Why Bad Things Happen

There are times when bad things DO happen to good people—and sometimes the Bible even tells us why.

Old Testament

1 The righteous perish, and no one lays it to heart. Merciful men are taken away, and no one considers that the righteous is taken away from the evil. 2 He enters into peace. They rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness. Isaiah 57:1-2 (WEB)

Precious in Yahweh’s sight is the death of his saints. Psalms 116:15 (WEB)

Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. He still maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause.” Job 2:3 (WEB)

All this I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing. Ecclesiastes 7:15 (WEB)

New Testament

2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “This man didn’t sin, nor did his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him. John 9:2-3 (WEB)

Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.” Luke 13:1-5 (WEB)

Babylonian Talmud

“There is no death without sin, and there is no suffering without iniquity.” – Rabbi Ammi, Shabbat 55a

“If a man sees that painful sufferings visit him, let him examine his conduct...” Berakhot 5a

“There is no affliction without sin.”  Sifre Deuteronomy 32

Please note:  other rabbis disagree.  This is to be expected.  For more about “Two Jews, Three Opinions,” see this link.