God’s Redemption from Sin and Suffering
“. . . but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them” 2 Chronicles 15: 4.
In this chapter we learn that ancient Israel was without the true God. There was no peace. . . great disturbances. . . and they were. . . broken in pieces. . .because they had turned to their own way. To read the chapter for context, click here.
Sin and Suffering and God’s Redemption
Our verse really demonstrates the redemptive nature of God. People often turn to the Lord in their distress. And what often causes distress, but our own sinfulness and foolishness.
(We can also suffer from the sins of others. And sometimes we can experience the consequences of our sin even after we’ve repented, but that’s a different blog post).
They who sow to the sinful nature reap destruction (Galatians 6: 8). But, as it turns out, distress is not such a horrible thing. Because it causes us to turn to and seek the Lord. And as we do that, we will turn from the sin that is causing the distress.
So, the misery that is often brought about by our sin, ultimately delivers us of misery, by causing us to turn to God and from sin.
Rest and Repentance
When we sin, we will have trouble. But if we turn to the Lord, He will give us rest as He did the Israelites (vs 15).
Seeing that sin brings about distress and obedience rest, why would anyone ever choose sin? Because it deceives us (Hebrews 3: 13). Overcoming sin, which is what is involved when we turn to God is not easy.
In fact, it’s the narrow path of affliction, trouble and suffering tribulation (Mathew 7: 13, 14). This is the literal definition of the word narrow in Strong’s Exhaustive Dictionary.
The path of sin, on the other hand is broad and easy and comfortable- at first. But it leads to death. The path of sin is easy, but the destination of that path is death.
Why We Choose the Painful Path
The path of sin does not involve self-restraint, self-control or self-denial. Whereas the narrow path of resisting temptation does. That’s why we don’t choose it. Romans 2: 9, 10 conveys the same idea:
“There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek”.
We do evil and experience trouble and distress as a result. We turn to God, and from our sin and experience glory, honor and peace.
So, the distress brought about by our sin works for our good if we allow it to drive us to God.
To read another post related to God’s Redemption from Sin and Suffering, see All Things Work Together for Good, but How?