Have you ever noticed how much God gets blamed for bad things?

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6. Have you ever noticed how much God gets blamed for bad things?

7. “I know it’s hard for you right now, but it was just God’s will.”

8. The Bible tells us that God’s purposes are sometimes beyond our understanding. Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

9. God is not to blame for all the problems that come into our lives. Yes, it is God’s overall will that we live in the kind of world that we do, the kind where bad things happen. But God is not the cause of all the suffering that so often afflicts us.

10. God is not to blame for all the problems that come into our lives. Yes, it is God’s overall will that we live in the kind of world that we do, the kind where bad things happen. But God is not the cause of all the suffering that so often afflicts us. So why do we suffer?

11. 1. Sometimes people suffer because they have violated or interfered with God’s natural laws.

12. 1. Sometimes people suffer because they have violated or interfered with God’s natural laws. Luke 13:4-5 “‘Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.’”

13. 1. Sometimes people suffer because they have violated or interfered with God’s natural laws. If you stand underneath a multi-story building that falls… If you drive your car head-on into another car… If you dive to the bottom of a swimming pool… If a 20’ high wall of water slams into your home…

14. 1. Sometimes people suffer because they have violated or interfered with God’s natural laws. If you stand underneath a multi-story building that falls… If you drive your car head-on into another car… If you dive to the bottom of a swimming pool… If a 20’ high wall of water slams into your home… Should God sporadically suspend His laws of nature when something bad will happen?

15. 2. Sometimes people suffer because of their personal wrong choices.

16. 2. Sometimes people suffer because of their personal wrong choices. Joshua 24:15 “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…” The Israelites often made bad choices that led to bad situations and consequences.

17. 2. Sometimes people suffer because of their personal wrong choices. Joshua 24:15 “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…” The Israelites often made bad choices that led to bad situations and consequences. Judges 6:1 “Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord gave them into the hands of Midian seven years.”

18. 2. Sometimes people suffer because of their personal wrong choices. Joshua 24:15 “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…” The Israelites often made bad choices that led to bad situations and consequences. Judges 6:1 “Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord gave them into the hands of Midian seven years.” Matthew 23:37 Jesus wanted the people of Jerusalem to come to Him for salvation, but they were unwilling to do so.

19. 2. Sometimes people suffer because of their personal wrong choices. Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

20. 2. Sometimes people suffer because of their personal wrong choices. Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” 1 Peter 4:15 “By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler.” Proverbs 13:15 “The way of the transgressor is hard.”

21. 3. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices of others.

22. 3. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices of others. Luke 13:1-3 “Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.  And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate?  I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.’”

23. 3. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices of others. Six million Jews suffered and died because of the wrongs done by Adolf Hitler.

24. 3. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices of others. Six million Jews suffered and died because of the wrongs done by Adolf Hitler. Three thousand people died on September 11, 2001 because of the wrongs done by terrorists.

25. 3. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices of others. Six million Jews suffered and died because of the wrongs done by Adolf Hitler. Three thousand people died on September 11, 2001 because of the wrongs done by terrorists. Drunk drivers kill people because they, not God, make the very bad choice to drink and drive.

26. 3. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices of others. Six million Jews suffered and died because of the wrongs done by Adolf Hitler. Three thousand people died on September 11, 2001 because of the wrongs done by terrorists. Drunk drivers kill people because they, not God, make the very bad choice to drink and drive. “That’s not fair!” No, but should God take freedom of choice away from people who might make wrong choices?

27. 4. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices made by people long ago.

28. 4. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices made by people long ago. We are blessed today with many comforts and luxuries because of things that were done by people before us. We have nice homes with electricity, heat/air, running water. We have nice cars so we can drive talking on cell phones.

29. 4. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices made by people long ago. We reap the positive benefits of good choices made by previous generations. But we also reap the negative consequences of bad choices they made. Just as what we do now will affect future generations, what prior generations did affects us now.

30. 4. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices made by people long ago. People in other parts of the world are starving because of bad choices made by their ancestors long ago.

31. 4. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices made by people long ago. People in other parts of the world are starving because of bad choices made by their ancestors long ago. Exodus 20:4-5 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above, or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me.”

32. 4. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices made by people long ago.

33. 4. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices made by people long ago.

34. 4. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices made by people long ago. Many ask very difficult questions about suffering: Why did my baby die before he/she had a chance to live? Why was my child born with severe birth defects? Why does my friend have some terrible disease? Why did my loved one get sick and die when he/she was needed so much?

35. 4. Sometimes people suffer because of the wrong choices made by people long ago. There are surely many specific examples of things our ancestors have done that adversely affect us now: People once took fertility and other such drugs that resulted in tragic side effects and birth defects. People once used asbestos in the construction and textile industries that resulted in tremendous health problems. Agent Orange and other chemicals produced deformities and other severe consequences.

37. Why do we have to suffer through so many difficult things that happen to us in life?

38. Why do we have to suffer through so many difficult things that happen to us in life? It's not God's fault. He is not the one to blame for our suffering.

39. Why do we have to suffer through so many difficult things that happen to us in life? It's not God's fault. He is not the one to blame for our suffering. He is the one, however, who can heal us and help us get through the terrible things that sometimes happen to us.

40. God does care, and He understands all about your pain and heartaches. He knows all about suffering that’s not fair and because of what somebody else did. Two thousand years ago, He watched His own Son pay a price that He did not owe!