When God wounds Us

A friend of mine is recovering from a broken leg right now.  He’s a good rider, so for him to crash on an easy section of trail – and crash hard enough to break a leg – was totally unexpected.

Rewind seven weeks.  A group of us were sitting beside a waterfall, in front of a pristine mountain lake.  This friend mentioned something profound.  He had asked God to improve his character, and got the distinct response: “Is it okay if I give you trials to refine your character?”

I’m not implying that God caused the crash.  The reality is that without God’s continuous protection, we’d all be “Game Over.”  I’ve had many near-misses where I’m sure God was protecting me, so when I’ve had unexpected accidents like my friend had, I’ve been able to thank God that the accidents were small compared to what could have been.  My friend with the broken leg has been saying the same thing.

There are two interesting stories in the Bible about when God literally did wound individuals.  Let’s look first at the story of King Jeroboam.

Jeroboam had been made king over the northern tribes of Israel.  It was God who had made him king, and this was clear.  However, Jeroboam made the common mistake of putting his trust in human wisdom instead of in God.  This led him so far as to invent a false system of religion to keep his subjects under his control.

God sent a prophet to King Jeroboam to warn him that the path he was following was the path to destruction.  As part of the warning, God made his arm wither and become useless.  Jeroboam asked the prophet to pray that his arm would be restored.  God healed his arm.

Second story: Jacob was in a difficult position.  He and his young family were about to face his brother, whom Jacob had made very angry; and his brother’s gang of skilful and well-armed men.  Jacob went to pray – and ended up wrestling with God.  Jacob didn’t know he was wrestling with someone divine until his adversary wrecked his hip with just a little touch.

Disabled, and in terrible pain, Jacob clung tightly to God, saying “I will not let you go until you bless me.”  At this point, Jacob wasn’t concerned about his throbbing hip.  He wanted the assurance that he was right with God.

Both Jacob and Jeroboam got what they were concerned about – what they asked for. 

Jeroboam’s arm of flesh was restored – and he went on to lead Israel into idolatry that they never recovered from, resulting in the nation being destroyed.

Jacob’s hip was never healed.  He was disabled for the rest of his life.  But he was right with God. 

“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects: therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty: for He makes sore, and binds up: He wounds, and His hands make whole.” Job 5:17,18

The following nature illustration from the devotional book “My Life Today” gives us a similar picture of the way God deals with us:

“One evening a gentleman who was much depressed because of deep affliction was walking in a garden, where he observed a pomegranate tree nearly cut through the stem. Greatly wondering, he asked the gardener why the tree was in this condition, and he received an answer that explained to his satisfaction the wounds of his own bleeding heart. ‘Sir,’ said the gardener, ‘this tree used to shoot out so strong that it bore nothing but leaves. I was obliged to cut it in this manner; and when it was almost cut through, it began to bear fruit.’

“Our sorrows do not spring out of the ground. In every affliction God has a purpose to work out for our good.”  My Life Today, page 93 

One more important thought: in all of our afflictions, God is afflicted (see Isaiah 63:9).  Like a parent who finds it painful to discipline a child, it’s painful for God to see us suffer; but He lets us suffer when it’s for our good.  Jesus took the suffering that we really deserve, so that we can experience an abundant life with Him.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5