The Sovereignty of God • 12.01.24
The Sovereignty of God
Finding peace in the unshakable rule of our sovereign God.
Job 1:1–2:10
- God is Sovereign
- God uses His providence to bless
- God uses His providence to afflict
As the ushers are handing out Bibles, I will invite you to turn to Job Chapter 1 on page 491.
Just place your finger or bookmark there for now, and we will come back to it shortly.
To begin, though, let me ask you a couple of questions:
What comes to your mind when you think about God?
Is your understanding of Him rooted in Scripture, or is it shaped by your own experiences, desires, or even misconceptions you’ve picked up along the way?
The way we view God is no small matter. A distorted picture of Him can lead us down paths of doubt, fear, and misunderstanding, robbing us of the peace and assurance that come from knowing Him as He truly is. My heart’s desire is to protect you from these dangers and guide you into a clearer, more biblical, and more joyful view of our great God.
Some people imagine God as a distant creator—a kind of cosmic administrator who set everything in motion but now stays out of the picture, except for the occasional “system maintenance.”
Perhaps others see Him as little more than a stern judge, watching for every mistake to punish us.
Or maybe, they think of Him as powerful but limited, either unable to intervene in the chaos of the world or restrained by human choices.
None of these depictions are the God of the Bible.
Instead, Scripture presents us with a God who is far greater, far more glorious, and far more trustworthy than anything or any character that we could invent on our own. A God who reigns supremely over all creation, infinite in His being, perfect in His attributes, and yet still merciful in His dealings with us.
One of the most helpful summaries I’ve come across that beautifully captures the biblical teaching about who God is comes from the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith:
The Lord, our God, is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of Himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will, for His own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, and withal most just and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.
This God, the God of the Bible, reigns over every corner of creation. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and fully in control. And, when we know God as He truly is, that’s good news for us! Because our hearts are filled with peace, our faith is strengthened, and we are freed from the anxieties that come from false views of Him.
That’s why, as we begin this new sermon series—Let God Reign—we’ll take time to explore some of the attributes of God, starting today with His sovereignty. In the weeks ahead, we’ll also consider His goodness, immutability, omnipotence, incarnation, and omniscience.
Of course, even a lifetime of sermons couldn’t exhaust the riches of who God is, but my prayer is that this series will deepen your love for Him, challenge any of your remaining unbelief, and increase your trust in the Lord. So let us begin today by considering the sovereignty of our great God.
It starts with the acknowledgment that:
1. God is Sovereign
Whether you want to admit it or not, this is reality: God is sovereign. First, let us define our terms; what does it mean for God to be sovereign?
Here are a few definitions for us to reference:
Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms Sovereignty
The biblical concept of God’s kingly, supreme rule and legal authority over the entire universe.
Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics and Philosophy of Religion Sovereignty
The possession of ultimate authority and power.
Pocket Dictionary of the Reformed Tradition Sovereignty of God
God’s authority and power to accomplish his will as the supreme Ruler of all things.
Taking these definitions collectively, we find that sovereignty means God is the King of the universe, with complete ownership, power, and authority over all of creation- and He is able to accomplish all His holy will. There is no one and nothing outside of His rule.
But how do we know that this type of sovereignty is rightly attributed to God? Definitions are helpful, but the ultimate authority is not the words of men but the Word of God. Does God Himself claim this sort of authority?
To explore this reality Biblically, one need look no farther than one of our church’s memory verses from earlier in the year: Psalm 103:19
Psalm 103:19 ESV
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 103:19 NASB95
19 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.
Of course, this isn’t the only passage that declares God’s sovereignty. As we look through the pages of God’s word, we see over and over again that He is the only sovereign- with eternal dominion over all.
1 Timothy 6:14–15 (ESV)
14 … Jesus Christ, 15 … —he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
Psalm 145:13 ESV
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.
Jude 25 ESV
25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Do you see the pattern? God is the great King over an everlasting kingdom. He possesses ultimate ownership, power, and authority over all creation.
