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Revelations of God's Nature in Times of Suffering and Trial

In times of suffering and trial, the nature of God is revealed through various attributes, including his long-suffering, his justice, and his compassionate intercession. The Bible consistently portrays God as actively involved in the experiences of humanity, even amidst hardship.

One significant revelation of God's nature is his long-suffering. This attribute is described as part of his character in passages like Exodus 34:6 and Numbers 14:18 [2]. God's long-suffering is presented as having salvation as its object, as seen in 2 Peter 3:15, and it should lead individuals to repentance (Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9) [2]. Joel 2:13 encourages repentance by highlighting God's readiness to forgive [2]. This long-suffering is extended both to his people (Isaiah 30:18; Ezekiel 20:17) and to the wicked (Romans 9:22; 1 Peter 3:20) [2]. However, there are limits to God's long-suffering, as indicated in Genesis 6:3 and Jeremiah 44:22, and those who abuse or despise it will face punishment (Ecclesiastes 8:11; Matthew 24:48-49; Romans 2:4-5) [2].

God's justice is also revealed through suffering, particularly when it comes as a consequence of sin. The Old Testament often depicts God's anger as a necessary response to sin, predicting a decisive outpouring of wrath on human sin at the end of history [9]. Famines, for instance, are sometimes sent by God, often on account of sin (Leviticus 26:21, 26; Lamentations 4:4-6) [6]. These are considered among God's "four sore judgments" (Ezekiel 14:21) [6]. Proverbs 1:31 states that evil people suffer the consequences of their own actions, and God ensures that sinners receive proper punishment [10]. The "judgments of God" can refer to the secret decisions of his will, the revelations of his will, or the infliction of punishment on the wicked, such as the events in Genesis 7 or Acts 5:1-10 [3].

Despite the presence of suffering, God's nature is also revealed through his protection and intercession. Jesus will protect Christians who persevere through trials, as indicated in Revelation 3:10, which refers to a "great time of testing" in the end times [11]. The Christian church is expected to face its own "wilderness," similar to the spiritual refinement of Israel, and God provides refuge and escape for his people (Revelation 12:6) [14]. The long-suffering of God is also exercised through Christ's intercession (Luke 13:8) [2].

The human nature of Christ is central to understanding God's revelation in suffering. Jesus, in his incarnation, took on the infirmities of human nature and was afflicted in his body and soul, experiencing suffering just as other people do, apart from sinful passions [12]. This human experience of suffering was necessary for his mediatorial office (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17) [1]. His partaking of flesh and blood (John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14) allowed him to suffer, weep (Luke 19:41; John 11:35), hunger (Matthew 4:2; 21:18), thirst (John 4:7; 19:28), and experience weariness (John 4:6) [1]. This suffering disposes individuals to be compassionate, and Jesus's experience of trials and persecutions enabled him to better feel for and succor those who are afflicted [13].

