May 19, 2010 - Can Tradition Answer The Question Of Suffering?

Meditation on Job 8

As Job continued to defend for his innocence, the second friend, Bildad began his attack on Job. He pointed out that the tradition of mankind would teach that Job must have done wrong to deserve his current problems. Job's children may have sinned against God to cause their destruction. God's judgment was manifested in the case of Job. Bildad's final attempted to encourage Job to hope in God had actually turned into the hint that Job had sinned.

What a comforter he was? Bildad's human logic resulted also in the wrong accusation of Job. He had also failed to speak the words of encouragement at the right time. Relying on tradition and logic may not necessary give man the answer to suffering. We need to look to God for the final answer. God has his own reason and plan to show his mercy and love for man and to manifest His glory to mankind.