God and Evil (12th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

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The book of Job is of great interest to readers who are interested to know what the Bible has to say about the Problem of Evil. In chapters 38-41, we see God’s response to Job’s questions as to why He allowed suffering to happen to him. God’s response is essentially to inform Job that he is speaking in ignorance, and rather than giving a straight answer to his question, responds with questions of his own. The implication behind the questions is that Job, as a fallible human being, is incapable of comprehending the grand scheme of things, that God does not need to explain to him why things happened the way they did, and that he would not be able to understand anyway.

From this narrative, we learn three things about God in relation to the Problem of Evil: First, God does not need to give us an explanation. As our Creator, He owes us nothing. Furthermore, we would not be able to fully comprehend God’s explanation even if He were to give it, and regardless of whether or not we can comprehend it, there will always be some who will reject such explanations out of hand.

Second, God is infinitely wiser than us. Even if the full explanation lies beyond our grasp, we can be assured that nothing happens randomly or capriciously. God allows everything to happen for a reason, and He uses all of it to accomplish His plans and bring about the greater good. Nobody expressed this greater than St. Paul, who praises God for the infinite wisdom of His plans:

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?”

“Or who has given a gift to him,

to receive a gift in return?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

And finally, even if we are unable to comprehend the full reasons as to why God allows evil, we must nevertheless trust that His plans are good. The Bible teaches us that whatever momentary suffering we may suffer will bring about good for us and contribute to our salvation (Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18). The important thing is that we do not lose sight of this, to continue to remain faithful to God in all circumstances, and if we ever find ourselves adopting an attitude of impatience or questioning God, to be like Job and repent (Job 42:1-6).

J. Luis Dizon