Job is a fairly well known Biblical character. He went through some extraordinary trials in his life with the death of all of his children, the loss of his livelihood through the loss of all his cattle and flocks. Then after all of that, he lost his health, as well. He is one figure from the Bible, that though we might admire his perseverance through trials, and his faith and trust in God, we really don’t want to follow in his footsteps! Today’s Scripture passage is one portion from the Book of Job, where he laments his life to his three companions.
As mentioned above, Job’s life had taken a dramatic turn for the worse when he lost all he had, his family, his property, and then his health. Three of Job’s friends come to spend time with him, initially intending to bring him comfort, but very quickly they begin to point the finger of accusation to Job and why all this befell him. Throughout the book, these “friends” and Job go back and forth between accusations, explanations, and mournful prayers to God for what has happened.
As our Scripture passage opens, Job says that he wishes he could come before God and present his case to Him as a petitioner or defendant would before a judge (vs. 2-7). Though Job never claims to be perfect or completely sinless, he does not believe he has done anything so terrible as to deserve what has befallen him, as his friends claim he has. We, as the readers of this book, know that it was not for his sins that these calamities befell Job, but that was hidden from him at this time (Job 1:1-2:8). He wasn’t getting any help from his “friends”, nor from his wife. The only help he will receive will come from God. It is to Him that we need to turn when we find ourselves in any sort of problem.
Job wishes for access to God’s throne, to come and ask for His mercy (vs. 3). The Lord Jesus Christ has made such access to God possible. When Jesus died upon the Cross the veil of the Temple was torn in two, opening the way for believers to have access to God (Mark 15:38). That veil kept people from approaching the Holy of Holies, but God tore that in two when His Son shed His Blood upon the Cross. Now those who put their faith and trust in Jesus have access to Him directly. We may approach God’s throne boldly to obtain His mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16).
There are times when we are going through great difficulty, and we feel God is not there. Our prayers seem to bounce off of the ceiling. “Where is God?” we pray. We feel so alone, that God is nowhere to be found. Job felt that way (vs. 8-9). Actually, in Scripture we are told there is no place on earth or throughout the whole universe where God is not present (Psalm 139:1-10). For the Christian, we have the Holy Spirit continually indwelling us. Jesus has promised us that He will always be with us (Matthew 28:20).
Even though Job felt like God had hid Himself, he knew that God knew exactly what was happening (vs. 10). “He knows the way that I take”. Job believed that it was God who was testing him, “When He has tried me”. And Job believed that after the trials, God would bless him in a special way, “I shall come forth as gold”.
Job believed that God had a hand in his life for good (Romans 8:28). The difficult things in our life last only as long as is necessary for God to work His purpose in us. God wants to build something valuable in our life, just like gold. When something bad happens to us, if we have a saving relationship with Jesus, God will bring good from it. We can use those trials to share His message of hope to others. Like a gem which is being polished, God will work off our rough edges through tough experiences. Like Job, when our trials are over, we will come forth as gold (vs. 10).
To Job, the most important thing in the world was God’s Word (vs. 12). Don’t turn from God in trying times. His Word is the only place we can find hope, peace, and truth. God’s Word, the Bible, is an anchor in the time of storm.
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