The Goodness of God in the Face of Painful Diseases

The goodness of God, understood as a perfection of his character encompassing benevolence, mercy, pity, compassion, and grace, is consistently affirmed in scripture, even when faced with the reality of painful diseases ^[6]. The Bible presents a complex picture of sickness, acknowledging its presence while simultaneously asserting God's ultimate sovereignty and benevolent character.

Biblical texts indicate that sickness can originate from various sources. It is sometimes depicted as sent by God, as seen in passages like Deuteronomy 28:59-61 and 2 Samuel 12:15 ^[3]. In other instances, the devil is permitted to inflict sickness, as in the case of Job (Job 2:6-7) or the woman with a spirit of infirmity in Luke 13:16 ^{[3, 17]}. Intemperance can also lead to illness (Hosea 7:5), and sickness can serve as a punishment for sin (Leviticus 26:14-16; 1 Corinthians 11:30) ^[3]. Ezekiel 14:19-21 even lists pestilence as one of God's "four sore judgments" on a guilty land ^[3]. However, even when sickness is a consequence of sin or a divine judgment, the underlying goodness of God is not negated, but rather understood within the broader context of his justice and moral perfection ^[6].

Despite the various origins of disease, the Bible frequently portrays God as the one who heals. He promises to heal (Exodus 23:25; 2 Kings 20:5) and is shown actively doing so (Deuteronomy 32:39; Psalm 103:3; Isaiah 38:5, 9) ^[3]. The goodness of God is particularly evident in his mercy, power, and love demonstrated through healing ^[3]. For example, Philippians 2:27 mentions God's mercy in healing Epaphroditus, who was "sick, nearly to death" ^[1]. John Gill notes that while good people, even those beloved by Christ, can become sick, their spiritual diseases are healed, and their sins forgiven ^[10]. The psalmist cries out to God in distress and is healed, acknowledging God as the physician of both body and soul ^[15].

The New Testament further emphasizes Jesus's role in demonstrating God's goodness through healing. Jesus "laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them" when people brought those with "various diseases" to him (Luke 4:40) ^[4]. Matthew Henry observes that Jesus's cures were abundant, showcasing his "overflowing fulness" of power and goodness ^[12]. Jesus's ability to heal was not diminished by the act of healing; "virtue was gone out of him" to heal, yet his power remained as effective as ever ^[11]. His ministry was characterized by "power and pity," as he healed "all manner of sickness" ^[13].

The presence of sickness and suffering in the lives of even devout individuals, such as King Hezekiah, who was struck with a mortal disease, serves to remind believers that "neither men's greatness nor their goodness will exempt them from the arrests of sickness and death" ^[14]. Yet, even in such instances, God's goodness is understood to be at work. Afflictions can be a means through which God speaks to individuals, particularly when other warnings have gone unheeded ^[16]. The Latin Vulgate translation of Psalm 40:4 (Psalm 41:3 in some numbering) states, "The Lord help him on his bed of sorrow; you have turned all his bed in his infirmity," suggesting divine presence and intervention even in suffering ^[2].

The names of God and biblical figures sometimes reflect this understanding of divine goodness in relation to health and healing. "Irpeel" means "the health, medicine, or exulting of God" ^[5], "Mehetabel" means "how good is God" ^[7], "Hanniel" means "grace or mercy of God" ^[8], and "Jason" means "he that cures" ^[9]. These names underscore a consistent biblical theme: God's character is inherently good, and this goodness is often expressed through his capacity and willingness to heal and show mercy in the face of human suffering.

The goodness of God is not merely an abstract theological concept but is actively demonstrated in his engagement with human suffering, including painful diseases. While the causes of sickness are varied, God's ultimate power to heal, his mercy, and his love are consistently presented as expressions of his unchanging good character ^{[3, 6]}.

