Three weeks ago, I attended the somber funeral of Karen Harper. Karen was vacationing with her husband Tom and family in South Carolina when she suffered a stroke. Hours later, she passed away. Karen was just in her mid-50s and left behind a grieving husband and three children. During the funeral, I mentioned that I had been recently studying the book of Job and contemplating the fact that God does not answer the common question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

It is doubtful anyone ever suffered more than Job. Job was one of the wealthiest and most prominent men of his day, but in a series of bizarre circumstances, he lost both his fortune and influence. Yet, that wasn’t the worst thing that happened. Job’s ten children were partying in the home of his oldest son when a windstorm collapsed the house, killing them all. Job was so grief-stricken that he broke out with boils from head to toe. Most of his friends deserted him. Those who stood by him derided him. His wife was so disgusted with him that she urged him to curse God and die.

Job is cited in the New Testament as an example of patience in suffering. Yet, as you read his story, you discover Job asked serious questions about why God permitted such unfair treatment. He was innocent. Where was God’s justice? He demanded an audience with God. He wanted an explanation for his suffering! But none came.

In the midst of his pain and uncertainty, Job made this memorable statement: “…the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21 KJV). But to me, the most notable thing about the Book of Job is the absence of specific explanations about Job’s situation from God. As you read through 37 chapters of Job’s contentious dialogues with his friends, it is not until chapter 38 that God finally speaks.

If you were reading the book of Job for the first time, you might think, “Finally, God is going to explain why He permits suffering.” However, God does not give Job a simple answer. Instead, over the next few chapters, God asks Job a series of questions.

“’Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand… Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? …Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you give the horse its strength…? …Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom…? Does the eagle soar at your command…?’” (See Job 38 – 41).

Those and many other questions from God left Job speechless – and humbled. God provides no specific explanation to Job’s question about why bad things happen to good people. Instead, God reminds Job: “I am God…I am in charge, and you are not. So trust me because I will work it out.” God’s reply to Job can be disappointing for those who are hurting and looking for a specific reason why something bad has happened.

So why wouldn’t God provide a more specific answer to our questions about suffering? I think there are two reasons. First, we are probably not capable of comprehending the answer. It is humbling to accept the fact that God’s ways are as high above us as the heavens are above the earth, and we are totally incapable of understanding it all.

Pastor Stuart Cooke tells of a time when his three-and-a-half-year-old son Matthew was eating an apple in the back seat of the car when he asked, “Daddy, why is my apple turning brown?” Stuart explained, “Because after you ate the skin off, the apple’s meat came into contact with the air, which caused it to oxidize, thus changing its molecular structure and turning it into a different color.” After a long silence, Matthew mused, “Daddy, are you talking to me?”

Sometimes, our Heavenly Father’s answer may involve so many interwoven complexities impacting multiple generations that it reaches a level that we simply cannot comprehend it. So, God says to us, “Trust me and wait until eternity when you will have the capacity to understand.”

The second reason I think God does not give us definitive answers is that it would ruin the test to know the answers in advance. I once had a history teacher who was much more interested in coaching football than imparting history to his students. At times, he told us in advance exactly what would be on the upcoming test. We did not learn much history because all we had to do was temporarily memorize a few historical facts. And while nearly everyone received an “A,” the class was not nearly as rewarding.

God tested Abraham’s faith by saying, “I want you to take your only son Isaac, whom you love, and sacrifice him on Mount Moriah.” Abraham was in agony with no explanation from God but proceeded up the mountain in obedience.

Consider if God had pulled Abraham aside and explained, “Now, Abraham, understand I’m not going to really require you to kill Isaac. At the last minute, I’ll stop you, and there will be a ram in the thicket to use as a substitute.” That would not have been a very challenging test for Abraham.

Instead, Abraham pleased God because his faith was so strong. Although he was distraught, Abraham trusted God’s promise that Isaac would have many descendants, and even if Isaac were slain, he had faith that God would raise him from the dead. As a result, Abraham experienced the joy and maturity of passing the test because he did not know the answer in advance.

Faith has been defined as “Going to the edge of all the light you have and then taking one more step.” God has given us enough information to trust Him, but not so much that we don’t occasionally need to take a small leap of faith. The Book of Job teaches us not to expect simple answers. We may not understand until eternity.

In the meantime, let us pass the faith test and say with Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15 KJV).

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see… ‘And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him'” (Hebrews 11:1 & 6).

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