Man Is Born To Trouble

Man Is Born To Trouble

Job 5:6-11


Affliction does not come of itself; it does not spring up from the dust of the earth, nor grow naturally from the ground, as plants do; nor has chance anything whatever to do with it. As common as it is - affliction does not come without a cause, or without being sent on purpose by God.

Yet affliction does fall in to the lot of all. No one, however prosperous, is without sorrow and trial. Sooner or later: "Man is born unto trouble - as surely as sparks fly upward."  So surely does trouble in some shape befall every man that is born into the world.

Whence does it come? God sends it - or at least allows it to come. But it is not saying too much to say that He sends it.

When Adam fell and sin and death entered into the world - then trouble came too. This was God's appointment. He said to Adam, "Because you have listened unto the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you - cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns also thistles shall bring forth to you; in the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, until you return unto the ground; for out of it were you taken - for dust you are, and unto dust shall you return."

This was what God said to Adam. And though Christ has come and brought us life and salvation and given us a blessed hope - yet still we are but dust; and still, as long as we are here, sorrow is our appointed portion; sorrow, mixed with many blessings - yet sorrow nevertheless.

And not only is trouble in general appointed to man by God - but each man's particular trouble is of God's appointment too. Your troubles and mine do not come forth of the dust or spring out of the ground. They do not arise by chance or accident. God sends them! Sickness and sorrow are ordained for us by Him - each sickness and sorrow as it comes. 

Eliphaz, therefore, says here to Job: "I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause." Job's troubles were many and great - yet let him not despair. Everything was in God's hand. All that happened was ordered by Him; all was subject to His control. Let Job in his affliction seek God and commit his cause unto Him. This was good advice for Job, and for all.

God's wonderful power is one reason why we should seek Him in trouble. He "does great and unsearchable things - marvelous things without number." Surely then He is able to help us in our trouble. There is nothing that He cannot do. He is Almighty!

We see further that God takes notice of man's needs. He gives rain upon the earth. Thus He graciously provides for us. And will He not care for us and help us in any special trouble? He who has all nature at His command, He who is providing for man's support every day - can He not, and will He not, hear those who cry to Him and send them comfort and relief?

We find in this passage that He certainly will: "To set up on high, those that are low; that those who mourn may be exalted to safety." This is said of God. He will do this. He not only orders all the great things of nature and of the world, but He also pays attention to each person's needs. He lifts up those that are low and raises the mourner to safety. None are beneath God's notice; none are beyond His power to help. Whatever they may be, low in station, low in circumstances, low in spirit, low in comforts and in friends - God cares for them and is able to raise them. Whatever they may be mourning for, He pities them and can send them comfort. Well might Eliphaz say, "I would seek unto God; and unto God would I commit my cause." He is the best of friends in distress - and the most mighty and most loving helper in all trouble. If trouble comes from Him - yet surely the God of love will send help and comfort too.

To all who truly know God - it is a most comforting thought that their affliction comes from Him. It seems to take away the strangeness and the bitterness of it. When once they can realize His hand, then in all their sorrowful thoughts about their afflictions - they think about God too, and this comforts them.

When the suffer thus sees the hand of God in trouble - he reasons that God will never let the trouble be too great.

But perhaps the afflicted person may be one who does not know God. As! Then, in this time of trouble, let God be sought: "I would seek unto God - and unto God would I commit my cause." Let those who have sought God before - seek Him again. There must be with all a beginning - a seeking.

When the pain is sore,
when the body is weak,
when the heart is heavy,
when the sorrow is great and deep
-then let God be sought.

Is not this the gracious reason for which sickness and sorrow come? Let none be afraid to seek God. True, we are unworthy. But we have a friend, a Saviour, a Mediator. Jesus Christ died for us and lives for us. By Him we may go boldly to the throne of grace. Boldly, that is, not proudly or with self-confidence, but in the humble belief that we may go, that we may speak freely all that is on our mind, and that we shall be heard and accepted for Christ's sake. God will never reject a humble, seeking heart. "He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer."

~Francis Bourdillon~

(The End)