Job 1:1, “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.”
When you go through a challenging and painful time, does your integrity, steadfast faith, and trust in God hold firm and are you able to trust Him no matter what, and not focus on the why? Do you question if anyone cares or understands what you are going through? For me, some of those times have been due to my mistakes and wrong choices, and other times, through no fault of my own. Job is an example of a man of godly character. He had the highest integrity and feared God for His sovereignty, holiness, and power. He recognized God’s authority over all creation. He was reverent to God and avoided evil in all of his affairs. Job was a good man who had children who did not always follow and obey God. He was like a priest to his family whose children needed constant praying of intercession on their behalf. Satan pointed out to God how successful Job was due to God’s blessing. Then verse 11 starts the story of when bad things sometimes happen to good people: “But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” God allowed this testing, but God is compassionate and faithful. Satan is a mere creature. Satan looks upon us to do us harm, as he did to Job. But God is Sovereign and promises to work out all things for our good and His glory (Romans, 8:28-29), as He did in the end for Job. God has the last word, and He still does so today.
The book of Job is like reading a journal of all that Job went through and the responses of his non-understanding wife and friends. We get to read how Job lived through this testing time, and what God does not reveal, we cannot know. God never told Job why. It is important to note that Job did not give in to his unsympathetic friend’s unjust and false judgments of him. However, as we all do, he had human weaknesses and committed general sins after the catastrophes came. In the end, he repented of his desire to die, his despair, his complaints against and challenges to God, and his inability of not knowing the why. Job was understandably provoked.
We live in a sin-fallen world. Yet God is omnipotent- He has unlimited power to do anything He wills without anyone’s help. So, the question to all of us is, can you trust in God no matter what when you cannot see beyond today? The promise in Psalms 46:1 is truth as it states, “God is our refuge and strength. An ever-present help in trouble.” This is especially the case when we do not know why. God is always just and fair and loves us unconditionally. At the end of Job’s suffering, he declares to God, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. . . I have uttered what I did not understand . . . I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:2-6. I think this is the key to understanding the book of Job and shows us the need of having a sensitive heart. God cannot overlook sin, yet understood Job’s weaknesses, as He does with us.
Leave your unanswered questions with God. Trust in Him when you cannot see the ending. Trust in God’s sovereignty and justice, as Job did in the end. Trust and obey. Have the fear of God rather than man. Do you fully understand God? That is the lesson we learn when we go through suffering. See God with your eyes of faith. Grasp God’s majesty and faithfulness. God decides when it is enough. The reason for Job’s crisis was a contention between Satan and God, as is recorded in Job 1 and 2. “Simply put, “Without anger toward him, God allowed Job to suffer in order to humiliate the Accuser and provided support to countless sufferers who would follow in Job’s footsteps. This was now accomplished.” Blue Letter Bible David Guzik Commentary. Elmer Bernard Smick.
Various philosophies of Job’s friends were not his solution to his trials. Job broke the captivity of their false accusatory words by praying for them. He forgave them that had misjudged and hurt him. This point really impacted me this week. “After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his previous possessions.” Job 42:10. May the captivity of my emotions not be my downfall when facing problems, and people that bug me, and have disappointed me. May I persevere with endurance in living out Psalms 119:92-96, “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.” I don’t have all the answers, but I know the planner-majestic God. Being in His presence will provide a clearer vision of myself and of God, therefore He is all that I need. He is all that you need, even what you don’t have all the answers.
Listen to Phil Wickham, Psalm 23 (Official Lyric Video) ft. Tiffany Hudson.