Is God to Blame for Your Suffering? - Booty and Treasures fer All!
❌ The False Charge: “God is to Blame for My Suffering.”
“God allows harm, even orchestrates it, for His sovereign purpose.”
Some religious leaders claim that the Book of Ruth—particularly Naomi’s suffering—proves God allows tragedy or even authors it. They suggest that because God is sovereign, He must be behind everything, including death, famine, barrenness, and sorrow. In doing so, they imply that:
- God chooses not to protect us.
- God partners with affliction to “shape” us.
- God uses the tools of the enemy to accomplish His will.
But this is a twisted view of sovereignty and a misrepresentation of both Naomi’s words and God’s Word.
💔 Naomi’s Accusation Is Not God’s Theology
Let’s be clear: Naomi accuses God four times in Chapter 1:
- “The hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” (Ruth 1:13)
- “The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” (Ruth 1:20)
- “The Lord has brought me back empty.” (Ruth 1:21a)
- “The Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me.” (Ruth 1:21b)
These are the words of a broken woman, not the voice of divine revelation. They express Naomi’s pain, not divine intent.
To take her accusations as doctrine is to commit the same error as Job’s friends—who misrepresented God and were later rebuked for doing so (Job 42:7).
⚖️ God’s Word Defends His Character
While Naomi charges God, Scripture clears His name:
- “The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.” (Psalm 145:9)
- “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17)
- “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Jesus Himself draws a line in the sand:
👉 The thief steals, kills, and destroys.
👉 Jesus gives life.
To suggest that God partners with destruction is to blur that line—and in doing so, we agree with the devil’s slander against God’s nature.
🛑 Misrepresenting Sovereignty
Yes, God is sovereign—but in His sovereignty, He chose to delegate dominion to mankind (Genesis 1:26–28), giving us:
- Authority on earth
- Freedom of choice
- Responsibility for outcomes
When humanity sins or makes destructive choices, the consequences are real—but they are not God’s doing.
Just as a king is sovereign yet allows his citizens the freedom to act, so too God’s sovereignty does not mean micromanaging evil or endorsing pain.
🔥 To Agree with Naomi’s Charge Is to Bear False Witness Against God
When we preach that God causes tragedy, we imply:
- God breaks His own promises of protection
- God lies when He says He is a refuge (Psalm 91)
- God uses the devil’s tools for holy purposes
This turns the Father of Lights into a partner with darkness.
Scripture warns:
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” (Isaiah 5:20)
To accept Naomi’s bitter accusations as truth is to call evil good and paint God with Satan’s brush.
🕊️ The True Message of Ruth Is Redemption, Not Divine Harm
The Book of Ruth begins with tragedy but ends with restoration. God was not absent or cruel—He was working quietly through Ruth’s loyalty, Boaz’s kindness, and His own covenant faithfulness to bring about David’s line—and ultimately Jesus Christ.
Naomi saw only emptiness in Chapter 1—but by the end, she holds her grandson and praises the Lord (Ruth 4:14–17). The same God she once accused, she now blesses.
That is the truth of God’s character.
Naomi accused God of causing her pain. But God’s Word defends His goodness, His promises, and His protection. To turn her grief into doctrine is to slander God’s name. Jesus draws the line—He gives life. The thief destroys. Let us not agree with the accuser, but proclaim the truth of our Redeemer.