One of my favorite expressions of this truth is found in David’s prayer in 1 Chronicles 29:10–13, where he exalts God’s sovereignty with such beauty and clarity:
1 Chronicles 29:10–13 ESV
10 Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
Amen! What a comfort to know that our God reigns supreme!
You see dear brothers and sisters, when we allow the Bible to shape our understanding of God, it provides us with great assurance and peace. We can come to Him with the confidence of David, knowing that the Lord has the authority to act. We don’t need to worry or wonder whether He is in control—He is!
Now consider all of this in light of the title of our sermon series: Let God Reign. As we have begun to study how God is completely sovereign, the irony of the name should make itself clear.
Let God Reign…
Let? We don’t get to let God do anything! He is the King! I know we’re not used to kings here in America, but just imagine the guts it would take to tell your king, “Sure, I’ll let you reign over me.”
Oh Lord, please forgive us for ever doing anything other than recognizing your crown-rights and exalting your sovereign name! “Give us grace to see more clearly You are God, and we are not!” (Christ Our Wisdom by Sovereign Grace Music)
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So how does God’s sovereignty actually play out?
We’ve established that God is sovereign, possessing complete ownership, power, and authority over all creation. But the question remains: How does God exercise His sovereignty? When we examine the Scriptures, we see two primary out-workings of this attribute: predestination and providence.
As much as it pains me, we simply don’t have enough time today to explore both topics in depth. So, we’ll touch briefly on predestination before focusing the rest of our time on providence.
To briefly address God’s predestination, I’m simply going to assign you all some homework:
- Go home and prayerfully read Romans 8:28-9:28.
- Bonus passages: Ephesians 1-2:10; John 17; John 6:37-40; Acts 13:48; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:4–5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14; Romans 11:5; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; 1 Peter 2:8; 2 Peter 2:3; Jude 4; Matthew 11:25-27; John 10:22-30; Matthew 22:14; Revelation 13:8, Revelation 17:8, Revelation 20:15
- As you study, ask yourself this question: Does your view of salvation and election line up with God’s Word on this topic?
- And if it doesn’t, why are you still listening to someone other than God Himself on this topic?
And if you have any questions or want to chat through this some more, please contact me or the church. I’d love to talk with you more about the beauty of God’s predestination.
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But, for the remainder of today, let’s explore how God exercises His sovereignty through providence.
We’ll start by defining our terms:
Lexham Survey of Theology Providence
Providence is the governing power of God that oversees his creation and works out his plans for it.
Essentially the distinction between sovereignty broadly and providence specifically is that providence describes how God works in even the smallest details of His creation.
He providentially coordinates every single minute atom, every thought, every soul across the world, and every single choice of each of those people to work out for His will and the good of His elect.
To begin to explore the wonders of God’s providence, let’s go ahead and open up our Bibles to our main passage for today, and let’s read Job 1:1-5
Job 1:1–5 ESV
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
Before we even get to the calamities we often associate with Job, the first verses of the book paint a picture of extraordinary providential blessings that God ordained for His servant. These blessings were not random, nor were they earned by Job’s merit. Instead, they were displays of God’s sovereign kindness and care, poured out upon Job in multiple dimensions of his life. As we examine this opening snapshot, we see the richness of God’s providence, not just in preserving Job but in blessing him abundantly.
This is our second takeaway for today:
2. God uses His providence to bless
Starting at the outermost layer, we see that Verse 3 describes Job as “the greatest of all the people of the east.” His reputation extended far and wide, and his influence reached beyond his household. His uprightness, wealth, and leadership had earned him respect among his peers, making him a man of both substance and stature. But we should be quick to remember that even variables such as reputation and favor are directly ordained by God. This social blessing was just one thread in the tapestry of God’s providence, granting Job a platform to live as a witness to God’s goodness.
The blessings continue with Job’s material wealth: “7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants” (Job 1:3). Now I’m not a farmer, so these numbers may sound large to me, but they don’t actually compute to any sort of monetary value in my head. Maybe it all makes sense to you, but it’s been just a little too long since I bought my last camel. So, curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to look up some livestock prices this week:
Just to give you a ballpark number, at today’s prices, he had approximately $10 million worth of livestock. And that’s not to even mention the amount of land, crops, and other assets he must’ve had!