Christians are encouraged to endure suffering with a "consciousness of God" (1 Peter 2:19) [5]. The prophets serve as examples of enduring pain and maintaining strength in trouble (James 5:10) [7]. Paul's own experiences of persecution and suffering, from which the Lord delivered him, also serve as an example (2 Timothy 3:11) [4]. Christians can expect hostility in a sinful world, and Peter instructs them on how to face these inevitable trials (1 Peter 4:12-19) [8]. In these trials, God's nature is revealed not only in his justice and long-suffering but also in his provision of grace and strength for endurance.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Human Nature of Christ, The — Was necessary to his mediatorial office -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 2:17; Ga 4:4,5; 1Co 15:21; Ro 6:15,19. Is proved by his Conception in the Virgin's womb. -- Mt 1:18; Lu 1:31. Birth. -- Mt 1:16,25; 2:2; Lu 2:7,11. Partaking of flesh and blood. -- Joh 1:14; Heb 2:14. Having a human soul. -- Mt 26:38; Lu 23:46; Ac 2:31. Circumcision. -- Lu 2:21. Increase in wisdom and stature. -- Lu 2:52. Weeping. -- Lu 19:41; Joh 11:35. Hungering. -- Mt 4:2; 21:18. Thirsting. -- Joh 4:7; 19:28. Sleeping. -- Mt 8:24; Mr 4:38. Being subject to weariness. -- Joh 4:6. ”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Long-Suffering of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ex 34:6; Nu 14:18; Ps 86:15. Salvation, the object of -- 2Pe 3:15. Through Christ's intercession -- Lu 13:8. Should lead to repentance -- Ro 2:4; 2Pe 3:9. An encouragement to repent -- Joe 2:13. Exhibited in forgiving sins -- Ro 3:25. Exercised toward His people. -- Isa 30:18; Eze 20:17. The wicked. -- Ro 9:22; 1Pe 3:20. Plead in prayer -- Jer 15:15. Limits set to -- Ge 6:3; Jer 44:22. The wicked Abuse. -- Ec 8:11; Mt 24:48,49. Despise. -- Ro 2:4. Punished for despising. -- Ne 9:30; Mt 24:48-51; Ro 2:5. Illustr”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Judgments of God — (1.) The secret decisions of God's will (Ps. 110:5; 36:6). (2.) The revelations of his will (Ex. 21:1; Deut. 6:20; Ps. 119:7-175). (3.) The infliction of punishment on the wicked (Ex. 6:6; 12:12; Ezek. 25:11; Rev. 16:7), such as is mentioned in Gen. 7; 19:24, 25; Judg. 1:6, 7; Acts 5:1-10, etc.”
  4. 2 Timothy “persecutions, and sufferings: those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions. The Lord delivered me out of them all. -- 2 Timothy 3:11”
  5. I Peter “I Peter 2:19 (LEB) — For this finds favor, if because of consciousness of God someone endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Famine — Sent by God -- Ps 10:16. Often on account of sin -- Le 26:21,26; La 4:4-6. One of God's four sore judgments -- Eze 14:21. Caused by God's blessing withheld. -- Ho 2:8,9; Hag 1:6. Want of seasonable rain. -- 1Ki 17:1; Jer 14:1-4; Am 4:7. Rotting of the seed in the ground. -- Joe 1:17. Swarms of insects. -- De 28:38,42; Joe 1:4. Blasting and mildew. -- Am 4:9; Hag 2:17. Devastation by enemies. -- De 28:33,51. Often long continued -- Ge 41:27; 2Ki 8:1,2. Often severe -- Ge 12:10; 1Ki 18:2; Jer 52:6. Expressed by Taking away the stay of bread, & c. -- Isa 3:1. C”
  7. James “James 5:10 (BBE) — Take as an example of pain nobly undergone and of strength in trouble, the prophets who gave to men the words of the Lord.”
  8. 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).”
  9. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
  10. 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).”
  11. Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 3:10: 3:10 Jesus will protect Christians who persevere through trials (cp. Isa 43:2-4; John 10:27-28; 1 Cor 10:13; Heb 6:18-19). • The great time of testing refers to the end times, when the world experiences tribulation.”
  12. Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 5:7: Who in the days of his flesh - The time of his incarnation, during which he took all the infirmities of human nature upon him, and was afflicted in his body and human soul just as other men are, irregular and sinful passions excepted. Offered up prayers and supplications - This is one of the most difficult places in this epistle, if not in the whole of the New Testament. The labors of learned men upon it have been prodigious; and even in their sayings it is hard to find the meaning. I shall take a general view of this and the two following verses, and then examine t”
  13. Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 2:18: For in that he himself hath suffered - The maxim on which this verse is founded is the following: A state of suffering disposes persons to be compassionate, and those who endure most afflictions are they who feel most for others. The apostle argues that, among other causes, it was necessary that Jesus Christ should partake of human nature, exposed to trials, persecutions, and various sufferings, that he might the better feel for and be led to succor those who are afflicted and sorely tried. This sentiment is well expressed by a Roman poet: - Me quoque per multas s”
  14. Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 12:6: 12:6 Like the people of Israel who were spiritually refined in the wilderness (see Hos 2:14-15; Acts 7:38-45) and in exile (see Isa 5:13; Ezek 12:1-3), the Christian church must face its own wilderness. Revelation presents messages of endurance and perseverance in the face of trouble and shows that God provides places of refuge and avenues of escape for his people (cp. 1 Cor 10:13). 1,260 days: See study note on Rev 11:2-3.”
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