God's Sovereignty in Dark Experiences and Suffering
God's sovereignty extends even to experiences of darkness and suffering, a concept deeply rooted in biblical narratives and theological reflection. Scripture portrays darkness not merely as an absence of light, but often as a direct act or manifestation of divine power and presence [1, 2].
The Bible frequently associates darkness with God's actions. For instance, God created darkness (Psalm 104:20; Isaiah 45:7) and separated it from light (Genesis 1:4) [2]. The plague of darkness in Egypt, described as a darkness "which may be felt," was a miraculous demonstration of God's power, covering the land of Egypt but not the land of Goshen [1, 3]. Similarly, the darkness that fell over the land during Jesus' crucifixion was a miraculous event, symbolizing God's judgment and the arrival of the day of the Lord (Matthew 27:45) [1, 13]. Moses also drew near to "thick darkness where God was" on Mount Sinai, indicating that darkness can be an "envelope, as it were, of divine glory" [1, 3].
Suffering and dark experiences are also understood within the framework of God's sovereignty. The book of Job, for example, explores the question of why the righteous suffer, challenging the simplistic view that suffering is always a direct punishment for sin [7]. While evil people do suffer the consequences of their actions, and God ensures they receive proper punishment (Proverbs 1:31) [10], the suffering of the righteous is presented as a more complex issue.
Christians are taught to expect trials and hostility in a sinful world, especially when seeking to live godly lives (1 Peter 4:12) [8]. The Apostle Paul, for instance, found pleasure in weaknesses, insults, necessities, persecutions, and straits for Christ's sake, recognizing that "when I am weak, then I am powerful" (2 Corinthians 12:10, Darby) [4]. This perspective suggests that suffering can be a context for divine power to be manifested.
The concept of "darkness" also extends to spiritual realities. Human sin is understood as a result of being governed by the devil, who rules the powers of evil and blinds those who refuse to obey God (Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4) [9]. This "power of darkness" is something from which God delivers believers (Colossians 1:13) [15]. Demon possession, often accompanied by violence, inability to speak, blindness, and self-destructive behavior, is another manifestation of this spiritual darkness, which Jesus' exorcisms broke through, demonstrating the power of the Kingdom (Matthew 8:28-34; 9:32; 12:22) [6, 12, 14].
Even in the deepest distress, such as being imprisoned in "dark cells or dungeons," individuals are encouraged to call upon the Lord, who can deliver them (Psalm 107:9) [11]. The question "May there be knowledge of your wonders in the dark? or of your righteousness where memory is dead?" (Psalm 88:12, BBE) implies a hope that God's wonders and righteousness can be known even in the most profound darkness [5].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Darkness — is spoken of as encompassing the actual presence of God, as that out of which he speaks,--the envelope, as it were, of divine glory. (Exodus 20:21; 1 Kings 8:12) The plague of darkness in Egypt was miraculous. The darkness "over all the land," (Matthew 27:45) attending the crucifixion has been attributed to an eclipse, but was undoubtedly miraculous, as no eclipse of the sun could have taken place at that time, the moon being at the full at the time of the passover. Darkness is also, as in the expression "land of darkness," used for the state of the dead, (”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Darkness — Created by God -- Ps 104:20; Isa 45:7. Originally covered the earth -- Ge 1:2. Separated from the light -- Ge 1:4. Called night -- Ge 1:5. Caused by the setting of the sun -- Ge 15:17; Joh 6:17. Inexplicable nature of -- Job 38:19,20. Exhibits God's power and greatness -- Job 38:8,9. Degrees of, mentioned Great. -- Ge 15:12. That may be felt. -- Ex 10:21. Thick. -- De 5:22; Joe 2:2. Gross. -- Jer 13:16. Outer or extreme. -- Mt 8:12. Effects of Keeps us from seeing objects. -- Ex 10:23. Causes us to go astray. -- Joh 12:35; 1Jo 2:11. Causes us to stumble. -”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Darkness — The plague (the ninth) of darkness in Egypt (Ex. 10:21) is described as darkness "which may be felt." It covered "all the land of Egypt," so that "they saw not one another." It did not extend to the land of Goshen (ver. 23). When Jesus hung upon the cross (Matt. 27:45; Luke 23:44), from the "sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour." On Mount Sinai, Moses (Ex. 20:21) "drew near unto the thick darkness where God was." This was the "thick cloud upon the mount" in which Jehovah was when he spake unto Moses there. The Lord dwelt in t”
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 12:10 (Darby) — Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in straits, for Christ: for when I am weak, then I am powerful.”