Now, before your mind gets carried away, let me be clear that I am by no means advocating for any sort of prosperity gospel or name-it-and-claim-it theology. I am simply trying to help us realize that if or when we experience material blessings, the credit belongs entirely to God. He’s the one who owns everything and who temporarily entrusts things like assets and finances to us. It is yet another thread in the tapestry of God’s providence. Job’s wealth was evidence of God’s providential provision, and it was to be put to use in sustaining him, his family, his servants, and to serve God.
So we have abundant social blessings, abundant material blessings, then we find in verse 2 a description of Job’s family: “There were born to him seven sons and three daughters” (Job 1:2). Ten children! Can you imagine?! He even had the Lees family beat! Think about how much of a blessing this would have been upon Job! A legacy of fruitfulness that reflected God’s design for flourishing, and His command to be fruitful and multiply. And even beyond just having the children, God providentially ensured that they were united with one another in love. Verse 4 tells us that Job’s sons and daughters regularly gathered to celebrate together. Think of what this says about their relationships: there was joy, peace, and fellowship within the family. I know that for my parents, few things make them happier than seeing all four of us adult children gather together! What a precious blessing we see in Job’s ten children – a blessing directly from the sovereign hand of God.
Now, let’s imagine that this was the end of the description: We have a man who is rich, well-liked, and has a large family who seem to love each other. To be sure, each of these categories are amazing testimonies of God’s providential blessing. But if God’s providence for Job ended there, He would have a gaping hole in His life. Specifically, his spiritual life. What a dreadful existence to have everything you could ever need, and still be dead inside.
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Let’s see what the Lord sovereignly ordained for Job in this category of his spiritual life:
The very first verse gives us the answer: “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1). This isn’t to say that Job was sinless, but that his life was marked by a sincere devotion to God. He feared the Lord and repented of evil. His heart has been cleansed, and He now trusts in the sovereign will of God. This godliness wasn’t natural; it’s not something Job was born with; it was a product of God’s saving and sanctifying work. We know this to be true because God has told us (multiple times actually), Psalm 14:2-3; Psalm 53:2-3; Romans 3:10-12
Psalm 14:2–3 ESV
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
See, even Job’s ability to live a life of integrity was itself a providential blessing from the Lord.
Job had become so devoted to the Lord that he even recognized his paternal calling to act as the priest of his home. In verse 5, we see Job rising early to offer sacrifices on behalf of his children. His reasoning is striking: “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Job’s devotion to his family’s spiritual well-being reflects a heart deeply familiar with God’s holiness and mercy. He knew that sin, even unspoken, was an offense against God and that intercession was necessary. Job’s continual offerings point us to the providential blessing of faith, a faith that compelled him to seek God not just for himself but for those he loved.
As we reflect on these blessings, we must recognize that they were not arbitrary. God’s providence is always purposeful. The gifts given to Job were intended to magnify God’s glory, enrich Job’s joy, and perhaps even prepare him for the trials that lay ahead. Job’s life was a testimony to God’s abundant provision in every area—spiritual, familial, material, and social. And even as we know that these blessings would soon be tested, we can affirm with confidence that they were part of God’s wise and sovereign providence.
For us, Job’s blessings serve as a reminder that every good gift we enjoy comes from the hand of God.
James 1:17 ESV
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Our families, our resources, our reputations, and even our ability to know and love Him are neither random nor earned; they are graciously and providentially given by your King.
Let’s consider God’s work in our lives:
His providence has woven together a beautiful tapestry for each of our lives – consider what the tapestry of your life looks like for a moment – It would begin with how He formed you in the womb, where and when you were born, what type of family you grew up in, every single moment of happiness, all the friendships you enjoy, each of the jobs and responsibilities you have ever had, the skills and talents you exercise, seeing the love of your life for the first time, getting married, experiencing the joy of holding your child for the first time, your daily bread, your home, your daily protection, and even beyond all of those blessings: if you are a Christian He has even ordained how and when He adopted you, He has ordained your ongoing sanctification, and eventually He will providentially ordain for your journey to your heavenly home! He has woven countless bright threads into your life’s tapestry.
We have such a good, wise, and loving Father who cares for our every need.
Can we praise God this morning for just how good His providence is to us!?
Amen! Thank you, Lord, for your providential hand upon our lives!
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So far, we’ve considered God’s providence to bless, but what about the painful details of our lives? What happens when we encounter God’s afflictive providence?
Can we worship God throughout this type of providence, too? And, even if we can, will we?
I know that we don’t typically like to think about trials. We’ve grown up in a culture that not only avoids suffering but tells us that we deserve happiness. Those of you who know me well know that I try not to watch television very often or listen to any kind of popular music, but every time I do, I am inevitably flooded with commercial after commercial telling me: “Everything SHOULD be yours! Look at how happy you DESERVE to be! Don’t all of these little fictitious commercial people look happy? You are ENTITLED to be just as happy as them!” And it goes on and on and just never ends!
I know I’m being a bit dramatic, but this is craziness! Our American culture is obsessed with avoiding, covering, ignoring, hiding from, numbing, and rejecting any kind of discomfort or suffering. This is unbiblical nonsense, guys! Who do we think providentially gave us that trial? Is God not absolutely and providentially in control over our suffering? Do we do well to curse the very means that God meant for His glory and our good?
And I’ll be the first to confess this morning that I often fail so terribly in stewarding the trials God has graciously put into my life. This is the trouble of our fallen nature: we look at the plan that God has put forth, and we say, “Uhhh, no thanks, I’ll do it my way instead.” -God, please be merciful to such a stubborn and rebellious sinner such as myself!
Now, I don’t want to give the impression that I see this problem in all of you! In fact, I have been so encouraged by the faithfulness displayed by many of you, as you have trusted the Lord throughout suffering. Many of you have learned to reject our culture’s false narrative and instead prayerfully bring your afflictions to the one who is sovereign over them. Even just a couple of weeks ago at the Stewardship Celebration, it was such a blessing to my soul to hear testimony after testimony sharing how you have learned to better trust God as a result of your trials. Praise God for His refining work in your lives, brothers and sisters!
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But some of us aren’t there yet.
Intellectually, we know that God is sovereign, and we know that He is good, but lingering questions still plague our thoughts:
Is my suffering a sign of God’s judgment upon me?
Why would God allow hardship in the lives of His people?
If God is good, and He is truly in control, why do I have this chronic pain? Or this depression? Or the loss of my loved one?
These questions are not new. They’ve haunted humanity since right after the fall of man in Genesis 3. But they become immensely personal when trials crash into our lives like an unexpected storm. All of a sudden, they become your questions: Why would God let this happen to me? Does He even see my pain? How can this possibly be for my good?
Today, we will wrestle with these questions by turning to God’s Word, specifically by continuing to read the book of Job. Job presents us with one of the most profound depictions of suffering in all of Scripture. Job’s story challenges us to consider the mystery of God’s providence—that He ordains all things, including our suffering, with wisdom, justice, and love.
As we dive into Job’s story, let me warn you: we won’t find answers that are easy to accept. Instead, we will find a God who is completely sovereign, infinitely wise, and deeply compassionate. And through Job’s trials, we will seek to expound some of the purposes that God accomplishes through providentially ordaining suffering. Let’s keep reading Job chapter one, starting again at verse 6:
Job 1:6–2:10 ESV
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. 13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. 1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 3 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” 4 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” 6 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.” 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes. 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
As we consider this passage, we arrive at our final takeaway for today:
3. God uses His providence to afflict
I know this point is likely hard to hear this morning, but we must consider it. This is such a significant takeaway in developing a biblical view of God that allows us to worship him accurately. Without understanding this reality, we are left with a worldview that sees suffering as meaningless and offers no real hope for those who are suffering. So, let’s dig in and seek to understand.
