Sunday, November 27, 2011
GOD SPEAKS THROUGH PAIN
Job 33:19-22
I have a very simple question to ask this morning. How many of you enjoy pain? Is there anyone here who would confess openly, “I just love pain; I delight in it”? Even if that describes you, you would not likely admit it, because everyone would think you are strange, and you would be strange. We are not made to enjoy pain. When we get close to a hot stove, if we have any mind at all, we shrink back. We do not joyfully lay our hand on that stove.
So why do we live in a world that is so full of pain? Not only have all of us experienced physical pain to some extent, but we have also had to deal with the kind of pain that goes beyond bodily aches. Some of you have experienced indescribable emotional pain in your lives.
I want to read you a simple, little quote from C. S. Lewis: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains” (cited by Steven Lawson in his commentary on Job, p. 279). Think about that. “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains.” Could God speak to one of His children through pain? Could He communicate a message through physical, emotional, or spiritual pain?
I. Elihu’s Words to Job (Job 33:19-22)
Those questions bring us back to the 33rd chapter of Job, where Elihu is responding to Job’s complaint that God will not answer Him. Let’s read some of Elihu’s response to Job’s complaint, beginning in Job 33:13 (ESV), “Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s words’?” Elihu continues in 33:14-16 (NKJV), “For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction.” As we saw before, Job acknowledged that God had given him dreams. Let’s read again Job’s earlier words from Job 7:13-14, “When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me; my couch will ease my complaint,’ then You scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions.” Job sees his dreams only as scary things in the night, but Elihu suggests that God speaks to man through dreams and visions.
Now let’s come back to Job 33 and skip down to 33:19-22…
Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with strong pain in many of his bones, 20 So that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent food. 21 His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen. 22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners.
The ESV translation of verse 19 is perhaps a bit stronger: “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed…” Don’t miss the point. God speaks to people in different ways. On the one hand, He may speak through a dream. On the other hand, He may speak through pain. There can be no mistaking the fact that Elihu is talking directly to Job, because Job had been enduring intense physical pain for months.
Let’s stop and think about this for a moment. Job is complaining that God is silent, that He refuses to answer Him. To put it in simple terms that we might use, “I pray and pray, but God doesn’t answer.” Elihu responds by telling Job that God is speaking loudly and clearly. The very bed of pain upon which he was lying was God’s mouthpiece, but Job didn’t perceive it.
When we looked at verses 14-16, I suggested that when God speaks through dreams, He is speaking through words. All through the scripture we find God speaking clear and specific messages through dreams. Even when the dreams did not come in the form of words, as with Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, the interpretation of those dreams came in the form of definite words. But now we see that God can also speak apart from words. As Elihu puts it, “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed.” That pain was not in the form of words, but there is a sense in which its voice was stronger than words. We could summarize Elihu’s message by saying that God speaks through words and God speaks through circumstances, and there is no circumstance which grabs our attention more fully than our pain.
What does God say through a person’s pain? In this case, Elihu tells us that God chastens, disciplines, rebukes a man through his pain. God may deliver other messages through pain and suffering, but here it is the message of chastisement, reproof, discipline. Does that mean that every time you suffer pain God is chastising you? No. We have to be careful here. Jesus endured great suffering, but it was never because the Father was rebuking Him. Paul was beaten and stoned, but it was not chastisement from God. Down through the centuries Christians have been killed because of their testimony, but their pain was not a rebuke from God. Nevertheless, we have to be careful that we don’t take that truth and negate completely what Elihu is saying. God does rebuke through pain and suffering.
Consider a simple illustration. When I was a kid, we had a couple of cows and my dad kept them in the field with a fence. Actually it wasn’t much of fence. It was two strands of smooth wire that ran all the way around the field. Surely any cow of normal strength and average bovine intelligence could figure out that this little fence was not strong enough to contain her. But the first time that cow decided to test the fence, she was in for a big surprise. There was an unexpected element within the wire, and that element was PAIN. The electric current that flowed through those wires delivered a shock directly to the pain center of any offending cow. The cow responded as expected -- touch the fence, recoil at the intense pain, stay away from the fence. Those two little wires effectively conveyed the message to the cow that she must stay away from the fence to avoid the pain.
So what do you do when you experience great pain, whether it be physical or non-physical? Are you able to determine whether God is rebuking you? No, you cannot make that determination. Then what do you do? You stop! That’s right, stop. Stop what? Stop everything. And then do what? Look up. Wait on God. Ask Him what He is intending to communicate to you.
Most of us are open to the fact that God can speak through circumstances. We are careful not to label all occurrences as coincidence, because we know that our God is in control of everything and nothing happens by accident. Joe Saladin shared with us a few weeks ago that when he left his house to come to a service here at this church for the first time, he was humming “Holy, Holy, Holy.” When he walked in the door back there, we were singing that song. He sensed this was more than coincidence. Was not the Lord confirming that he was indeed supposed to be here, that the Lord was guiding him? We could give hundreds of such illustrations.
