Why God Allows Adversity

[emekrus]

To read 1 Peter 2.24 as a physical healing, you really need to cut the last part of the sentence out of its context.

But the full text is this:
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

The healing is spiritual, about sin, about not being gone astray, about returning to the Shepherd of our souls.

The full text says "you have been healed for you have returned to the shepherd of your souls".
This is the healing.

Let's see the original words of Isaiah from where Matthew and Peter quotes from to understand the context:

Here is the full text in Isaiah 53:3-6

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

This text differentiates clearly about two things here: Our transgression and healing.

It clearly says his wounds and bruises were for our transgression and iniquities. While his stripes is for our health and healing.

It is from this same scripture that Matthew quoted from in Matthew 8:17 which you affirm, is talking about physical healing, which is a part of what Isaiah said.

Then Peter in 1 Peter 2: 24 goes a little further than Matthew in his quotation of Isaiah. He added the atonement for sin part of the book of Isaiah and the going astray aspect.

These scriptures clearly in a no-brainier way, tells us that Jesus paid for our sins by his wounds; and then he paid also for our physical health and healing with his stripes. Then the going astray part, emphasises the atonement for sin part of his atonement. And of course, that does not in anyway nullify the physical health part.

This is dead brain easy to understand. Even a total dunce can understand it. Why try to complicate the interpretation to support your belief?

If you agree that Matthew 8:17 is talking about physical health and healing. Why do you have problem agreeing that Peter is also talking about physical healing; when both Matthew and Peter are quoting from the same text?

 

[trofimus]

Let's see the original words of Isaiah from where Matthew and Peter quotes from to understand the context:

Here is the full text in Isaiah 53:3-6

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

This text differentiates clearly about two things here: Our transgression and healing.

It clearly says his wounds and bruises were for our transgression and iniquities. While his stripes is for our health and healing.

It is from this same scripture that Matthew quoted from in Matthew 8:17 which you affirm, is talking about physical healing, which is a part of what Isaiah said.

Then Peter in 1 Peter 2: 24 goes a little further than Matthew in his quotation of Isaiah. He added the atonement for sin part of the book of Isaiah and the going astray aspect.

These scriptures clearly in a no-brainier way, tells us that Jesus paid for our sins by his wounds; and then he paid also for our physical health and healing with his stripes. Then the going astray part, emphasises the atonement for sin part of his atonement. And of course, that does not in anyway nullify the physical health part.

This is dead brain easy to understand. Even a total dunce can understand it. Why try to complicate the interpretation to support your belief?

If you agree that Matthew 8:17 is talking about physical health and healing. Why do you have problem agreeing that Peter is also talking about physical healing; when both Matthew and Peter are quoting from the same text?

Is 53:
He bears our sins, and is pained for us: yet we accounted him to be in trouble, and in suffering by God, and in affliction.
5 But he was wounded on account of our sins, and was bruised because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and by his bruises we were healed.
6 All we as sheep have gone astray; every one has gone astray in his way; and the Lord gave him up for our sins.

Isaiah 53 is clearly about spiritual healing:
sins, going astray, our peace etc.

---

Peter 2:24-25:
"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;
"by his wounds you have been healed."
For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Peter is not exactly quoting Isaiah, he is just using some themes from it. But he uses it in the same context Isaiah uses them, in the context of spiritual healing:
sins, going astray

---

Matthew 8:17:
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases."

What Matthew uses or quotes is not the same place as what Peter uses. Is 53 does not say that He bore our diseases.

====

Matthew changes the text of Is significantly (or uses some version we do not have) and also gives to it a special, physical meaning. Therefore there is no link between Matthew 8:17 and 1 P 2:24.

I think you can see the difference between them easily.

 

[emekrus]

Is 53:
He bears our sins, and is pained for us: yet we accounted him to be in trouble, and in suffering by God, and in affliction.
5 But he was wounded on account of our sins, and was bruised because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and by his bruises we were healed.
6 All we as sheep have gone astray; every one has gone astray in his way; and the Lord gave him up for our sins.

Isaiah 53 is clearly about spiritual healing:
sins, going astray, our peace etc.

---

Peter 2:24-25:
"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;
"by his wounds you have been healed."
For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Peter is not exactly quoting Isaiah, he is just using some themes from it. But he uses it in the same context Isaiah uses them, in the context of spiritual healing:
sins, going astray

---

Matthew 8:17:
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases."

What Matthew uses or quotes is not the same place as what Peter uses. Is 53 does not say that He bore our diseases.

====

Matthew changes the text of Is significantly (or uses some version we do not have) and also gives to it a special, physical meaning. Therefore there is no link between Matthew 8:17 and 1 P 2:24.

I think you can see the difference between them easily.

Here goes your interpretation again. Matthew 8:17 clearly quotes the Prophet Isaiah. And you are now saying it is some version we do not have. So you mean there could be some other version of the book of Isaiah we do not have, where Matthew quoted from?

 

[trofimus]

Here goes your interpretation again. Matthew 8:17 clearly quotes the Prophet Isaiah. And you are now saying it is some version we do not have. So you mean there could be some other version of the book of Isaiah we do not have, where Matthew quoted from?

Is:
"He bears our sins"

Mt:
"He bore our diseases "

Its clearly not a quotation. I do not have to intepret anything. Its Matthew who:

a) either interpreted Isaiah
b) or used another version of Isaiah

 

[Noblemen]

Recently, as I visited a woman I usually minister to, she told me she had a challenge in her left leg, that won’t let her move even the shortest distance.
She said it was diagnosed as arthritis. Then as I talked with her, we got to a point where she asked; “Why would God allow this kind of thing to come to me?” she made that statement with a great despair.

