Sin Captivates, and Christ Liberates

So if the Son sets you free you, you will be free indeed

(John 8:36).

Alden posits that God does inflict suffering directly and indirectly for many different reasons: judgment, discipline, refining, and more, but Satan's motive is fueled for the purpose of human misery.[1] For example, Job's story in the Bible teaches a lot about Job’s character, social network, and God’s restoring power. Job story is plagued with crises, tribulations, tests, and afflictions. However, the word crisis does not appear in Scripture, but the Bible has much to say about crisis. Job experienced many crises in the Bible; most if not all were because there was a heavenly wager on his righteousness between God and God’s advisory, the devil. However, Job had a wife and a few friends who intervened but were not helpful. For example, Job’s wife thought she was helping Job when she told him to curse God and die. Job had a couple of friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) who thought they were helpful by pointing out his human flaws or rationalizing why God was punishing him.

Job’s crises started when all of his live-stock and children were destroyed in chapter one. The second wave of problems began in Job chapter 2 when Job was afflicted with painful sores from the sole of his feet to the crown of his head. The mental pain of losing children now combined with agonizing sores is enough to make the average person give up, curse God, and dying. However, Job replied with faith and integrity, stating, “shall we accept good from God, not trouble?”

Crisis connotes a negative or problematic state, event, or series of events, or an unstable time period with an uncertain outcome such as imprisonment.[2] Wright describes the initial impact of a crisis could feel like physically being hit with a two by four, and during this phase, the individual will have to decide on a fight or flight stance.[3] The flight stance is never beneficial for resolving a crisis.

During Job’s initial impact of his crisis, he stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head (Job1:20). However, in the very following sentence, he praised God by stating, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. Wright recommends fighting and attempting to take charge amid a crisis is the healthier response.[4] Job had no intentions of running or blaming God for what happened after his troubles.[5] In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing (Job 1:22). Running away only prolongs the crisis. Also, Floyd argues crisis consist of both danger and opportunity.[6] In Job's case, the chance for him to prove his worthiness to his wife, friends, and himself was revealed. Job is a great example of how God uses his servants to demonstrate His power to others during their weakness. Paul said when I’m weak, God’s power is made perfect (2 Corinthians 12:9). God was using Job’s infirmities to reveal Himself to Job and his friends, prove the devil wrong, and teach the world how God uses the crisis to present Christ.

In chapter 42, Job learns a lot about the sovereign God served; he stated, “my ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” Job was blessed the latter part of his life more than the former part of his life (Job 42:12). An individual who faces difficult circumstances may experience positive outcomes such as personal growth or new ways of viewing circumstances and events.[7] These difficult circumstances allow individuals to realize strengths they were unaware they possessed.[8] The Bible is replete with crises like Job and how God intervened using the Holy Spirit or human agents/counselors. Like in the case with Job, most human agents are not in the form of help like expected but come in the form of criticism or confinement to build up and strengthen. “A crisis to us is not a crisis to God.”[9]The process of rebuilding often takes months or even years.[10]

[1] Robert L. Alden, Job, New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1993, 41. [2] S. Floyd, S, Crisis Counseling: A Guide for Pastors and Professionals. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2008, 219. [3] Wright, H. N. The Complete Guide to Crisis & Trauma Counseling: What to Do and Say When it Matters Most! Rev. ed. Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2011, 143. [4] ibid., 143. [5] ibid., 144. [6] ibid., 231. [7] S. Floyd, S, Crisis Counseling: A Guide for Pastors and Professionals. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2008, 232. [8] ibid., 232. [9] ibid., 396. [10] ibid., 275.