Curse that day for failing to shut my mother’s womb, for letting me be born to see all this trouble. Job 3:10 NLT While our experience may be different than Job’s, many of us have been in situations, so dire, that we even question our existence. Wayne’s parents never married. Growing up, he learned to … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Christian writer and apologist C. S. Lewis wrote a book talking about the death of his wife and his struggle to come to terms with that death. In it he wrote: “Not that I am (I think) in much danger of ceasing to believe in God. The real danger is of coming to … Continue reading –>
Read Romans 3:1–4. Though the immediate context is the unfaithfulness of some of God’s covenant people, what is the bigger issue that Paul is talking about here? What is Paul saying about God? Quoting Psalm 51:4, Paul talks about how the Lord Himself will “be justified in your words and will prevail when you are … Continue reading –>
Read the following texts in Job. What issue is Job wrestling with? What question does he not ask? Job 6:4–8, Job 9:1–12. As stated in yesterday’s study, the issue of God’s existence never came up in the book of Job. Instead, the question was why was Job going through these trials? And, considering all that … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “God and Human Suffering” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the HopeTV Sabbath … Continue reading –>
Despite the hype of those who don’t believe in God, those who believe in God have many good reasons for their belief. However, there’s been one perennial problem that many have used through the ages to justify their disbelief, and that is the problem of human suffering and evil. How can God be all-good, all-loving, … Continue reading –>
What has God clearly revealed in this world about Himself? [Lesson 4 – October 22, 2016] Perhaps there’s been a bad forest fire close to where you live. Or flooding has ruined the harvest for the year. (Romans 1:18-20) Still, does Paul proclaim that we have seen enough in nature to know God and know Him well?When … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: The character of God lies at the center of the great controversy and behind most questions of human suffering.. God and Human Suffering- October 22, 2016 1. Have a volunteer read Job 12:7-10. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. b. How does … Continue reading –>
There are many good and powerful arguments in favor of God’s existence. Besides the testimony of the created world, there’s also what’s called the “cosmological” argument. Basically, it’s the idea that nothing came from itself and that nothing created itself. Instead, what was created was created by something else before it, and whatever created that … Continue reading –>
Read Romans 1:18–20. What is Paul saying here? What a powerful few sentences. Enough of the reality and existence of God is revealed through “what has been made” (NASB), that is, through the created world, that people will be “without excuse” (NASB) for their unbelief. Paul is saying that from the creation alone humans can learn … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Rom. 1:18–20; Job 12:7–10; Rev. 4:11; Col. 1:16-17; Matt. 6:34; Job 10:8–12; Rom. 3:1–4. Memory Text: “‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble’” (Matthew 6:34, NKJV). Unlike every other book of the Bible, the book of … Continue reading –>
Students of the book of Job who delve into the Hebrew come across an interesting phenomenon. Job’s wife’s words to him are translated, ” ‘Curse God and die’ ” (Job 2:9, NKJV). Job 1:5 is translated: ” ‘it may be that my sons have sinned andcursed God in their hearts’ “(NKJV). And Job 1:11 is translated: … Continue reading –>
