Lie #2 (Part 2): Biblical Case Studies

The Question: Shouldn’t only good things happen to me because I am a child of a good God who loves me very much?

The answer is no. Even when you are at the heart of God's will, difficult times can arise. What you can hold onto is the promise that God will be with you through every trial (Isaiah 43:2).

An examination of the biblical characters below will reveal the truth that being a child of God does not exempt you from difficulty.

CASE STUDY 1 - Abraham (Genesis 12-25)
In Genesis 12, God instructed Abraham to leave his father’s house and homeland for an unknown destination. This meant Abraham had to give up a comfortable life to become a nomad at the age of seventy-five. He had no idea where he was heading, and the people of his time likely were not well-versed in God’s ways (see Genesis 11:1-9). If Abraham had shared God’s message with his family, they might have thought he was out of his mind. Thus, he faced uncertainty, the challenges of old age, social issues, and homelessness right after obeying God.

God made a promise to him at seventy-five, but it was not until he was one hundred that he finally received the child of promise—a wait of twenty-five years. This does not even account for the years of barrenness he faced with Sarah since their marriage. When God called him at seventy-five, He did not immediately resolve Abraham’s infertility; patience was required.

Abraham also struggled with his own issues:

• He lied about Sarah being his wife (Genesis 12:10-20).

• He had to separate from his nephew, Lot, due to family tensions (Genesis 13:5-13).

• He found himself in a battle he had not sought (Genesis 14:17).

• He yielded to his wife’s pressure regarding Hagar (Genesis 16:6).

Despite these challenges, God was always present:

• He protected Sarah from adultery (Genesis 12:17-20).

• After parting ways with Lot, God renewed His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 13:14-18).

• Following the war in Genesis 14, he met Melchizedek, who blessed him (a type of Christ, see Hebrews 7).

• In Genesis 15, God promised him an heir and reaffirmed His covenant, and again in Genesis 17 after Ishmael’s birth.

• God even visited him in Genesis 18.

But the trials did not end there. After finally receiving the promised child in Genesis 21, God asked him to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22, a heartbreaking command that Abraham obeyed. Once again, God intervened, sparing Isaac and blessing Abraham further.

He also faced the sorrow of losing his beloved wife, Sarah (Genesis 23).

Abraham’s life was far from easy. Most of the challenges he encountered began after he chose to follow God, and he never fully saw the promise come to fruition during his lifetime (Hebrews 11:13). Did Abraham doubt God’s goodness? Absolutely not. God was moved by Abraham’s unwavering faith and trust (Genesis 22:16-18). He is our example in of faith (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:11; Galatians 3:6-9).

CASE STUDY 2 - Joseph (Genesis 37, 39-45)
Joseph was a young and favored boy, cherished by his father. He lost his mother at a young age but received abundant love from his father (Genesis 35:19-20, Genesis 37:3). However, he faced challenges with his brothers, who were not his greatest fans (Genesis 37:4).

Joseph had dreams of a bright future, but to see those dreams realized, he would have to endure significant hardships (Genesis 37:5-11). From being a beloved son, he became a commodity sold by his own brothers (Genesis 37:12-30). They deceived their father into believing that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal, leaving Joseph—alive and well—dead in his father’s eyes, and also dead to his brothers, who knew the truth (Genesis 37:31-35).

When Joseph arrived in Egypt, he was sold as a slave in a relatively “good” household (Genesis 37:36, Genesis 39:1-6). Joseph might have thought he was fortunate, but he soon faced strong opposition to his faith in that household (Genesis 39:7-10). This conflict did not end well, as the master’s wife falsely accused him and he was imprisoned (Genesis 39:12, Genesis 39:13-20).

Joseph's journey took him from being a favored son to a commodity, then to a slave, and finally to a prisoner.

Throughout these trials, God was with Joseph (Genesis 39:2, 3, 21). The Scriptures describe Joseph as a prosperous man, both as a slave (Genesis 39:2) and as a prisoner (Genesis 39:23).

True prosperity is not measured by material possessions. It is about excelling in whatever circumstances one finds oneself while remaining in the center of God’s will.

While in prison, Joseph interpreted the dreams of fellow inmates and asked one of them to remember him to Pharaoh (Genesis 40:1-23). After the cupbearer was released, Joseph anticipated his own release, but he was forgotten in prison for two long years (Genesis 40:23).

When Pharaoh had a dream, the cupbearer finally remembered Joseph, leading to Joseph’s release and eventual appointment as prime minister (Genesis 41:1-45).

Joseph saved Egypt from famine and, most importantly, helped preserve the descendants of Abraham (Genesis 41:46-47, Genesis 42-47).

Now, consider what might have happened if the cupbearer had remembered Joseph sooner. If he had mentioned Joseph to Pharaoh and Joseph had returned to Canaan, he would not have been in Egypt when Pharaoh had that critical dream two years later.

