Day 830: Why does God allow trials? - Hebrews 12 vs 4 – 11
4-6 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7-9 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:4-11 English Standard Version
I wonder how many times you've heard even a Christian say “why did God allow that to happen?” The journey of life can bring some very hard knocks which seem so unfair. Many of the first Jewish Christians may have been asking that question as they experienced sufferings brought about by those who were persecuting them. Many well meaning theologians today may suggest answers to try and 'soften the blows'. But what is the short surprising reminder the writer of Hebrews gives in vs 4-6?
Probably quoting Proverbs 3:11-12, he urges them to see the hard times they were going through as being part of God's loving, but firm way, of changing their lives for the better. Wow. That's a tough truth to take on board. But it wasn't a new teaching about God. Way back in the days of Moses we read how he said to the Israelites: “You shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that He might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.” (Deuteronomy 8:2 & 5)
The key to this is the word 'discipline'. It translates a Greek word that essentially meant to train a child. Such training would involve teaching, correction, admonishing, and, sometimes, a rod! The writer admits in vs 11 that “for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant.” But then he adds “but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” The aim of discipline is not to hurt, but to help. It's the way even moms and dads on earth try to keep their children on the right track. They love their children so much they would rather punish them when needed than allow them to foolishly ruin their lives.
Painful and unexplained events we may experience in this world do not mean God has stopped loving us. Even if severe persecution should come our way, it doesn't mean that God is indifferent to what we are going through. We may not be aware of our need of discipline, and we must certainly not see every setback in life as God's rod. But the underlying truth is that He uses such things as part of our discipleship training. He is developing the fruit of righteousness in our lives. The writer says that, in their case, the process had not led to shedding their blood.
It's a good place to remind ourselves of what he wrote earlier in this letter. He said “Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we don't have a high priest who's unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16) Yes, the Lord disciplines those He loves, and chastises every one whom He receives. It was the way the Saviour went; should not the servant tread it still?