The Flood: Suffering as a Divine Act of Justice and Mercy
One of the most challenging accounts in Scripture is the flood narrative in Genesis. It’s a story of catastrophic suffering caused directly by God. This raises significant questions about how such suffering aligns with God's nature as ultimate good and how it differs from evil. To wrestle with these questions, we must consider the flood in light of God's justice, mercy, and purposes.
God and Suffering: A Deliberate Act
Unlike many other forms of suffering, the flood was not merely "allowed" by God—it was directly caused by Him. Scripture makes no effort to soften this reality. God saw the rampant wickedness of humanity, declared judgment, and sent the flood. He was not a passive observer but an active agent.
This deliberate action can be difficult to reconcile with God’s goodness. However, the flood was not an act of evil. Instead, it was an act of justice. Humanity had descended into such corruption and violence that, as Genesis 6:6 puts it, “The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth.” God acted not out of malice but out of righteousness, bringing judgment on sin while preserving a righteous remnant through Noah and his family.
Suffering and Goodness: A Paradox
If God is good, how can He ordain suffering? The flood, as well as other biblical examples like Job’s trials or Paul’s thorn in the flesh, show that suffering is not inherently evil. Instead, its goodness or badness depends on its context and purpose. In the case of the flood, the suffering served to uphold God’s justice while preserving the path for redemption.
This echoes the analogy of a surgeon performing a painful operation to remove a life-threatening cancer. The suffering is not good in itself, but it serves a purpose that reflects the surgeon’s skill, wisdom, and commitment to the patient’s ultimate well-being. Similarly, God’s actions in the flood were not arbitrary or cruel—they were purposeful, aiming to address humanity’s sin and preserve His plan for redemption.
The Greater Good Theodicy and the Flood
This raises another question: does the flood justify the "greater good theodicy," which suggests that all suffering is allowed or caused by God to bring about a greater good? The answer is nuanced. While the flood demonstrates that God can and does bring good from suffering, it does not fully align with the greater good theodicy in its strictest form.
God Does Not Need Evil: The flood narrative shows that the good—preserving Noah's family and resetting humanity—did not depend on the existence of evil. Rather, it was a response to human sin.
Suffering Is Not Called Good: The Bible never calls the suffering of the flood "good." It was a necessary act of judgment, not a celebration of suffering itself.
God’s Sovereignty, Not Determinism: The flood reflects God's sovereign response to human rebellion, not a deterministic orchestration of evil acts to achieve a desired outcome.
Thus, the flood highlights God's ability to bring about His purposes, even through suffering, without making Him the author of evil or dependent on it.
The Flood and Divine Judgment
The flood also illustrates another truth: God is a just judge who does not tolerate sin indefinitely. In His holiness, He cannot overlook wickedness. At the same time, the flood reveals God’s mercy. Noah and his family were spared, not because of their sinlessness, but because of God’s grace. This balance of justice and mercy is central to understanding the flood and, more broadly, God’s actions in history.
A Different Perspective on Suffering
For those of us wrestling with suffering today, the flood invites us to trust in God’s purposes. It does not minimize the pain or difficulty of suffering, but it reminds us that God is both just and merciful. Even in the face of great suffering, He is working out His redemptive plan.
God’s Justice: The flood reminds us that sin has consequences and that God’s justice will prevail.
God’s Mercy: Through Noah’s preservation, we see God’s commitment to His promises and His plan to redeem humanity.
God’s Sovereignty: The flood assures us that God’s purposes cannot be thwarted, even in the darkest moments.
Conclusion: Trusting God Amid Suffering
The flood was a catastrophic act of judgment, but it was also an act of divine mercy and purpose. It shows that God is not indifferent to evil and that He will act to uphold His justice. At the same time, it demonstrates that God is faithful to preserve His people and His plan for redemption.
When we face suffering, we can trust that God is both just and merciful. He does not cause evil, nor does He delight in suffering, but He uses even the hardest moments to fulfill His purposes. Like the flood, suffering can seem overwhelming, but it points us to the greater story of God’s redemptive love—a story in which He is making all things new.