How many of us have asked this question, silently or aloud? The Bible teaches that trials are for our good, not for our harm! Physical suffering is not God's selfish venting of anger on us because He is mad at Satan. Notice one of many examples from the Old Testament whereby the explanation is given as to why trials are a part of our life. More importantly, learn who is really to blame for them.....you might be shocked at the end of the story!
11 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.
12 And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger.
13 They abandoned the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.
14 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.
15 Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress.
16 Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.
17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and they did not do so.
18 Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.
19 But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.
20 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he said, "Because this people has transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice,
21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died,
22 in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the LORD as their fathers did, or not."
Jesus has been given the right to command how we are to live today and how we are to worship God acceptably. Our rejection of those commands by being stubborn and refusing to drop our traditions are why our lives are in such misery.
The commands that God gave to Jesus, He taught to His apostles; they were told to preach them to "all the world". These commands, in part were how to "call upon the name of the Lord", which are found throughout the book of Acts. It is in the book of Acts that you will find how to be saved.
The N. T. epistles were then written to those who had been born again, w/instructions as to how to live faithful until death or until the return of Jesus in judgment.
Don't use God as a "spare tire", abusing His mercy, only to return to a life of sin, when things improve.
Romans 2:4 - "...despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
RDB
Judges 2:11-22
11 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.
12 And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger.
13 They abandoned the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.
14 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.
15 Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress.
16 Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.
17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and they did not do so.
18 Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.
19 But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.
20 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he said, "Because this people has transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice,
21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died,
22 in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the LORD as their fathers did, or not."
Do you see the importance of obeying God's commands?
The commands that God gave to Jesus, He taught to His apostles; they were told to preach them to "all the world". These commands, in part were how to "call upon the name of the Lord", which are found throughout the book of Acts. It is in the book of Acts that you will find how to be saved.
The N. T. epistles were then written to those who had been born again, w/instructions as to how to live faithful until death or until the return of Jesus in judgment.
Don't use God as a "spare tire", abusing His mercy, only to return to a life of sin, when things improve.
Romans 2:4 - "...despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
RDB
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