- Psalms “Psalms 88:12 (BBE) — May there be knowledge of your wonders in the dark? or of your righteousness where memory is dead?”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Demoniacs — This word is frequently used in the New Testament, and applied to persons suffering under the possession of a demon or evil spirit, such possession generally showing itself visibly in bodily disease or mental derangement. It has been maintained by many persons that our Lord and the evangelists, in referring to demonical possession, spoke only in accommodation to the general belief of the Jews, without any assertion as to its truth or its falsity. It is concluded that, since the symptoms of the affliction were frequently those of bodily disease (as dumbness”
- Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 21:7: The answer is Rom 2:4; Ti1 1:16; Psa 73:18; Ecc 8:11-13; Luk 2:35-end; Pro 16:4; Rom 9:22. old--in opposition to the friends who asserted that sinners are "cut off" early (Job 8:12, Job 8:14).”
- 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 4:12: 4:12-19 Peter instructs Christians one last time about the way to face the trials that will inevitably come. 4:12 don’t be surprised: Christians, especially those seeking to lead godly lives, can expect to face the hostility of a sinful world (see John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Rom 8:17; Phil 1:29).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:2: 2:2 Human sin results from our being governed by the devil, the spirit who rules both the powers of evil in the spiritual realm (see 1:21; 6:11-12; cp. Col 1:13) and human beings who refuse to obey God (2 Cor 4:4; contrast Rom 8:2-14; Gal 5:22-23).”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 1:31: 1:31 Evil people suffer the consequences of their own actions (see 1:15-19); God will ensure that sinners receive their proper punishment (see Matt 25:44-46; Heb 10:29; 2 Pet 2:9).”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 107:9: Such as sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death,.... This is the second instance of persons in distress calling on the name of the Lord; and who, being delivered, are under obligation to praise him, such as are captives and prisoners. The Targum applies it to the Israelites in the Babylonish captivity; but it is much better to interpret it of prisoners in common; whose prisons are generally dark cells or dungeons, and where they are alone, and deprived of the company of the living; and so are not only in darkness, but seem as if they were in the state of the dead”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 8:1: 8:1–9:34 Here the Kingdom of God is manifested with supernatural power (see 4:23-25; 11:2-6). It reaches people who had been excluded from the blessing of God: Gentiles, lepers, blind people, sick women, demoniacs, tax collectors, those with a chronic hemorrhage, and the dead. Jesus shows compassion, but the religious leaders are provoked to opposition. Jesus calls his followers to faith and discipleship.”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 27:45: 27:45 Darkness symbolizes the judgment of God or, more specifically, the arrival of the day of the Lord (see Amos 5:18, 20; 8:9-10; also Jer 4:27-28; 13:16; 15:9).”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 8:28: 8:28-34 This episode focuses on Jesus’ authority as well as on the cost of following him; those who walk by faith will, like the Messiah, also experience opposition. 8:28 possessed by demons . . . so violent: Demon-possession was often accompanied by violence, revulsion at the presence of the Son of God (8:29), inability to speak (9:32; 12:22), blindness (12:22), seizures (17:15), and self-destructive behavior (17:15). With Jesus’ exorcisms, the power of the Kingdom broke into human history (12:28).”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 1:13: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,.... That is, from the power of Satan; see Act 26:18, who, though once an angel of light, is now darkness itself, and is reserved in chains of darkness; he is a ruler of the darkness of this world; his kingdom is a kingdom of darkness; and he blinds the minds of them that believe not, keeps them in darkness, and increases the natural darkness of their minds; he delights in works of darkness, and tempts men to them; and his everlasting state and portion will be blackness of darkness: his power over men, in a state of”