Topical Bible: Afflictions: Frequently Terminate in Good

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Afflictions, as experienced by believers, are often perceived as trials or hardships that test faith and character. Within the biblical narrative, these afflictions are not without purpose or divine oversight. The Scriptures consistently reveal that God uses afflictions to bring about a greater good, refining the believer and aligning them more closely with His will.

Biblical Examples and Teachings

1. Joseph's Trials: One of the most profound examples of afflictions leading to good is the account of Joseph. Sold into slavery by his brothers and later imprisoned in Egypt, Joseph's life was marked by severe trials. However, these afflictions were instrumental in God's plan to save many lives during a famine. Joseph himself acknowledges this in Genesis 50:20 : "As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people."

2. Job's Suffering: The Book of Job provides a deep exploration of suffering and divine purpose. Job, a righteous man, endures immense suffering, losing his wealth, health, and family. Despite his afflictions, Job's faith is ultimately strengthened, and he gains a deeper understanding of God's sovereignty. Job 42:10 states, "After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions."

3. Paul's Thorn in the Flesh: The Apostle Paul speaks of a "thorn in the flesh," a persistent affliction that he describes in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Despite pleading with the Lord to remove it, Paul learns that God's grace is sufficient, and that power is perfected in weakness. This affliction serves to keep Paul humble and reliant on God's strength.

4. The Refining Process: Scripture often uses the metaphor of refining to describe the purpose of afflictions. In Malachi 3:3 , it is written, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver." This process, though painful, results in a purer, more faithful servant of God.

5. The Testing of Faith: James 1:2-4 encourages believers to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Here, afflictions are seen as a means to spiritual maturity and completeness.

6. The Example of Christ: The ultimate example of affliction leading to good is found in the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His suffering and death on the cross, an affliction of the highest order, resulted in the redemption of humanity. Hebrews 12:2 reminds believers to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Theological Insights

Afflictions are not arbitrary or meaningless in the life of a believer. They are often divinely orchestrated or permitted to achieve a greater purpose. Romans 8:28 assures believers that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." This promise provides comfort and hope, affirming that no suffering is wasted in God's economy.

Furthermore, afflictions serve to deepen the believer's reliance on God, foster spiritual growth, and prepare them for future service. They are a means by which God shapes His people, conforming them to the image of Christ and equipping them for His purposes.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 50:20
But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it to good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
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Exodus 1:11,12
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
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Deuteronomy 8:15,16
Who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought you forth water out of the rock of flint;
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Jeremiah 24:5,6
Thus said the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.
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Ezekiel 20:37
And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
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Library

Why all Things Work for Good
... He frequently makes use of unjust men to do that ... These afflictions work for us a
weight of glory, and ... in the centre, so all our actions terminate and centre in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/why all things work for.htm

More Particularly, in what Respect Christ is Called the Truth.
... 2. They all terminate in him, he putting ... find the evangelists and apostles frequently
applying the ... through all their temptations, afflictions, and overcoming ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xi more particularly in.htm

Heaviness through Manifold Temptations
... 6. And all these terminate in that great end, that ... So many ways do these "light
afflictions, which are ... We find by experience, example frequently makes a deeper ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 47 heaviness through manifold.htm

The Last Interview of Paul with the Elders of Ephesus.
... rulers of the Jews, who are frequently called the ... But, the afflictions which awaited
him in every city ... in the solemn hour, which shall terminate our intercourse ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxiv the last interview.htm

Letter clxiv. (AD 414. )
... able to do so, you may remove and terminate my perplexities ... given to them, since
it is so frequently, so clearly ... that is, by means of various afflictions and by ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter clxiv a d 414.htm

Fourthly; all the [Credenda, Or] Doctrines, which the True, Simple ...
... second Nous or mind, whom they frequently stile Demiourgos ... histories of all nations
backwards terminate in it ... and terrible than even those afflictions which by ...
/.../xiii proposition xiii fourthly all.htm

Natural Evil, or Suffering, and Especially the Suffering of ...
... and consequently here our inquiries may terminate; just as ... It is frequently said,
we are aware, that if ... Our present light afflictions are intended, not merely ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/chapter ii natural evil or.htm

The General Conference of 1828
... instead of sober argument, they frequently resorted to ... for victory or defeat, whenever
the warfare should terminate. ... produced, that it was not "good to make ...
/.../chapter 9 the general conference.htm

Interpretation of Prophecy.
... event in the immediate future is frequently predicted as a ... 110, etc.); another part,
the deep afflictions of a ... and sublunary state is not to terminate with the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxviii interpretation of prophecy.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
... BAT'S-EYES. O, this blind and foolish woman! said she; will she not take warning
by her husband's afflictions? ... A good riddance, for my part, I say, of her. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the pilgrims progress.htm