Joseph's path was fraught with difficulty, but God was with him throughout, and his story ultimately had a triumphant ending. Things did not always go easy for Joseph, but God was good to him.

CASE STUDY 3: David (1 Samuel 16 - 1 Kings 2)

David’s narrative is rich and complex, and while I cannot cover every detail, I will highlight key points that illustrate his journey.

David is first introduced in 1 Samuel 16 as the youngest son of Jesse, a shepherd who was overlooked at family gatherings (1 Samuel 16:5, 11). He was anointed by Samuel to succeed Saul as king (1 Samuel 16:13), but it would be years before he actually ascended to the throne.

Following his anointing, David faced numerous challenges. Being a believer loved by God does not exempt one from difficulties; rather, it often invites them. There are forces that oppose God's purposes in our lives, and with divine help, we must confront and overcome these obstacles, which can be daunting. We must remain prayerful and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8) and equip ourselves for battle (Ephesians 6:10-18).

After his anointing, the Spirit of God came upon David while departing from Saul (1 Samuel 16:11-14). David served in Saul's palace, playing music to soothe the troubled king (1 Samuel 16:18). His defining moment came when he faced Goliath, a formidable giant threatening Israel. Despite the natural fear he might have felt, David prevailed, empowered by God (1 Samuel 17:40-54). This illustrates a crucial point: while believers will face battles, God’s presence provides strength and assurance (Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 46:1, Isaiah 43:2, Joshua 1:5, Psalm 23:4, Deuteronomy 31:6).

Even before confronting Goliath, David recounted facing predators while tending sheep (1 Samuel 17:34-37). Following his victory, however, David became an enemy of Saul, who sought to kill him, forcing David into a fugitive life (1 Samuel 18-20). During this time, tragedy struck as David's family and those close to him were attacked.

Eventually, David became king but faced further trials, including his grievous sin of adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11-12). This led to profound personal losses: the death of his infant son (2 Samuel 12:15-25), his daughter's violation by his eldest son (2 Samuel 13:1-20), and the subsequent murder of that son (2 Samuel 13:23-39). Additionally, his son Absalom rebelled against him, leading to David’s exile from Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15:1-13, 15:14-37, 17:24-29).

Throughout these tribulations, David endured betrayal from trusted allies (2 Samuel 15) and public humiliation (2 Samuel 16:5-14). Yet, despite these challenges, he ultimately found restoration (2 Samuel 19:8-15).

David's journey, often referred to as a "man after God’s own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22), highlights that faithfulness does not shield one from adversity. His fall marked a significant turning point, but even before that, he faced hardships with unwavering faith in God's goodness, as reflected in his psalms.

Ultimately, the story of David reminds us that God is good, and His goodness extends to us all, regardless of our flaws.

CASE STUDY 4: Paul the Apostle (Acts - Philemon, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33)

Paul began his journey as a fervent opponent of God, seemingly thriving in his mission. However, everything changed when Jesus intervened and called him into ministry. While Jesus did not provide immediate instructions to Paul, He revealed to Ananias, the man sent to pray for him, that "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name" (Acts 9:1-18).

Paul's entry into ministry was marked by the promise of suffering, and this became evident almost immediately:

• The Jews plotted to kill him upon hearing of his conversion (Acts 9:23-25).

• They continued to pursue him relentlessly, making multiple attempts on his life (Acts 23:12-25).

• Paul faced numerous arrests and imprisonments.

• He was beaten often, sometimes to the point of death.

• He endured stoning, shipwrecks, and even a snakebite.

• He faced riots, threats at sea, and danger from robbers, his own people, false brethren, and Gentiles, both in cities and in the wilderness.

• He experienced hunger and exposure to harsh weather conditions.

• Additionally, he dealt with anxiety and weakness (2 Corinthians 11).

Despite these hardships, Paul remained confident in God’s goodness. He continued to rejoice in his relationship with God and expressed his love for Him (Philippians 1:4).

We can see through these biblical examples that being a Christian does not guarantee freedom from suffering; in fact, suffering is an integral part of the Christian experience (2 Timothy 3:12, Philippians 1:29). However, we can be assured that God is with us through it all. Regardless of the challenges we face, God is present (1 Peter 5:10).

When difficulties arise, seek God's presence. Do not give in to despair or complain. Instead, ask Him what you should do. If you find yourself asking, "God, why am I suffering?" He may open your eyes to understand the reasons behind your struggles, whether, as learned in part 1, they stem from:

• Christian trials

• Divine discipline

• Satanic attacks

• Ignorance or laziness

Based on this understanding, take the necessary steps to resolve the situation with God’s guidance.

Remember, God loves you. He is good, and His goodness extends to all, including you. Amen! (Psalm 145:9, Psalm 34:8, Mark 10:18, Psalm 107:1, James 1:17, Psalm 84:11, Nahum 1:7, Psalm 31:19, Psalm 119:68, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 86:5, Jeremiah 29:11).

Nourish Your Spirit