The Problem of Suffering and Disease in God's Sovereignty

The biblical understanding of suffering and disease is deeply intertwined with the concept of God's sovereignty. The scriptures present a complex and multifaceted view, where suffering and disease can be attributed to various causes, including divine judgment, Satanic influence, and human sin.

The biblical text often associates disease with divine judgment or punishment for sin. Deuteronomy 28:21, 28:59-61, and Leviticus 26:14-16 illustrate this connection, where disobedience to God's commands results in sickness and disease ^{[2, 1]}. The narrative of Hezekiah's illness in 2 Kings 20:1-11 and Isaiah 38:1-22 further exemplifies this theme, where Hezekiah's sickness is initially presented as a consequence of his mortality, but upon prayer, God heals him and adds fifteen years to his life ^[4].

However, the Bible also attributes suffering and disease to Satanic influence. Job 2:6-7 and Luke 13:16 demonstrate instances where Satan is permitted by God to inflict suffering and disease upon individuals. In the case of Job, his afflictions are a test of his faith, highlighting the complex interplay between divine sovereignty and Satanic agency ^[1].

The New Testament continues this nuanced understanding, with Jesus and the apostles often confronting the issue of suffering and disease. Jesus' healing ministry is seen as a manifestation of God's power and love, as noted in Luke 5:17 and Isaiah 53:4, where He is described as taking upon Himself the infirmities of others ^[9]. The apostle Paul's thorn in the flesh, discussed in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, is another example, where Paul's suffering is attributed to a messenger of Satan, yet he finds comfort in God's grace being sufficient for him ^[8].

The early Christian interpreters and theologians grappled with the problem of suffering and disease. John Chrysostom, an Eastern Orthodox father, reflects on the role of suffering in the life of believers, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and the potential for spiritual growth through trials ^[6]. Similarly, Protestant academics and Nonconformist/Puritan commentators, such as Matthew Henry, discuss the multifaceted nature of suffering, including its use by God to correct and discipline His people ^{[7, 10]}.

The Presbyterian and Reformed traditions, as represented by commentators like Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown, also engage with this issue. They note that suffering can serve as a means of discipline and correction, citing Proverbs 3:11-12 and Hebrews 12:5-6. However, they also acknowledge that not all suffering is directly punitive, pointing to the example of Job and the righteous sufferer in Psalm 69:29 ^{[5, 3]}.

The Wesleyan/Methodist tradition, as seen in Adam Clarke's commentary, emphasizes the role of grace in the midst of suffering. Clarke interprets Paul's "infirmities" as a reference to his ongoing struggles with sin and weakness, yet finds in this a demonstration of God's sufficient grace ^[8].

Sources

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”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diseases — Often sent as punishment -- De 28:21; Joh 5:14. Often brought from other countries -- De 7:15. Often through Satan -- 1Sa 16:14-16; Job 2:7. Regarded as visitations -- Job 2:7-10; Ps 38:2,7. Intemperance a cause of -- Ho 7:5. Sins of youth a cause of -- Job 20:11. Over-excitement a cause of -- Da 8:27. Were many and divers -- Mt 4:24. Mentioned in scripture Ague. -- Le 26:16. Abscess. -- 2Ki 20:7. Atrophy. -- Job 16:8; 19:20. Blindness. -- Job 29:15; Mt 9:27. Boils and blains. -- Ex 9:10. Consumption. -- Le 26:16; De 28:22. Demoniacal possession. -- Mt 15:”
Psalms “But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me. -- Psalms 69:29”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 2, section 1: . How Hezekiah Was Sick, And Ready To Die; And How God Bestowed Upon Him Fifteen Years Longer Life, [And Secured That Promise] By The Going Back Of The Shadow Ten Degrees. 1. Now king Hezekiah being thus delivered, after a surprising manner, from the dread he was in, offered thank-offerings to God, with all his people, because nothing else had destroyed some of their enemies, and made the rest so fearful of undergoing the same fate that they departed from Jerusalem, but that Divine assistance. Yet, while he was very zealous and d”
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).”
CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: 13:17 13:23 James 1:6 2:13 2:19 2:26 3:11 4:3 1 Peter 1:3 1:12 2:13 2:21 2:21 2:22 2:22 2:22 5:5 5:8 5:8 5:8 2 Peter 2:4 3:13 1 John 2:9 3:2 3:8 4:8 Revelation 1 1:4 1:9 1:11 1:16 1:20 2 3 3:12 14:1 14:4 14:13 15:6 20:9 22:16 Tobit 12:9 Wisdom of Solomon 1:4 1:14 11:23 11:24 14:16 Sirach 2:2 2:2 2:4 2:10 2:11 2:27 3:10-12 3:11 5:6 6:14 6:16 6:34 7:6 7:31 9:13 9:15 10:9 10:12-13 11:1 11:2 11:3 11:3 11:4 11:15 11:28 12:13 13:15 14:9 15:9 16:3 18:13 18:13 19:14-15 20:20 21:2 22:21-22 23:17 23:17 25:1 25:1 25:11 26:27 28:6 31:1 32:10”
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”
2 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 11:30: I will glory - which concern mine infirmities - I will not boast of my natural or acquired powers; neither in what God has done by me; but rather in what I have suffered for him. Many persons have understood by infirmities what they call the indwelling sin of the apostle, and say that "he gloried in this, because the grace of Christ was the more magnified in his being preserved from ruin, notwithstanding this indwelling adversary." And to support this most unholy interpretation, they quote those other words of the apostle, Co2 12:9 : Most gladly therefore wi”
Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 53:4: Surely . . . our griefs--literally, "But yet He hath taken (or borne) our sicknesses," that is, they who despised Him because of His human infirmities ought rather to have esteemed Him on account of them; for thereby "Himself took OUR infirmities" (bodily diseases). So Mat 8:17 quotes it. In the Hebrew for "borne," or took, there is probably the double notion, He took on Himself vicariously (so Isa 53:5-6, Isa 53:8, Isa 53:12), and so He took away; His perfect humanity whereby He was bodily afflicted for us, and in all our afflictions (Isa 63:9; Heb 4:”
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”

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