Wrestling with the Goodness of God, Pilgrimage Road, Infected and Rachmones (Episode #215)
Description
Opening Scripture
- Romans 12:17 –18
- “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
- “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
- If someone says they have no enemies—be careful.
- If you stand for Christ, you will have enemies.
- FOI has enemies. Equip has enemies. We’ve encountered them—they comment on our feeds.
- If you stand for Christ, you will have enemies.
- Response:
- Romans 12:21 — “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
- Romans 12:21 — “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Review from Last Week
- The goodness of God – Psalm 119:65 –72 (Teth).
- “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.”
Wrestling with God’s Goodness
- For centuries, people have asked: If God is good, why do bad things happen?
- Cleveland Plain Dealer (Terry Pluto’s faith column):
- Jewish survivor’s child: “I cannot believe in God. Four grandparents murdered in the Holocaust. Where was God?”
- Another writer: “God takes everything good away—my loved one, my mother’s health, my stepfather’s mind.”
- Jewish survivor’s child: “I cannot believe in God. Four grandparents murdered in the Holocaust. Where was God?”
- Harold Kushner – When Bad Things Happen to Good People
- Son Aaron with progeria (rare aging disease, 14-year life expectancy).
- Son Aaron with progeria (rare aging disease, 14-year life expectancy).
- Theodicy
- From theos (God) + dike (justice).
- How do we reconcile a good, powerful God with the reality of suffering?
- From theos (God) + dike (justice).
- Jesus: “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.” (Mark 10:18 )
Psalm 119:73 –80 (Yod)
- v73 “Your hands made me” → asking for discernment to learn His commandments.
- v74 The fear of the Lord brings gladness.
- Fear of the Lord Scriptures:
- Prov 9:10 – beginning of wisdom.
- Eccl 12:13 – whole duty of man.
- Ps 111:10 – understanding comes from practicing fear of the Lord.
- Prov 14:27 – fountain of life.
- Mal 3:16 – book of remembrance for those who fear Him.
- 2 Cor 7:1 – holiness completed in the fear of God.
- Prov 9:10 – beginning of wisdom.
- True “fear” = reverence, awe, standing in wonder before Him.
- v75 Affliction comes from God’s faithfulness—discipline, growth, deeper walk.
- v76–77 Mercy as comfort (“raham” = womb-like compassion).
- Supporting verses:
- Ps 117:2 – merciful kindness.
- Eph 2:4–5 – God rich in mercy.
- Ex 34:6 – merciful and gracious.
- Ps 117:2 – merciful kindness.
News & Current Events 📰
- Mass Displacement – https://twitter.com/nasdaily/status/1967216411081834775
- Antisemitism in Canada – https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-867536
- Charlie Kirk case
- https://www.foxnews.com/politics/neighbors-charlie-kirks-suspected-killer-tyler-robinson-speak-out
- https://nypost.com/2025/09/12/media/over-10k-posts-tie-charlie-kirks-murder-to-israel-as-conspiracy-theories-explode-online-adl-report/
- https://www.foxnews.com/politics/neighbors-charlie-kirks-suspected-killer-tyler-robinson-speak-out
- Marco Rubio visits City of David archaeological site – https://www.timesofisrael.com/rubio-visits-contentious-jerusalem-archeological-site-boosting-israeli-claim-to-area/
- Aliyah from the West – https://www.timesofisrael.com/even-as-western-aliyah-picks-up-new-arrivals-replace-fewer-than-half-of-israeli-emigrants/
- JD Vance hosts Charlie Kirk Show – https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/vp-vance-host-charlie-kirk-show-memorial-arizona-9-15-2025
- Paramount rejects Israeli film boycott – https://www.foxnews.com/media/paramount-rejects-israeli-film-boycott-supported-emma-stone-joaquin-phoenix-nearly-4000-others
Yiddish Word of the Day
- Rachmones (רחמנות) – mercy, compassion, forgiveness, empathy.
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