Understanding God's Presence in Suffering and Chaos
Summary
In this session, we delve into the profound question of where God is amidst the chaos and suffering of the world. We often find ourselves questioning God's presence when we face personal tragedies, such as the loss of a loved one or enduring childhood trauma. It's natural to feel abandoned, especially when our prayers seem unanswered. However, it's crucial to understand that our finite minds cannot fully grasp the infinite nature of God and His ways. We live in a world where physical existence is temporary, and spiritual existence is eternal. Jesus taught that while the flesh leads to death, the spirit leads to life. Therefore, we must strive to grow in our understanding of God and the world we inhabit.
God values life differently than we do. He sees the purpose in our lives, even amidst pain. In Exodus 3, God responds to the suffering of His people in Egypt, showing that He is aware and concerned about our struggles. He often uses people, like Moses, to bring about His plans and provide help. This illustrates that God is actively involved in our lives, responding to our needs in real time.
Moreover, God values this life both more and less than we do. He values it more because He sees its purpose and is concerned about our suffering. Yet, He values it less because His ultimate goal is not to keep us in this world forever but to ensure we live eternally with Him. This world is full of pain, and while God cares deeply about our suffering, His primary aim is our eternal salvation.
God's love and concern for us are evident, but He does not cause the evil and suffering we experience. Free will plays a significant role in the existence of pain and sin. God allows us to make choices, and with that freedom comes the potential for both good and evil. Ultimately, God's desire is for us to choose Him freely, to love Him genuinely, and to live eternally with Him.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding God's infinite nature is beyond our finite minds, but we must continue to grow in our knowledge of Him and the world. This growth helps us hold onto God even amidst doubts and anger. [01:48]
- God values life differently than we do. He sees the purpose in our lives, even when we don't, and responds to our suffering in real time, as seen in the story of Moses. [05:05]
- God uses people and circumstances to accomplish His purposes. He doesn't simply remove us from our struggles but works through them, often using others to bring about His plans. [06:37]
- While God values our lives, His ultimate goal is our eternal salvation. He cares about our suffering but prioritizes our spiritual well-being and eternal life with Him. [20:29]
- Free will is essential in understanding the existence of pain and suffering. God allows us to make choices, and with that freedom comes the potential for both good and evil. [21:30]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:48] - Understanding God's Nature
[02:49] - God's Perspective on Life
[04:08] - God Responds in Real Time
[05:05] - God's Concern for Our Suffering
[05:49] - God Uses People to Help
[06:37] - The Role of Free Will
[07:26] - God's Use of Circumstances
[08:17] - God Sees Our Problems
[09:07] - The Story of Abraham
[10:10] - God's Foreknowledge and Free Will
[12:17] - God Responds in Time
[13:08] - The Open View of God
[14:16] - God's Will and Human Suffering
[15:22] - Misconceptions About God's Will
[16:29] - God's Ultimate Goal
[17:57] - Valuing Life Differently
[19:30] - God's Desire for Eternal Life
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Exodus 3:7-10
- John 6:63
- Genesis 22:12
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Observation Questions:
1. In Exodus 3:7-10, how does God demonstrate His awareness and concern for the suffering of His people? What actions does He take in response? [05:05]
2. According to John 6:63, what distinction does Jesus make between the flesh and the spirit? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about the temporary nature of physical existence? [01:48]
3. In Genesis 22:12, what does God’s response to Abraham’s actions reveal about His understanding of human free will and obedience? [09:07]
4. How does the sermon describe God’s use of people like Moses to accomplish His purposes? What does this suggest about God’s involvement in our lives? [06:37]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the difference between God’s valuation of life and our own? What implications does this have for how we view suffering and purpose in life? [02:49]
2. What role does free will play in the existence of pain and suffering according to the sermon? How does this understanding affect our perception of God’s will? [15:22]
3. The sermon mentions that God’s ultimate goal is our eternal salvation. How does this perspective influence the way we interpret life’s challenges and hardships? [20:29]
4. How does the sermon’s discussion of God responding in real time challenge traditional views of God’s foreknowledge and omniscience? What does this mean for our relationship with God? [10:10]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt abandoned by God during a personal tragedy. How can the understanding of God’s eternal perspective and concern for your suffering help you find comfort and hope? [01:48]
2. In what ways can you actively participate in God’s plans, like Moses, to help others who are suffering? Identify a specific action you can take this week to support someone in need. [05:49]
3. How does the concept of free will influence your daily decisions and interactions with others? What steps can you take to align your choices more closely with God’s desires for your life? [21:30]
4. Consider the sermon’s message about God valuing life differently. How can this perspective change the way you approach your own life’s purpose and the challenges you face? [02:49]
5. The sermon suggests that God’s primary aim is our eternal salvation. How can this understanding shape your priorities and goals in life? What changes might you need to make to focus more on spiritual growth? [20:29]
6. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of God’s nature and His involvement in your life? Identify a specific practice or habit you can adopt to grow in your knowledge of God. [01:48]
7. Reflect on the role of suffering in your spiritual journey. How can you use your experiences of pain to strengthen your faith and trust in God’s ultimate plan for your life? [14:16]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Mystery of God's Nature
Understanding God's infinite nature is beyond our finite minds, yet it is essential to grow in our knowledge of Him and the world. This growth helps us hold onto God even amidst doubts and anger. In times of personal tragedy or unanswered prayers, it is natural to feel abandoned. However, recognizing that our understanding is limited can help us trust in God's greater plan. We live in a world where physical existence is temporary, and spiritual existence is eternal. Jesus taught that while the flesh leads to death, the spirit leads to life. Therefore, we must strive to deepen our understanding of God and the world we inhabit. [01:48]
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust God's plan? How can you begin to embrace the mystery of His ways today?
Day 2: God's Real-Time Response to Our Suffering
God values life differently than we do. He sees the purpose in our lives, even when we don't, and responds to our suffering in real time. The story of Moses in Exodus 3 illustrates that God is aware and concerned about our struggles. He often uses people to bring about His plans and provide help. This shows that God is actively involved in our lives, responding to our needs as they arise. While we may not always see or understand His actions, we can trust that He is working for our good. [05:05]
"The Lord said, 'I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey.'" (Exodus 3:7-8, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt God was distant during a struggle. How might He have been working behind the scenes to respond to your needs?
Day 3: The Role of People and Circumstances in God's Plan
God uses people and circumstances to accomplish His purposes. He doesn't simply remove us from our struggles but works through them, often using others to bring about His plans. This perspective helps us see that our challenges are not without purpose. God values this life both more and less than we do. He values it more because He sees its purpose and is concerned about our suffering. Yet, He values it less because His ultimate goal is not to keep us in this world forever but to ensure we live eternally with Him. [06:37]
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life has God used to help you through difficult times? How can you be open to being used by God to help others in their struggles?
Day 4: Prioritizing Eternal Salvation Over Earthly Comfort
While God values our lives, His ultimate goal is our eternal salvation. He cares about our suffering but prioritizes our spiritual well-being and eternal life with Him. This world is full of pain, and while God cares deeply about our suffering, His primary aim is our eternal salvation. Understanding this can help us shift our focus from temporary discomforts to the eternal joy that awaits us with Him. [20:29]
"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, ESV)
Reflection: What temporary discomforts are you currently facing? How can you shift your focus to the eternal joy that God promises?
Day 5: The Gift and Responsibility of Free Will
Free will is essential in understanding the existence of pain and suffering. God allows us to make choices, and with that freedom comes the potential for both good and evil. Ultimately, God's desire is for us to choose Him freely, to love Him genuinely, and to live eternally with Him. This freedom is a gift, but it also comes with the responsibility to make choices that align with God's will and purpose for our lives. [21:30]
"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: What choices are you currently facing that require discernment and alignment with God's will? How can you seek God's guidance in making these decisions?
Quotes
1. "So we live in this world where there's a lot of pain. So we have to see, number one, where is God? Who is God? We have to see who God really is. We said at the end of the last session that we can't get to the end of this, but we cannot stop growing in our understanding of the world that we live in. We can't stop growing in our understanding of God. He wants us to understand him. My kids understand me better now that they're parents." [00:01:48] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The picture we have here of God, and again, imperfect picture, because he's infinite and I'm finite. Imperfect, but it helps me. Maybe it'll help you. God hears the crying of the people. He's seen their pain. He hears their crying. He's concerned about their pain. Verse 8, so I've come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up to the land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey." [00:04:49] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God always uses people and circumstances, good people, evil people, bad stuff, accidents. You name it. But God's going to send Moses to them. Now, we know that Moses helps us see Jesus coming. You know, Moses is talking to Jesus on the transfiguration about the coming, about what's going to be happening here." [00:07:53] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God cannot know something has happened if it hasn't happened. Chew on that one. You say, well, God can do anything. No, God can't sin. God cannot not love. There's a lot of things God can't do because God can't go against his nature. He can't go against who he is. God can't lie. The Hebrew writer says it's impossible for God to lie." [00:12:01] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So God values this life is what I'm saying. God values this life. He's concerned about your suffering. He's concerned about your crying out. He's concerned when a loved one gets killed in an accident. He's concerned when somebody sexually abuses a little child. He doesn't like kids going to bed hungry." [00:13:56] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "My God didn't give that to anybody. Somebody with free choice, who I'm sure had a lot of pain in their life that doesn't justify it, made a decision to hurt a little child. And I know how God feels about that because Jesus said, woe be it to the person. He said this, this world, trouble is going to come. But woe be it through whom it comes." [00:15:28] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "God doesn't cause all the bad stuff. He values this life. Okay, that is very important. We don't have all the answers, but I know this. Fundamentally, everything that happens is not because God wants it to happen. God can use evil. He can use evil people to accomplish His purpose. He can discipline us. He has the right to take me out anytime He wants. He has the right to take my child. He has the right to do that. But every death is not God taking that person." [00:16:29] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Free will means I have a choice. I can say yes to God or no to God, and so God can't make me freely choose to love him. You say God can do anything. Can't do that. It's called a logical contradiction. You say God can move a mountain. Yes, he could, but God can't make you freely choose. If he made you, you're not free." [00:21:09] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "God's number one goal as he gets up in the morning is not to create safety for David as far as everything's going to go right. There's not going to be any pain. And my goal is to keep David alive on this earth forever and ever. That's not his goal. That's not number one." [00:19:23] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "His number one desire is not to keep me alive and everything good in my life. Now, does He care when I suffer? Yes. but his number one to-do list, number one thing on his to-do list, do whatever it takes, whatever it takes for my people, my children to live forever with me. That's his goal. That's number one." [00:20:34] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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