Affliction

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Hebrew: ra (OT:7451), bad; evil; adversity; affliction; calamity; grief; sorrow; wretchedness (Psalm 34:19; Psalm 107:39; Jeremiah 48:16; Obadiah 1:13; Zech.1:15).  It is never translated sin, though it may be the fruit of sin through the law of sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7-8).  Out of 180 times where the word afflict with its various endings is found, it refers to physical disease only 5 or 6 times.

Twelve General Facts about Affliction:

  1. God regulates it according to the law of sowing and reaping (Leviticus 26; Psalm 80:5; Isaiah 9:1).
  2. He determines the length (Genesis 15:13-14; Numbers 14:33; Isaiah 10:25; Jeremiah 29:10).
  3. Not sent willingly (Lament. 3:33).
  4. Men born in affliction (Job 5:6-7).
  5. Saints appointed to it (John 16:33; Acts 14:22; 1 Thes. 3:3; 1 Peter 5:9).
  6. Often severe (Deut. 28; Rev. 7:14).
  7. Light, compared to future glory (Acts 20:23-24; Romans 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17).
  8. Only temporary (Psalm 30:5; Psalm 103:9).
  9. Hardens some (Exodus 4-12; Neh. 9:28-29).
  10. Blesses self (Psalm 119:71; James 1:12).
  11. Often misinterpreted (see Two Great Mistakes of Job).
  12. Prayers in (Genesis 32:11; 2 Chron. 33:12-13; Psalm 6:1-4; Psalm 31:1-17; Psalm 38:1-10; Psalm 51:1-17; Isaiah 38:2-19; Acts 4:29-30).

Twelve Causes of Affliction:

  1. Sin (Genesis 3:16; Psalm 25:18; Psalm 89:32)
  2. Backsliding (Psalm 119:67)
  3. Misuse of tongue (Proverbs 26:28)
  4. Resentment (Genesis 16:4-11)
  5. Pride (Job 33:14-29)
  6. Impenitence (Proverbs 1:30-31; Rev. 2:21)
  7. Born in it (Job 5:6)
  8. Mistreatment of others (Genesis 27 with Genesis 32:11; Genesis 37 with Genesis 42:21)
  9. Hardness of heart (Exodus 4-12)
  10. Idolatry (Judges 10:6-10; 2 Kings 17)
  11. Forgetting God (1 Samuel 12:9-10)
  12. Hypocrisy (Matthew 23)

Twelve Purposes of Affliction:

  1. To work good in one (Psalm 119:71).
  2. To hide pride from man (Job 33:14-29).
  3. To demonstrate God’s faithfulness (Psalm 119:75).
  4. To test sincerity (Mark 4:17; Job 1-2; James 5:10-11).
  5. To refine, purify, and increase fruitfulness (Isaiah 48:10; John 15:2; Hebrews 12:10-11).
  6. To increase power and graces (Romans 5:1-8; James 1:2-4; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9).
  7. To bring back to God (Hosea 5:15; Job 33:14-29).
  8. To humble and correct (2 Samuel 12:14; Psalm 89:30-32; Hebrews 12:5-6, notes).
  9. To make examples (1 Cor. 10:5,11).
  10. To manifest love (Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:5-10; Rev. 3:19).
  11. To give reward (Romans 8:17; 2 Cor. 4:17; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:7; 1 Peter 4:14).
  12. To learn obedience and truth (Psalm 119:71; Hebrews 5:8; Hebrews 12:5-10).

Twelve Promises in Affliction:  God Will

  1. Hear the afflicted (Job 34:28).
  2. Save them (Psalm 18:27).
  3. Have mercy on them (Isaiah 49:13).
  4. Deliver them from fear (Psalm 23:4).
  5. Deliver them out of all their troubles (Psalm 34:19; Psalm 50:15).
  6. Uphold them (Psalm 37:23-33; Psalm 55:22).
  7. Reward them (Matthew 5:10-12).
  8. Be a refuge for them (Psalm 9:9-10).
  9. Remember their weakness (Psalm 103:13).
  10. Hide them (Psalm 27:5).
  11. Consider them (Psalm 31:7).
  12. Give them sufficient grace (2 Cor. 12:9).

Twelve Ways that People Can be Afflicted:

  1. Slavery and oppression (Genesis 15:13; Genesis 31:50; Exodus 1:11-12; Hebrews 11:25)
  2. Hardships of various kinds (Exodus 22:22-23; James 1:27; note, Hebrews 12:6)
  3. Family troubles (Genesis 16:1-11)
  4. Barrenness (1 Samuel 1:11)
  5. Cursing (2 Samuel 16:12)
  6. Imprisonment (Psalm 107:10)
  7. Tribulation and persecution (Mark 13:19; 2 Cor. 2:4; 2 Cor. 4:17; 2 Cor. 8:2)
  8. Crucifixion (Isaiah 53:4-7)
  9. Fasting to afflict the soul (Leviticus 16:29-31; Numbers 29:7; Numbers 30:13; Isaiah 58:3)
  10. Conquests-being defeated in war (Numbers 24:24; 2 Kings 17:20; Neh. 1:3)
  11. Physical sufferings for sport (Judges 16:5,6,19,21-31)
  12. Poverty and hunger (Ruth 1:21; 1 Kings 22:27; Psalm 107:38-41; Isaiah 58:7-10)

Twelve Kinds of Affliction:

  1. People hurting people (Genesis 15:13; Genesis 31:42)
  2. Men oppressing widows (Exodus 22:22-23)
  3. Husbands mistreating wives (Genesis 29:32; Genesis 31:50)
  4. Masters oppressing slaves (Exodus 1:11-12; Exodus 3:7,17; Exodus 4:31; Deut. 26:6-7)
  5. Conquerors afflicting the conquered (Numbers 24:24; Judges 16:5-31; Isaiah 9:1)
  6. Self-affliction of the soul by fasting (Leviticus 16:29-31; Isaiah 58:5; James 4:9)
  7. Wicked people afflicting neighbors in various ways (Psalm 89:22)
  8. Wicked persecuting the godly (Psalm 94:5; Psalm 143:12; Amos 5:12)
  9. Gentiles oppressing Jews (Isaiah 51:23; Amos 6:14; Matthew 24:9)
  10. Heavy responsibility (Numbers 11:11)
  11. Sufferings of Christ (Isaiah 53:4)
  12. Various agents of God causing many kinds of suffering according to God’s law of sowing and reaping (Job 37:23; 1 Kings 11:39; 2 Kings 17:20; 2 Chron. 6:26; Jeremiah 31:28; Nahum 1:12)

Twelve Examples of Suffering Affliction:

  1. God (Isaiah 63:9)
  2. Christ (Isaiah 53:7; Col. 1:24). The fact that both God and Christ have suffered affliction proves that it should not be understood as sickness or disease as is taught by many. They have never been sick, but they have been afflicted. Substitute disease with the many passages above and see how senseless the idea is in nearly every passage.
  3. Israel (Genesis 15:13)
  4. Hagar (Genesis 16:11)
  5. Jacob (Genesis 31:42; Genesis 41:52)
  6. Joseph (Acts 7:10)
  7. Job (Job 10:15; Job 30:16,27; James 5:10)
  8. David (Psalm 132:1)
  9. Manasseh (2 Chron. 33:12)
  10. The prodigal son (Luke 15:1-32)
  11. Paul (2 Cor. 1:6; 2 Tim. 3:11)
  12. Saints (Col. 1:24; Hebrews 11:37; 1 Peter 5:9)

Finis J. Dake, Dake Topical Index, WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: “Affliction”.

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