Does God use human suffering in order to glorify himself? (John 9 and Deuteronomy 3)

When Jesus and his disciples encounter a man who was blind from birth, it sparks a theological conundrum for his disciples: “...who sinned this man or his parents that he was born blind?” (v2). Jesus’ answer shifts the focus from cause to purpose: “...so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (v3).

And he proceeded to heal the man, an act that subsequently brings the wrath of the Pharisees against the healed man. The Pharisees, bent on discrediting Jesus, reject the healed man’s testimony. In the end the healed man is excommunicated from the synagogue, a verdict that clearly flies in the face of the evidence presented to them. Excommunication from the synagogue was a most severe punishment for a Jew because the synagogue was the centre of all Jewish life.

As the story unfolds, there is a steady thrust of God’s glory being made manifest through the blind man’s miraculous healing, persecution at the hands of the Pharisees and the eventual declaration of his faith in Jesus as the Lord and Saviour.

The problem of suffering for us who have placed our trust and faith in a loving God inherently presents a theological problem from the viewpoint of those outside the faith. And sometimes even from within the faith. Non-christians will ask: If God is so loving and good, then why this? 

 It seems that we all have misfortunes in this life, real or apparent and these often become the area of our constant battle with God. We’ll often resent this part of our life and if possible, even try to hide it away from others.  We ask the same question non-christians ask. I acknowledge that I do the same and these are complex and sensitive issues but from reading this passage, I’m persuaded to ask: Is it possible that these (apparent) misfortunes maybe the unique occasion in our own lives for God’s grace and glory to be manifested to the world?  Perhaps the weaknesses in our lives could be used to greater effect in witnessing for Christ if we asked the question differently: how could my weakness or apparent misfortune be used to the glory of God? 

On the other hand, we also need to consider our response to those experiencing suffering around us. How can I act in such a way that my brothers and sisters in Christ going through difficult times genuinely experience the love and grace of God through me? Again, big challenge for me!

I realize that I have not fully answered the title question and I invite contributions to that and to my reflections above...

Elvis Shoko, 7pm service
Tomorrows Readings: John 10 and Deuteronomy 4