You know the saying ‘God gives the toughest battles to His strongest soldiers’? I wonder what military rank Job deserves? I know for a fact that I would have failed that test (you know deep down you would fail too). We all claim to have faith in God but as soon as we face the smallest obstacle we lose focus and try to fix our problems ourselves.
Storytime:
Job Chapter 1:
Job was a wealthy and content man, enjoying both material prosperity and family happiness. Unexpectedly, tragedy struck, shattering his peaceful existence and causing him to lose everything he had. God was so proud of Him that the devil took the chance to ‘teach him a lesson’. (side note: I feel like this poor man would have had a problem free life had God not been so proud and boastful of him).
The Book of Job has 42 chapters, which might seem surprising considering the apparent simplicity of the story. But those chapters dig into the complexities of human suffering, the nature of God, and the depths of faith. It offers valuable insights and lessons that are still valid today.
Job 1:20 ‘At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship’
His instinctively fell to the ground and worshipped. I’ve never met anyone whose first reaction to a disaster was to worship God.
Picture this: all your children gone in an instant, and your wealth and servants vanished. Most would weep, but Job worshipped God without hesitation.
Job Chapter 2:
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
This reaction sounds more like something we would hear immediately after such tragedy. Sometimes, we get mad at the slightest inconvenience and get angry at God. Job’s wife, Sitis, forgot her wedding vows when trouble came. She didn’t stick by Job through thick and thin like she promised (for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health).
12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.
13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
Even if his wife couldn’t give him the support he needed at the time, Job’s friends could offer him some comfort.
Job Chapter 3:
This chapter was heavy. He reached a state of depression some of us might be familiar with. You regret living, you see no point in going forward, nothing makes sense, there is no hope, you’re sad and frustrated. Sometimes there are no more tears to shed because you’re empty on the inside. Even Job, an upright man with integrity, couldn’t stand the evil that befell him anymore.
Job Chapter 4 – 31:
I take what I said about Job having good friends back. Going forward they tell Him in the midst of his depression to confess his sins and repent. They claim his situation is a result of his actions.
Sounds very familiar: you’re struggling and the people around you say things like ‘God will make a way’, ‘we should pray against the power of the enemy’, ‘you should’ve been more careful’ etc.
Job understood his connection with God so he felt betrayed by his friends’ insinuations that he might have brought his suffering upon himself. Sometimes, we can discern whether our circumstances are a consequence of our actions or something beyond our control. In Job’s case, he knew his love for God and was convinced that his ordeal was not normal, leaving him feeling abandoned and forsaken.
- Those who claim to share our pain are the first to mock us and chastise us (Job 19:2-3).
- Why does God sometimes allow us to experience setbacks or challenges, causing us to fall from our positions of comfort or success? (Job 19:13-20)
- Why do the wicked continue to prosper while the righteous have to suffer? (Job 21:7-17)
- Where is the voice of God when you need Him for clarity? (Job 23:8-9)
Chapter 27 vs 2- 6
2 As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made my life bitter,
3 as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils,
4 my lips will not say anything wicked, and my tongue will not utter lies.
5 I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity.
6 I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.
Although Job was angry, disappointed, frustrated, helpless and misunderstood, he never insulted God. He made some questionable statements in the heat of anger that could be perceived as insulting but His respect and love for God never wavered. The frustration Job felt came from a place of disappointment and all he could do was lament.
Earlier, I mentioned feeling annoyed with Job’s friends for not consoling him properly when he needed their support. Life can be really harsh sometimes so I could imagine what he must’ve felt in that moment when his closest friends were accusing him for being the cause of his calamity. Afterall there’s no worse feeling than being alone and misunderstood, especially by your loved ones.
That being said I also understand his friends and the advice they were trying to give him. God isn’t a wicked Father and there is always a reason why He does things even though we might not see the logic behind His actions. They were trying to console him in their own little way but to them it must’ve seemed like Job was a proud man who refused to recognize his own faults. After going back and forth a few times, they left it alone (a word is enough for the wise).
Job Chapter 32 – 37:
- It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice (Job 34:12).
- If it were His intention and He withdrew His spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust (Job 34:14-15).
- Will you condemn the just and Mighty One? (Job 34:17)
- The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in His justice and great righteousness, He does not oppress (Job 37:23).
Job Chapter 38 – 42:
God finally appeared to Job through a storm and spoke to him. God challenged Job’s limited understanding of the universe and asserted His divine sovereignty. He asked Job a series of rhetorical questions to demonstrate His power and wisdom in the natural order of the universe. This was to highlight Job’s finite knowledge and inability to comprehend the complexities of creation.
- God is the ultimate provider and sustainer of all life (Job 39).
- No one can contend with the Almighty and administer justice like God (Job 40:2).
The story of Job ends with Job acknowledging God’s greatness and repenting of his earlier questioning. His response to God shows the importance of recognizing our place before God and humbling ourselves before Him. God rebukes Job’s friends for their false accusations (claiming Job must’ve been at fault) and requires them to make offerings for their wrongdoing. Although they initially came to support him, they ended up offering simplistic explanations or judgments in the face of his suffering. At the end Job’s fortunes are restored, and he lives to see four generations of descendants.
Throughout this rollercoaster of a chapter it was clear that even Job, a perfect and upright man in the eyes of God, succumbed to his situation when it got the best of him. He was angry and felt wrong but even in the midst of his afflictions, he never disrespected God nor turned his back against Him. God also intervened before Job’s mouth would put him in danger (1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it).
Many of us can relate to Job’s experiences of suffering, loss, and questioning. Like Job, we may face challenges that shake our faith and leave us feeling overwhelmed, empty and abandoned. Job’s story serves as a reminder that suffering is a part of the human experience, but it does not define us. Being a Christian doesn’t mean we won’t experience hardships. Just as Job ultimately found restoration and renewal in his relationship with God, we too can find hope and strength in the midst of our trials. Through faith and perseverance, we can overcome adversity and emerge stronger and more resilient than before.
It is easier said than done but I genuinely pray for all who are going through difficult times, just like Job did.
- May we find comfort in knowing that God is with us even in our darkest moments.
- I pray that God will grant us strength to endure our trials and encourage us to face each new day with hope.
- May He surround us with His love and peace, and remind us that we’re not alone.
- I pray for healing to our hearts and minds, so we can feel His presence guiding us through the storm.
- May He restore to us what has been lost, whether it be health, wealth, relationships, or peace of mind.
- I pray He pours out His blessings upon us and fill our hearts with joy and gratitude.
- I pray He helps us to trust in His promises and hold onto hope for a brighter tomorrow.
- May we come out of this season of hardship stronger and more resilient than ever before.
Amen.
Stay Blessed X
