There was once a remarkably kind little boy who was a great fisherman. There was a trout stream in his neighborhood that ran through a rich man’s estate. Permits to fish the stream were hard to come by but the boy was lucky enough to have a permit.
One day, he was fishing with another boy when a gamekeeper suddenly darted out from the bushes. The boy with the permit shouted out a cry of fear, dropped his rod, and ran off at top speed. The gamekeeper pursued.
About half a mile away, the gamekeeper was in a fast and hard chase of the little boy. But, worn out, the boy finally stopped. The man seized him by the arm and asked, between panting for breath:
“Have you a permit to fish on this estate?” “Yes to be sure,” the boy said quietly.
“You have? Then show it to me.” The boy pulled the permit out of his pocket. The man examined it, frowned in confusion, and anger.
“Why did you run when you had a permit?” he asked. “To let the other boy get away,” he said, “He didn’t have none!”
The origin of selflessness (altruism) really does perplex those who insist on evolution as the explanation of all of life. You see, evolution requires us to believe that the driving force of nature is to pass on the best genes possible – survival of the fittest. Evolutionary theory would require, then, ultimate selfishness so that the best genes can survive.
Why do good things happen to bad people? Or, why do good things happen at all?
That’s the question no one asks and it is the question that Job utters in Job 3.
Read Job’s words in verses 20-26. God allowed Job to see the light of life. Yes, Job does suffer. Yes, he is “bitter” in soul. He longs for death. So why did God allow Job to see life? Why does God allow good in this life?
When we summarize biblical teaching, which Job did not have entirely in his hands as we do, we learn:
1. Being love (1 John 4:8), God created a world in which mankind was morally free.
2. Being love, God designed man to be able to live in heaven with Him throughout eternity; but man can choose not to.
3. This world, in which sin is allowed, is not the best of all possible worlds. Heaven is.
4. The evil that occurs in this world, instigated by Satan and enabled by mankind, will allow God, through Jesus Christ, to completely destroy both Satan and evil.
5. God, being all-wise, chooses the best possible good to bring about the best possible result.
6. God, being all-powerful, can accomplish His will without violating human freedom.
7. This world, full of evil as it is, is the best possible world for reaching God’s intended purpose:
a. Those who want to be saved can be. Those who want to be lost, will be.
b. Sin will ultimately be defeated. Righteousness will reign in heaven.
So, what about poor ol’ Job? Job did not have as much information as you and I do. The love of God is not referenced in the book of Job at all. The grace of God is not referenced in the book of Job. The mercy of God is referenced twice – 9:15 & 16:13. The loving-kindness of God is not referenced in the book of Job. The two characteristics of God that are found in the book of Job are His justice (8:3; 10:3) but especially His wisdom (9:4; 12:13, 16; 15:8; 28:28; 38:36-37).
God governs this world in wisdom. The good we see and experience flows from His nature. That goodness should motivate us to love and serve Him.
–Paul Holland