JOB 1:13-22 – Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”
THEME OF THE DAY: BLESSING THE LORD IN HARD TIMES TOO! We are likely familiar with the Old Testament book of Job. It is a classic on suffering, the sovereignty of God, as well as a good manual on relationships, particularly how not to be a friend in tough times. But there is so much more in the oldest book in the Bible.
As one works through the Job, we see him in the deepest valleys of despair and the darkest of seasons where confusion abounds in his mind and heart while answers from God are not forthcoming. Time after time, Job cries out to his God for the “why” of his suffering and receives silence. But Job learns from the silence. Job gets a better understanding of himself and of his God.
There is another lesson we see Job learning and modeling for us, an extremely valuable one that must be learned in the Christian life. Without it, there will be no spiritual growth or intimacy with the Lord. It is the lesson of submission to God’s ways when there is no understanding of God’s ways, and this submission in the extremes of suffering. Now the lesson.
Life was going well for Job and his family. But then in one day, yes, one day, he lost everything – his wealth, his possessions, and his ten children. And get this, these losses were not because Job did something wrong or sinned against God. He was an innocent man and yet all this calamity and loss came upon him.
Before we get to “where the rubber meets the road” in this lesson from Job, let’s pause and ask, “How would we react if all that happened to us in one day?” Life was going smooth, then, wham. Calamity after calamity comes into our lives until finally, the biggest blow of all – our entire families, the only exception being our spouses, are suddenly killed. As we think on our reactions, let Job share his – And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong (Job 1:20-22). Wow! It is one thing to bless the Lord when He is “blessing” us. What about when the bottom falls out in life like Job?
The measure of our maturity in Christ will be determined in hard times, not easy times. Job teaches us this lesson. Get alone with him and read again his reaction to hard times in his life, then ask the Lord to help us do likewise when life gets hard for us.
PRAYER: “Father, forgive me for times I complain when great difficulties come into my life.”
QUOTE: “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Bless His name for He is always good.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim