Jesus, the Good Shepherd vs. an "Uncaring God"

Jesus, the Good Shepherd vs. an "Uncaring God"
Genesis 28-30 | Psalm 10 | John 10

In reading today's Psalm, we are immediately confronted with the author's accusation that God is withdrawn from the world: "Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" (v.1). The author of the Psalm continues that 'the wicked of this world rule the earth and "hunt down" the weak', they 'ignore God and prey on the innocent', and after succeeding in 'crushing their victims' conclude that "God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees" (v.11).

It is not an uncommon feeling within society today that in times of trouble or in places of suffering, God is simply ignoring the situation. I have heard many people try to justify their own ignorance of God with the claim that He ignores us - "How could a loving God watch a child starve to death?", "Where was God when my wife was killed?" and "He ignores me, I'll ignore Him". (Some even feel that God has a personal, unwarranted vendetta against them and so don't just ignore God, but hate Him.)

In complete contrast to such views, today's reading of John presents us with a picture of Jesus as our Shepherd and guide, knowing, caring and providing for us, and finally, laying down His life for us. In vv.1-5, Jesus (the shepherd) knows us (His flock) individually, calling and leading us by name. In vv.7-10, Jesus sees Himself as the gate, 'through whom all who enter will be saved, having life, and having it to the full'. In vv.11-18, Jesus is again the good shepherd, who is contrasted with the hired hand: unlike the "hired hand", Jesus cares for His sheep to the point where He is willing to lay down His life for them.

And so we are left with two conflicting views: the first being that God is absent from this world and ignores suffering; and the second, that He knows and loves us all, patiently and sacrificially caring for and guiding us. How can the two coexist?

First, it is important to draw a distinction between the claims of the two. The first claims that God doesn't care or intervene at all in this world. The second, points to a specific instance where God has shown that He does care and that He has intervened. The second proves the all-encompassing claims of the first to be wrong. But it does often seem that there are some things that God doesn't care about - suffering, poverty, child abuse... These things all still happen - how can God let them go on?

The first answer to this question must come from today's Psalm: "But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless...The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more." There is still some justice in this world. I shudder to think sometimes, what this world could be like if God didn't intervene at all. Would we still be here?

But there are greater dimensions to the answer than this observation. Yes, God intervenes everyday in many, if not all, situations to provide care in some form. The Psalmist saw this and wrote of it. You and I may see it in a kind word, an unexpected opportunity or a surprising conclusion to a matter. We may even see a miraculous conclusion to a matter. Often God will use believers acting selflessly to bring grace into a situation, and often the purpose behind some suffering will not be understood until years down the track. But above this 'day-to-day' intervention, God intervened in the most important way - He has guaranteed either ultimate justice or ultimate grace to everyone through His Son. Jesus was sent by God to this earth, and as the Good Shepherd He did in fact lay down His life for us! By this we know that we will all either get what we deserve, or be rewarded graciously with what Jesus deserves.

Frequently in the Bible, believers are told to look to the coming age for justice; to know that the wicked will be punished and believers will be rewarded. When we consider the problem of suffering, we must see it in this context of eternity. In a very real way God has ended all suffering, because He has promised its imminent end. We must put up with it while God calls more people to know Him, and when the time has come we will enter paradise for eternity. So in the end, the answer is to trust God. But this isn't just a God who asks us to trust Him for no reason, this is a God who has shown Himself to hate suffering even more than we do, who has shown that He cares and provides for us in ways that we cannot ourselves, and who has shown Himself worthy and deserving of our trust by sending His Son to be our Good Shepherd.

Praise God for His love and care, and pray that He will continue to provide for you, and that you will continue to follow Him as your Shepherd and Guide. But pray especially for any you know who are suffering. Pray that God would care for them, and let His care be felt. Pray finally that you may trust in God during times of suffering, and that by doing so, you can glorify Him and grow closer to Him.