Topical Bible: Afflictions: God Regulates the Measure of

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In the Christian understanding, afflictions are often seen as trials or sufferings that believers endure in their earthly lives. These afflictions can take many forms, including physical illness, emotional distress, persecution, or spiritual struggles. The Bible provides numerous insights into the nature and purpose of afflictions, emphasizing that God, in His sovereignty, regulates their measure.

Divine Sovereignty and Control

The Scriptures affirm that God is sovereign over all creation, including the trials and tribulations that befall His people. In the book of Job, we see a profound example of God's control over afflictions. Job, a righteous man, experiences severe suffering, yet it is clear that God sets the boundaries of his trials. In Job 1:12 , God permits Satan to test Job but restricts the extent of his power: "Very well," said the LORD to Satan. "Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself." This passage illustrates that while God allows afflictions, He also limits their scope according to His divine purposes.

Purpose and Refinement

Afflictions are not arbitrary; they serve a purpose in the believer's life. The Apostle Paul speaks to this in 2 Corinthians 4:17 : "For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison." Here, Paul acknowledges that afflictions, though challenging, are temporary and are used by God to produce spiritual growth and eternal benefits. This perspective encourages believers to view their sufferings as part of God's refining process, shaping them into the likeness of Christ.

God's Faithfulness and Comfort

Throughout the Bible, God is portrayed as a source of comfort and strength for those enduring afflictions. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 , Paul reassures believers of God's faithfulness: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it." This verse underscores the idea that God not only regulates the measure of afflictions but also provides the necessary grace and means to endure them.

The Example of Christ

The ultimate example of enduring affliction is found in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 5:8 states, "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered." Christ's sufferings were part of God's redemptive plan, demonstrating that afflictions can have a profound purpose in fulfilling God's will. Believers are called to follow Christ's example, trusting that their sufferings are not in vain but are part of God's greater plan for their lives.

Hope and Assurance

The Bible assures believers that afflictions are temporary and that God will ultimately deliver them. Romans 8:18 offers hope: "I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us." This assurance encourages Christians to persevere through trials, knowing that God is in control and that their future glory far outweighs present difficulties.

In summary, the Bible teaches that God regulates the measure of afflictions, using them for His divine purposes and the spiritual growth of His people. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's sovereignty, find comfort in His faithfulness, and look to the example of Christ as they endure trials.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 80:5
You feed them with the bread of tears; and give them tears to drink in great measure.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 9:1
Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 46:28
Fear you not, O Jacob my servant, said the LORD: for I am with you; for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you: but I will not make a full end of you, but correct you in measure; yet will I not leave you wholly unpunished.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Value of this Doctrine
... no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves ... and who has ordained
and now regulates all events ... The glory of God consists not merely in that He is ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter twelve the value of.htm

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
... But if he dexterously regulates the movement of the ... equal to love to himself is:
God has made ... desiring henceforth to be loved amid crosses and afflictions. ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/fourth sunday after epiphany.htm

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity Paul's Care and Prayer for the ...
... to them by speaking of these afflictions in unusual ... that no man should presume to
approach God otherwise than ... Christ dwells in my heart and regulates my entire ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/sixteenth sunday after trinity pauls.htm

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
... Fourth.-To plead about our afflictions for sins.-A simile of a man ... can the person
make the cause good but as he regulates his action by the Word of God. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the work of jesus christ.htm

Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits ...
... keep itself confined within the little measure of its ... his incomprehensible counsel,
he so regulates events, that ... promise exists, our request to God must have a ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of prayera perpetual.htm