Job lost almost everything. And the text is clear that God providentially ordained for Satan to take away his animals, his servants, his children, and his health. Later on in the book, we see other losses, such as his loss of reputation when his friends accuse him of wrongdoing, and we even see in chapter 3 that he has lost his desire to live. Yet amazingly, Job did not lose his assurance in God’s character!
Many of you know a taste of Job’s pain. Afflictions come in many different ways:
Some can resonate with Job in his loss of property, others understand the sorrow of burying friends, many of us are familiar with loathsome physical pain, some have walked through the trial of an ungodly spouse, many can relate to his depression and despair – and perhaps more dreadful than anything I can imagine, some even know the misery of burying your own child.
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I want to proceed delicately here, I am not able to speak to you this morning as one who knows the depths of your agony. I cannot heal your pain; all I can do is grieve along with you and remind you of the sovereign Lord who does know your pain. He is the one we must cling to when life loses its sweetness.
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You see, my lament is that too often, we have been given unsatisfactory answers for our pain. When we suffer, we often are told in one way or another that God may have allowed this heartache, but He was not in control over it. The world tries to feed you a lie about God and pretend like He had to forfeit some level of His sovereignty during your affliction. This line of thinking inherently implies that the Devil or outside circumstances are outside of God’s control, which would mean that they are greater or more powerful than God!
We must reject this lie and instead hold fast to the Biblical reality that God providentially ordains all things, even our sufferings and afflictions.
Job had some room to grow, but let us learn from his wise words in Job 1:21, “the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;”
This reality may be painful, but the Bible affirms it many times:
Isaiah 45:7 ESV
7 I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.
Deuteronomy 32:39 ESV
39 “ ‘See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
Lamentations 3:37–38 ESV
37 Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?
Even in our main scripture passage, don’t miss the fact that God was the one who mentioned Job in the first place. Job 1:8
Job 1:8 ESV
8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
God providentially brought Job to Satan’s attention, and then He allowed and ordained each of Satan’s attacks against him.
We cannot attempt to deny that God is the one who brings afflictions to our lives when He clearly and repeatedly takes the credit for them.
We can know from the mouth of the Lord Himself that all of it, from the smallest of pains to the greatest afflictions, was providentially ordained by God.
But have we answered any of our questions? At the end of the day, we long to know one thing: Why?
First, let me say that we must be careful with this question. If what we mean by asking “why?” is anything close to “Why did God do it that way?” then we have already begun to forget who He is. When Job questions God’s actions, God answers in Job 40:8:
Job 40:8 ESV
8 Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?
Or later, we read in the New Testament:
Romans 11:33–34 ESV
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
We cannot comprehend His mind, and He has no need to ask for our counsel. So, we must guard against thinking we can question God’s ways.
But I know that there is an appropriate way to ask the question, “Why?”
If asked in faith, we can cry out like Jesus and ask, “My God, My God, Why?”
It is no sin to ask questions to God, but it is great sin to ask questions of God. Do you hear the difference? Asking questions of God complains about Him and questions His providence, while asking questions to God means coming to Him in our hour of need with a desire to understand His will and His ways.
When we ask the question rightly, it sounds like pouring out our heart to our Father and then searching the scriptures for answers. When we function this way, we can find hope for our weary hearts. He probably won’t give you all of the answers: Job was never given an explanation for His trials. Yet God does share a few of His purposes. Let us use up our little remaining time this morning exploring what purposes can be found for our afflictions:
Firstly, know that your pain is not without a purpose:
Romans 8:28 ESV
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
God’s providence is never without purpose. Both when He gives you blessings and when He gives you afflictions. If you are one of His elect, He has a good plan for you – through all things.