Isn’t it interesting that most of us do not tend to view physical pain in those terms? When was the last time you experienced pain and turned to God to ask if He was chastising you for sin? We are likely to say, “Just because a person is sick or in pain, that doesn’t mean that God is rebuking him.” You are right, but we must understand that it may mean exactly that. Do we not quote Rom. 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”? But for some reason, we often delete pain from the “all things.” When we experience pain, would we not be wise to stop, look up, and ask God what He is trying to tell us through our pain?
Most of us are much more likely to stop and look to God as a result of emotional pain than physical pain. That is certainly understandable, because these physical bodies are only our temporary dwelling places. Nevertheless, Elihu is here clearly speaking of physical pain. Job had endured tremendous emotional pain, especially when he lost his children. Don’t you know it caused great pain when his wife suggested that he curse God and die. But listen again to Elihu’s words in verse 19, “Man is also chastened with pain on his bed and with strong pain in many of his bones.” He goes on in verse 21 to speak of his bones sticking out. Best we can tell, Job was in the prime of life, but now this is strong physical affliction, and Elihu says that God is speaking through it. If we want to be sensitive to the voice of God, let’s not rule out the possibility that God can chasten us through pain and suffering of all kinds.
II. Scriptural Examples of God Speaking through Pain
Now let’s take time to look at some other scriptural examples of God speaking through pain, whether physical or otherwise. Consider Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus and good friends of Jesus. When Lazarus became very sick, they sent word to Jesus. Though Jesus understood the serious nature of the illness, He did nothing for two days. By the time He arrived at the home of Mary and Martha, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Not only were Mary and Martha grieving because they had lost their brother, but also because Jesus hadn’t come. In their minds, his death was not necessary; Jesus could have come and healed them. That’s what Martha said as soon as Jesus arrived, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother would not have died.” And she was exactly right. Jesus could have come and healed Lazarus. Instead, He remained where He was. Jesus deliberately allowed Mary and Martha to go through this intense and painful suffering. Was He speaking to them through their pain? Yes. What did He want them to do? Stop, and look to Him. When He first got the message that Lazarus was sick, Jesus said to His disciples, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby” (John 11:4). Jesus wanted to teach these precious friends a lesson that went beyond His ability to heal the sick. Ultimately, He wanted them to understand the truth He spoke to Martha: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25). To get their undivided attention, He brought painful suffering to them.
Or consider the apostle Paul. In II Cor. 12 we learn that he suffered greatly because of some problem, which he refers to as a thorn in the flesh and the messenger of Satan. Some will argue that it was not a physical affliction, though most would contend that it was. Whatever it was, Paul saw this thorn in the flesh as a hindrance to his ministry. Three times he asked the Lord to remove it, but it continued with him. Was the Lord speaking to Paul through his pain? He certainly was. As a matter of fact, He very clearly told Paul its purpose. “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Cor. 12:9). And praise God that he heard the message that came to him through suffering and then was clarified through the Lord’s words. Paul responded thus: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (12:9-10).
So we see that suffering from the Lord was not a rebuke in these cases. There is no indication that Mary and Martha, nor Paul, had disobeyed the Lord in any way. Nevertheless, He used painful suffering to refine them, to help them to better understand Him and His ways.
On the other hand, we have the situation of I Corinthians 11. Paul was instructing (even rebuking) the Corinthian Christians concerning the Lord’s Supper. Let me read the last part in I Cor. 11:27-33…
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
Paul has been rebuking them for the way they have treated one another at this special observance. Since a person who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, everyone should examine himself. Then, after he has done so, confessing his sin when appropriate, he should eat and drink. But apparently some had failed to listen to this counsel. As a result, they were weak and sick. Some of them had actually died. In this case, the physical suffering was a rebuke from the Lord. Their sickness was intended to wake them up to the fact of what they were doing. If they would judge themselves in these matters, it would not be necessary for the Lord to judge them.
Consider one other example. His name is Jonah. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and deliver a message of judgment. God spoke directly to Jonah; there was no question about what He was saying. But Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh, so he boarded a ship and headed in the opposite direction. What happened? A great storm arose and Jonah realized that it was a result of God’s anger at his disobedience. The next scene finds Jonah deep in the sea. Why wasn’t he drowned? Because he was in the belly of a whale. These were not pleasant circumstances. His life was in danger, to say the least. What do you think God was saying to Jonah through his pain and suffering? Surely the Lord was rebuking Jonah for his disobedience.
III. Are You Listening?
Remember where we are. Job complained that God was silent, that He did not speak, that God refused to answer his prayers. Elihu is trying to teach Job that God does indeed speak, but man isn’t always listening. So far Elihu is emphasizing that God speaks through dreams and visions, as well as through pain and suffering. As a matter of fact, the Lord was speaking to Job in both these ways. God had spoken through words and God had spoken through circumstances.
