], and [[sarcastic]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildad Bildad] became [[indignant]] at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job]'s contempt for his [[friends]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zophar Zophar] reiterated his [[melancholy]] [[advice]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] by this time had become disgusted with his [[friends]] and [[appealed]] again to [[God]], and now he [[appealed]] to a [[just]] [[God]] against the God of injustice embodied in the [[philosophy]] of his [[friends]] and enshrined even in his own [[religious]] [[attitude]]. Next [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] took [[refuge]] in the [[consolation]] of a [[future]] life in which the inequities of [[mortal]] [[existence]] may be more justly rectified. Failure to [[receive]] help from man drives [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] to [[God]]. Then ensues the great [[struggle]] in his [[heart]] between [[faith]] and [[doubt]]. Finally, the [[human]] sufferer begins to see the [[light]] of life; his [[tortured]] [[soul]] [[ascends]] to new heights of [[hope]] and [[courage]]; he may [[suffer]] on and even [[die]], but his [[enlightened]] [[soul]] now utters that cry of [[triumph]], `My Vindicator lives!'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.19]

148:6.10 " Job was altogether right when he challenged the doctrine that God afflicts children in order to punish their parents. Job was ever ready to admit that God is righteous, but he longed for some soul-satisfying revelation of the personal character of the Eternal. And that is our mission on earth. No more shall suffering mortals be denied the comfort of knowing the love of God and understanding the mercy of the Father in heaven. While the speech of God spoken from the whirlwind was a majestic concept for the day of its utterance, you have already learned that the Father does not thus reveal himself, but rather that he speaks within the human heart as a still, small voice, saying, `This is the way; walk therein.' Do you not comprehend that God dwells within you, that he has become what you are that he may make you what he is! "

148:6.10 " [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] was altogether right when he [[challenged]] the [[doctrine]] that [[God]] [[afflicts]] [[children]] in order to punish their [[parents]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] was ever ready to admit that [[God]] is [[righteous]], but he longed for some [[soul]]-[[satisfying]] [[revelation]] of the [[personal]] [[character]] of the [[Eternal]]. And that is our [[mission]] on [[earth]]. No more shall [[suffering]] [[mortals]] be denied the [[comfort]] of [[knowing]] the of [[God]] and [[understanding]] the [[mercy]] of [[the Father]] in heaven. While the [[speech]] of [[God]] spoken from the whirlwind[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.38] was a [[majestic]] [[concept]] for the day of its utterance, you have already [[learned]] that [[the Father]] does not thus [[reveal]] himself, but rather that he [[speaks]] within the [[human]] [[heart]] as a still, small [[voice]][http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Kings#Chapter_19], saying, `This is the way; walk therein.'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.30] Do you not [[comprehend]] that [[God]] dwells within you, that he has become what you are that he may make you what he is! "

148:6.11 Then Jesus made this final statement: " The Father in heaven does not willingly afflict the children of men. Man suffers, first, from the accidents of time and the imperfections of the evil of an immature physical existence. Next, he suffers the inexorable consequences of sin—the transgression of the laws of life and light. And finally, man reaps the harvest of his own iniquitous persistence in rebellion against the righteous rule of heaven on earth. But man's miseries are not a personal visitation of divine judgment. Man can, and will, do much to lessen his temporal sufferings. But once and for all be delivered from the superstition that God afflicts man at the behest of the evil one. Study the Book of Job just to discover how many wrong ideas of God even good men may honestly entertain; and then note how even the painfully afflicted Job found the God of comfort and salvation in spite of such erroneous teachings. At last his faith pierced the clouds of suffering to discern the light of life pouring forth from the Father as healing mercy and everlasting righteousness. "

148:6.11 Then [[Jesus]] made this final [[statement]]: " [[The Father]] in heaven does not willingly [[afflict]] the [[children]] of men. Man [[suffers]], first, from the [[accidents]] of time and the imperfections of the [[evil]] of an immature [[physical]] [[existence]]. Next, he suffers the inexorable [[consequences]] of [[sin]]—the [[transgression]] of the [[laws]] of life and [[light]]. And finally, man reaps the [[harvest]] of his own [[iniquitous]] [[persistence]] in [[rebellion]] against the [[righteous]] rule of [[heaven]] on [[earth]]. But man's miseries are not a [[personal]] [[visitation]] of [[divine]] [[judgment]]. Man can, and will, do much to lessen his [[temporal]] [[sufferings]]. But once and for all be delivered from the [[superstition]] that [[God]] afflicts man at the behest of the [[evil one]]. [[Study]] the [[Book of Job]] just to [[discover]] how many wrong [[ideas]] of [[God]] even [[good]] men may [[honestly]] entertain; and then note how even the [[painfully]] afflicted [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28Biblical_figure%29 Job] found the [[God]] of [[comfort]] and [[salvation]] in spite of such [[erroneous]] teachings. At last his [[faith]] pierced the clouds of [[suffering]] to [[discern]] the [[light]] of life pouring forth from [[the Father]] as [[healing]] [[mercy]] and everlasting [[righteousness]]. "

148:6.12 John pondered these sayings in his heart for many days. His entire afterlife was markedly changed as a result of this conversation with the Master in the garden, and he did much, in later times, to cause the other apostles to change their viewpoints regarding the source, nature, and purpose of commonplace human afflictions. But John never spoke of this conference until after the Master had departed.

148:6.12 John pondered these sayings in his [[heart]] for many days. His entire [[afterlife]] was markedly changed as a result of this [[conversation]] with [[the Master]] in the [[garden]], and he did much, in later times, to cause the other [[apostles]] to [[change]] their [[viewpoints]] regarding the [[source]], [[nature]], and [[purpose]] of commonplace [[human]] [[afflictions]]. But [[John, the Apostle|John]] never spoke of this [[conference]] until after [[the Master]] had [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_193 departed].

==148:7. THE MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND==

==148:7. THE MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND==