"Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward."
Job 5:6-7
In our verses today, Eliphaz, Job’s friend is explaining that trouble doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Troubles don’t happen by chance. Troubles don’t just pop up out of the ground like seeds springing to life from the dust. He is saying there are reasons for our troubles. And he is correct. All trouble in the world is a result of sin. We know that because we “sinned in Adam” one of the common consequences of that sin is that we, that is all mankind, is plaqued with problems. All we sinners have challenges because of our own sinful nature. And then because we live in this fallen, sinful world, we have complications because of where we are. Our own individual, particular sins bring even more worries to us. And we also know that our loving God brings testing (more troubles) to us to refine us. So I hope we can agree that “man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” Suffering, because of trouble is a part of the human condition. It is as common with the king as it is with the pauper. Someone has said that “suffering follows sin just like its shadow.” Where there is sin there is also suffering.
You could say that we are destined to trouble. At the very least we must acknowledge that the suffering we face each day is a common problem to mankind. We as God’s children are not somehow exempt from having problems because we are not exempt from sin.
By now I hope that you are thinking about how we can get help for our sin. There is only One who can help us with that—He is the Sin-Bearer, Jesus Christ. He alone suffered and died for my sin and yours. He paid the price that I might go free. He redeemed me from the slave market of sin. As believers, we are not perfect yet, but we are forgiven. That forgiveness provides eternal life in Christ. Our eternity is settled!
We are not sinless nor free of trouble yet, but right now the difference is we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and enabling us by His grace to handle our problems (1 Corinthians 10:13). Believers, be sure you are handling your troubles this way.
Yes, we were “born to trouble,” but now we have a godly purpose in this life and we face each day with God’s grace empowering our walk with Him and our work for Him.