The Lord still speaks in both those ways. The great question is this: Are you listening? Am I listening? Do we believe that the Lord is speaking? Do we long to hear Him speak to us? Just last week we emphasized the truth that the Spirit of God has been poured out on all kinds of people, yes, on all people who have repented and trusted Jesus as Lord and Messiah. We who have the life of Jesus through the Spirit can expect our Lord to speak to us.
Pause with me for a moment. It is important that we have some idea of what God is going to say. My physical hearing isn’t what it used to be. But even when I don’t hear perfectly, I am enabled by the context of what I have heard in the past. Let me give you a funny little example. When the boys were young, we were all at the table eating a meal. Part of that meal was pork ‘n’ beans. At one point, I heard Mark say, “Where’s the pork?” I responded, “I ate it.” From Mark’s point of view, that was hilarious, because he had said, “Where’s the fork.” When I said, “I ate it,” Mark didn’t suggest I be rushed to the hospital to remove the fork. Whether or not he knew exactly what I thought he said, he was pretty sure I had misunderstood him. He was quite certain that I had not eaten the fork. How did he know? Because he knew me and he knew the situation. Because of that, he was quite sure that I hadn’t eaten a fork, but had misunderstood what he said. On the other hand, if I had been suicidal and there wasn’t anything else around, he might have suspected me of doing such a thing.
I don’t expect God to speak to me in an audible voice, but let’s suppose He did. I hear the voice and its seems like I hear Him say, “Go to hell.” Because I know God and have heard Him speak to me in various ways in the past, I’m pretty sure that isn’t what He said. Perhaps it was, “Go, tell.” When I try to discern what He said, I am going to lean in the direction of “Go, tell” rather than “Go to hell.”
Is it possible for us to have some idea of what God will say to us? Absolutely. How can that be? Because He has already told us so much through His Word. Remember that we are not living in the days of Job. We are living on the other side of the cross. Jesus, the Messiah, the very Son of God, has walked on this earth, died, and ascended back to the right hand of His Father. And this precious written Word points to Jesus. We have been blessed with great revelation from God and the revelation we have received governs what we expect to hear from God day by day. If God speaks through circumstances, what do we expect Him to say?
That brings us to a text that we know very well, but let’s review it again this morning. Rom. 8:28-29, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." For those of us who love God and have been called according to His purpose, Almighty God is able to arrange our circumstances in such a way that they work for our good. And what is good for us? Verse 29 -- to be conformed to the image of His Son. God is working all things together to make us like Jesus. Since that is true, we can expect all of His communication to line up with that overall purpose. So when we listen for the Lord to speak to us through circumstances, we are not looking for Him to make us better than other people. Nor do we look for Him to make life easy and comfortable. No, we expect Him to speak to us along the lines of making us like Jesus. Because we already have much revelation through the Word, we know that following Jesus consists of denying self, taking up our cross, and actually following Him. Therefore we will not be surprised, if His message to us seems to take us into difficult situations, as we serve others in His name.
Let’s suppose that you sense the Lord leading you to minister to young people who have problems with drugs. But you have hardly gotten started, when certain unexpected difficulties come your way. A couple of these wayward youth are calling you in the middle of the night. How are you going to serve the Lord effectively, if you can’t get any sleep? And besides that, some of your family do not understand. They are warning you that what you are doing could be very dangerous, that these drug addicts are extremely unpredictable. Now you are praying, trying to determine what the Lord is saying to you through these circumstances, through this newfound pain and suffering. You come to the conclusion that surely the Lord would not want you to put yourself in danger and deprive yourself of sleep night after night.
So what do you think of that? Here’s the problem. What makes us think that the Lord would shield us from great discomfort and even danger? Did the Father put a shield around His Son, so that He didn’t have to suffer, so that He was never in danger? Obviously, not. But surely we can’t expect to face the same things that Jesus faced. Then we remember what Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). God’s Word tells us what we can expect in this world. “My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2). Jesus Himself said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). As we think on the things the Lord has already revealed through His Word, we begin to see that such discomfort and danger are the very things that we can expect, as we follow Jesus in this messed-up world. Instead of interpreting pain and suffering to mean that we are doing something that isn’t God’s will, we might more accurately interpret it as God blessing us with the opportunity to share in the suffering of our Lord, to identify with Paul, who longed to “know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings” (Phil. 3:10).
God can and does speak through circumstances, even through pain and suffering, but if we are going to hear Him speak and understand what He is saying, our filter must be His Word and a wholehearted desire to follow Him. In short, we must be consumed with the truth that His goal is to make us like His Son and that He wants us to be broken and spilled out for His glory, just as Jesus was.
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