As a matter of fact, she went further to say that in spite of the fact that she has been very dedicated to God; attending every church services and programs; doing everything she knows is expected of her as a Christian; how could God allow such an ailment to come to her? She asked in pain and despair.

As she said such things to me, God immediately put a word in my mouth to instruct her. I said to her; “God allowed this to come to you, because he knows you have what it takes to handle it.” I added; “The same way he allows you to feel hungry, because he knows you have food; and the same way he allows you to get pressed in your bowels, because he knows you have toilet”.

So I told her that God allowed the health challenge she was having because he has given her enough faith to fix it.

After that instruction, I shared the word of God with her, then at the end of my message, I laid hand on the point of pain and prayed for her and left. On coming back the next few days to her, I asked her how she faired…

She replied that in spite of all the prayers-- including her personal prayers, her situation had remained the same. In fact, she lamented in unbelief. As she was lamenting and saying all that, I just laughed, knowing her real challenge was unbelief.

After her talks, I shared a sermon with her and instructed her on the steps of faith she should take for her healing, then I laid my hand again on her, prayed for her and declared her healed.

And by the next few days I went to minister to her again, she had already started recovering, moving to distances she couldn’t move to before then with leaping. Then I ministered to her again, and let her know that God was already working on her and that she was recovering.

By the time I went to her a few days later, she was totally healed to the glory of God. As a matter of fact, she was so happy, asking me if it was still needful for her to share the testimony, since I could already see her very whole.

But all the same, she testified of how she had to take a step of faith as I instructed her and forced herself to church, and went along with a young girl to help her move in the church, but on stepping her feet in the church, she started walking without any aid.

And when it was time for praises, she started dancing seriously with her legs very whole…

She was totally healed by God through her faith. To God alone be all the glory…

The situation this woman found herself is what I know many Christians all over the world often find themselves in. Like the woman, as they serve God dedicatedly, and adverse situation come their way, they find themselves asking; “Why will God allow this to come to me?”

To this group of people, I want to enumerate the scriptural possible reasons why God allows adverse situations to come to the believer. Because of course, nothing can happen to a believer without God’s foreknowledge.

Why God Allow Adversities

Scripturally, these are the possible reasons why God can allow adversities to come to a believer:

• You are Able to Handle it: God allows adversities to come to believers, because he knows they already have the ability to handle the situation. And thereby, growing in that ability by exercise, through adversities, to the glory, praise and honor of his holy name—1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Peter 1:6-7.

• Development of Patience: The bible tells us that we should count it all joy when we fall into various trials; knowing this, that the trying of our faith works patience (James 1:2-3). Hence, development of patience in us is a reason God could allow adversity in our lives sometimes.

• Disciplinary Motive: Another reason a Christian could experience adversity, may be for the purpose of divine discipline. God can allow a believer to experience adversity, in order to curtail or cut off a vice from him. This vice could be pride, impatience, materialism, e.t.c. This was the case of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians12:7. God had to give him a thorn in the flesh so he won’t be exalted above measure.

• Chastening Motive: God can also use adverse situations, such as sickness , financial or material loss and yes, even death to chasten believers for profane or rebellious attitudes. The scriptural instance of this is what happened to the people who profaned the communion in 1Corinthians 11:29-32. And Jesus’ proposed Judgement on the prophetess in Revelation 2:20-23. But if we can always judge ourselves, God would not have to judge or chasten us.

• Proving Motive: Scripturally, it is clear that God uses adversity to prove the dedication and love of his children from time to time. Someone has said; “God offends the mind to reveal the heart”. And that is scripturally true. A perfect example of this is the case of Job. God used great adversity to prove Job’s fear, love and dedication to him (read the entire book of Job).

So God allows adversities in the lives of believers for the reasons above. And if you find yourself in any adversity, don’t be offended in God. Instead, first attack the situation by faith and prayers. But after so much prayers and exercise of faith, and the situation persists, don’t assume anything. The challenge may be for any of the above listed reasons. But Like the Apostle Paul, go to God in prayers to discern the reason for the challenge.

And as you find out the reason, you can then deal with the situation accordingly with scriptural wisdom.

Remain Blessed!

Emeke Odili

Dear friend, your story started so well. I hesitated to even reply. Alot of wieght is being placed on the believer to take action, which imo, comes from deep indoctrination of your understanding. Most of the faith movement as it was called has moved on. There is more in God for the believer to understand than just getting their body healed, we can do a service by helping others to do that if we feel we are capable. I have been where you are.

 

[emekrus]

Is:
"He bears our sins"

Mt:
"He bore our diseases "

Its clearly not a quotation. I do not have to intepret anything. Its Matthew who:

a) either interpreted Isaiah
b) or used another version of Isaiah

Alright then have fun with your belief. I and those I know believes the same way I do are having the best of time.
Wishing you a prosperous heavenly race.

 

[emekrus]

Dear friend, your story started so well. I hesitated to even reply. Alot of wieght is being placed on the believer to take action, which imo, comes from deep indoctrination of your understanding. Most of the faith movement as it was called has moved on. There is more in God for the believer to understand than just getting their body healed, we can do a service by helping others to do that if we feel we are capable. I have been where you are.

And by God's grace we are doing just that-- Helping people understand the more that is in God, but at the same time, we are still helping them with the basics.
Because the basics you know, do have their profound importance.

 

[trofimus]

Alright then have fun with your belief. I and those I know believes the same way I do are having the best of time.
Wishing you a prosperous heavenly race.

Well, the point is to have a real faith, not to have "a best time" or to have "a fun with belief".

But, as you wish