When Bad Things Happen (Part 1)
Rabbi Kushner in his book "When Bad Things Happen to Good
People," describes how he learned one day that his three year
old son would die in his early teens of the rare, but lethal
disease called progeria. Progeria is a condition which
accelerates the aging process. Medical authorities informed him
that his son would never grow beyond three feet in height and
would look like an old man while he was still a child. It was
this spirit slashing and heart splitting news that prompted the
Rabbi to seriously question his faith and God.
Rabbi Kushner could not comprehend how a loving, supposedly
merciful and compassionate and just God, could allow such a
tragedy to befall him and his loved ones. After all, he
considered himself a God-fearing, obedient man who was living a
more religiously committed life than most people. So how could a
God of justice permit so great an injustice?
The Rabbi does not raise any questions that are alien to the
majority of us. We all at one time or another have asked that
same deeply felt question Why? Why me Lord? Why my child? Why my
husband? Why? Why? Why?
When we hear or read about the thousands of lives lost due to
famine, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fire, shipwrecks, plane
crashes, wars, riots, terrorism, - we cannot help but wonder
Why? Where is justice, where is the fairness, where is God?
Questions about God as a just God always arise when people are
called to experience the pain and stress of human suffering.
Questions about the dubious meaning of human life amidst
intense, and often times irreducible suffering, are not merely
abstract theoretical reflections. They are inquiries emerging
from the depths of our existence.
The Psalmist asked, "Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" Psalms 10:1
Moses angrily asks God, "O Lord, why have you brought
trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I
went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble
upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all."
Exodus 5:22-23.
Job inquired," Why is life given to a man whose way is
hidden, whom God has hedged in?" Job 3:23.
Jeremiah questions, "Why is my pain unending and my wound
grievous and incurable? Will you be to me like a deceptive
brook, like a spring that fails?" Jeremiah 15:18.
The cry of human agony has always been one of helplessness and a
lack of understanding. How can we make sense of the power and
goodness of God - if we open our eyes to the terrible presence
of radical suffering and evil in the world, and in our own
individual lives? And yet, it is in the midst of human misery
and misfortune, calamities and crisis that Paul declares rather
intransigently, "We know that in all things God works for the
good of those who love him, who have been called according to
his purpose."
We must understand that Paul was not speaking from the
philosophic fatalism of his day. His stance was not one of
passive resignation. His attitude was not "whatever will be,
will be." Paul was totally convinced and wholly convicted that
"all things work together for good."
In his letter to the Romans, Paul is not writing about some
theological viewpoint or some ideal he internalized while
studying under the renowned and scholarly Gamaliel. But rather,
he is writing out of the experience of tremendous suffering.
Paul's life had not been easy. He was a revolving door prisoner;
on at least three different occasions he had been beaten with
rods, on five different occasions he had been whipped with 39
stripes each. Once he was stoned. Three times he was shipwrecked
and almost drowned. Often he was imperiled by robbers. Many
times he was weary, in pain, hungry, thirsty, cold and naked.
And, I suspect that Paul experienced even more hardships that
are not recorded in scripture.
All of his suffering he accepted for the sake of Jesus Christ.
He declares in Philippians 4: 11-13, "I am not saying this
because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever
the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know
what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being
content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through
him who gives me strength."
You see, Paul perceives suffering in this world from the
perspective of the eternal. In spite of the difficulties he had
come through, he could boldly assert, "all things" work together
for good." The word all is all inclusive. All things
whether good or bad, bright or dark, sweet or bitter, easy or
hard, happy or sad, all things work together for good. It does
not matter whether we experience prosperity or poverty, health
or sickness, calm or storm, comfort or suffering, life or death,
because all things are working together for good.
(continued in Part 2)