Sources

Philippians “For indeed he was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow. -- Philippians 2:27”
Psalms “Dominus opem ferat illi super lectum doloris ejus ; universum stratum ejus versasti in infirmitate ejus. -- Psalms 40:4”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sickness — Sent by God -- De 28:59-61; 32:39; 2Sa 12:15; Ac 12:23. The devil sometimes permitted to inflict -- Job 2:6,7; Lu 9:39; 13:16. Often brought on by intemperance -- Ho 7:5. Often sent as a punishment of sin -- Le 26:14-16; 2Ch 21:12-15; 1Co 11:30. One of God's four sore judgments on a guilty land -- Eze 14:19-21. God Promises to heal. -- Ex 23:25; 2Ki 20:5. Heals. -- De 32:39; Ps 103:3; Isa 38:5,9. Exhibits his mercy in healing. -- Php 2:27. Exhibits his power in healing. -- Lu 5:17. Exhibits his love in healing. -- Isa 38:17. Often manifests saving grace to”
Luke “When the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. -- Luke 4:40”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Irpeel — the health, medicine, or exulting of God”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Mehetabel — how good is God”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Hanniel — grace or mercy of God”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jason — he that cures”
Philippians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Philippians 2:26: For indeed he was sick nigh unto death,.... It was not a mere rumour, or a false alarm, but was real matter of fact; and it was not a light disorder, a slight indisposition, but a very dangerous illness; though the sickness was not unto death, yet near it. Good men, such as Christ loves, as he did Lazarus, are sometimes sick; though their spiritual diseases are healed, and their sins forgiven, so that the inhabitants of Zion have no more reason to say that they are sick, since Christ has took their infirmities, and bore their sickness, yet they are not exempt fro”
Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 5:30: And Jesus immediately knowing in himself,.... As soon as ever the woman had touched his garments, and had a cure, Christ, who knew all things in his Spirit, or divine nature, that dwelt in him, knew what was done, that the woman had touched him, and was healed thereby; though, as not without his knowledge, so neither without his will, and entirely by his power: that virtue was gone out of him; to the healing of some person, though not at all to the diminution of that virtue, which remained as powerful and effective in him as ever. This shows that there was an internal”
Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 15:29: Here is, I. A general account of Christ's cures, his curing by wholesale. The tokens of Christ's power and goodness are neither scarce nor scanty; for there is in him an overflowing fulness. Now observe, 1. The place where these cures were wrought; it was near the sea of Galilee, a part of the country Christ was much conversant with. We read not of any thing he did in the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, but the casting of the devil out of the woman of Canaan's daughter, as if he took that journey on purpose, with that in prospect. Let not ministers grudge their pains ”
Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 9 (introduction): We have in this chapter remarkable instances of the power and pity of the Lord Jesus, sufficient to convince us that he is both able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him, and as willing as he is able. His power and pity appear here in the good offices he did, I. To the bodies of people, in curing the palsy (Mat 9:2-8); raising to life the ruler's daughter, and healing the bloody issue (Mat 9:18-26); giving sight to two blind men (Mat 9:27-31); casting the devil out of one possessed (Mat 9:32-34); and healing all manner of sickness (Mat”
Isaiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Isaiah 38:1: We may hence observe, among others, these good lessons: - 1. That neither men's greatness nor their goodness will exempt them from the arrests of sickness and death. Hezekiah, a mighty potentate on earth and a mighty favourite of Heaven, is struck with a disease, which, without a miracle, will certainly be mortal; and this in the midst of his days, his comforts, and usefulness. Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. It should seem, this sickness seized him when he was in the midst of his triumphs over the ruined army of the Assyrians, to teach us always to rej”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 30:2: O Lord my God, I cried unto thee,.... In the time of his distress and trouble; and whither should he go but unto his covenant God and Father? and thou hast healed me: either of some bodily disease that attended him; for the Lord is the physician of the body, as well as of the soul; and that either immediately, or by giving a blessing to means used; and the glory of such a mercy should be given to him: or else of soul diseases, which are natural and hereditary, epidemical, nauseous, mortal, and incurable, but by the grace of God and blood of Christ; and the healing: ”
Job (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Job 33:19: God has spoken once to sinners by their own consciences, to keep them from the paths of the destroyer, but they perceive it not; they are not aware that the checks their own hearts give them in a sinful way are from God, but they are imputed to melancholy or the preciseness of their education; and therefore God speaks twice; he speaks a second time, and tries another way to convince and reclaim sinners, and that is by providences, afflictive and merciful (in which he speaks twice), and by the seasonable instructions of good ministers setting in with them. Job compla”
Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 13:10: Here is, I. The miraculous cure of a woman that had been long under a spirit of infirmity. Our Lord Jesus spent his Sabbaths in the synagogues, Luk 13:10. We should make conscience of doing so, as we have opportunity, and not think we can spend the sabbath as well at home reading a good book; for religious assemblies are a divine institution, which we must bear our testimony to, though but of two or three. And, when he was in the synagogues on the sabbath day, he was teaching there - ēn didaskōn. It denotes a continued act; he still taught the people knowledge. H”

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