Secondly, consider some of the purposes for suffering that we find in scripture (not an exhaustive list by any means). Here are some of our answers to the previously asked “Why?” questions to God:
- To Reveal, Deter, and Mortify Sin (Job 42:5-6; Hebrews 12:5-11; Psalm 119:67)
- To Produce Godliness and Spiritual Fruit (Job 23:10; James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5)
- To Reveal the Character of God (Job 38-41; Psalm 46:8-10)
- To Relinquish the Temporal for the Eternal (Job 1:21; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Philippians 3:7-11)
- To Equip Us to Comfort Others (Job 16:1-5; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Galatians 6:2)
- To Produce a Sincere Faith, Devoid of Hypocrisy (Job 2:3; 1 Peter 1:6-7; James 1:12)
- To Encourage Fellowship with God Through Word, Prayer, and Ordinance (Job 13:15; Psalm 119:71; Hebrews 4:14-16; Philippians 4:6-7)
- To Bear Witness to the World (Job 2:3, 42:10-11; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
- To Cultivate Greater Communion with Christ, the Greatest Sufferer (Job 19:25-26; Philippians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 1:5)
Unfortunately, we do not have time to explore all of these potential purposes this morning, but let us take a deeper look at number 9: To Cultivate Greater Communion with Christ, the Greatest Sufferer
I believe this is perhaps the greatest purpose of suffering, that it draws us closer to Christ. Job’s sufferings foreshadowed Jesus’s sufferings. Job, like all humans, was still a sinner in need of grace. But Jesus, by contrast, was the only truly righteous sufferer. He alone lived a perfect life, and yet He endured the most profound suffering: betrayal, mockery, physical torment, and, ultimately, enduring the full wrath of God while paying the penalty for sinners like us.
Isaiah 53:3–5 describes Jesus as “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” who was “pierced for our transgressions” and “crushed for our iniquities.” His suffering was not the result of His own wrongdoing, but it was ordained by God for the salvation of sinners.
Jesus’ sufferings were not an accident. In Acts 2:23 Peter declares,
Acts 2:23 ESV
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
Again, the crucifixion was no accident; it was the ultimate display of God’s sovereign providence, bringing redemption through affliction.
So if you are suffering today and you wonder whether or not God is still sovereign, you wonder if He is still good, look to the cross!
Jesus’ suffering assures us that God can bring the greatest good out of the deepest pains. Because God is sovereign, you must trust that your trials, too, are part of His perfect plan. You see, the cross not only secures our redemption but also transforms our perspective on suffering. Jesus has suffered for you, therefore your suffering is no longer meaningless. It is part of God’s plan to conform you to the image of Christ. Through affliction, God is preparing you for eternal life with Him. Trust His sovereign providence in all these things.
Now please note that this hope in the midst of suffering is limited to those who follow Christ. For those of you who have yet to place your faith in Christ: this sovereign God calls you to turn to Him today. Lay down your self-reliance and the burdens of sin and suffering and trust in Jesus, who suffered and died to redeem sinners just like you. Don’t go on trusting in the power of your own kingdom, but instead come and enjoy the blessings found only in the King of kings- Bow the knee to Jesus today and be forgiven of your rebellion against Him. And if you have any questions or concerns about this, I’d love to speak more with you after the service.
CONCLUSION:
As we reflect on today’s message, let us remember the three truths we have explored about God’s sovereignty.
First, we have seen that God is sovereign, possessing ultimate authority and ruling over all creation with power and wisdom to accomplish all His holy will.
Second, we considered how God uses His providence to bless, as shown in Job’s life through his family, wealth, and spiritual devotion.
Finally, we examined how God uses His providence to afflict, ordaining trials and suffering to accomplish His perfect purposes, especially in drawing us closer to Christ.
These truths are not just for our minds but are meant to affect how we respond to God in any season. If you are in a season of blessing, then give thanks to the One who reigns over your life. If you are walking through the valley of affliction, take comfort in knowing that your pain is not meaningless; it is held in the hands of a sovereign and loving God who is working all things for His glory and your ultimate good.
I encourage you to take time this week to study through the handout that is on the inside of your bulletin. Explore the ways that God works in affliction to accomplish His purposes.
As we close, let me read for us an expanded version of the doxology, praising God for His sovereignty over us:
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Praise God through trials that shape our soul,
Through fires that cleanse and make us whole.
In brokenness, His mercy flows,
Restoring joy where sorrow grows.
Praise God who reigns with sovereign might,
His wisdom rules both day and night.
His justice stands and love endures,
Our hope is firm, our rest is sure.
Amen” Let’s pray