But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Job 2:10
We considered last week God’s use of suffering in the lives of believers to work for their eternal good. I suppose the lengthiest text on this topic is the book of Job. There is no doubt that the pain and suffering that entered this dear saint’s life was under God’s careful control. For the post today, I’d like you to simply read Job 1:1-2:10. I’m sure you already have, but take the time to read it again with the following thoughts in mind. You’ll find that God was not simply a bystander in Job’s experience, but He was intimately involved, ruling and reigning over the evil that entered Job’s life. Try to really consider how hard this trial was–what it must have felt like to have so much taken from you so quickly–while also understanding that the will of God was being accomplished in Job’s life.
Note that first of all, God brought Job to Satan’s attention both times prior to Satan’s attack upon him. That fact tells us God had a purpose in Job’s affliction. This trial was ultimately from God’s hand! Job confesses that understanding twice when he says in 1:21, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away,” and then in 2:10, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity.” He was oblivious to the converstation between God and Satan, but the one thing He knew was that God was ultimately in control of these circumstances in his life. Some mistakingly claim that suffering in our lives is always the direct result of sin. You’ll see just the opposite in this text. Rather than accusing him of sin, God’s record of Job is that he is “blameless and upright”.
As you read, you’ll also see that God set limits on the evil Satan could do. Evil can only proceed as far as God will allow! How comforting it is to know that evil is not out of control but is only allowed to progress as far as it will serve God’s eternal purpose and plan. That plan always includes the good of the Lord’s people, and if we read to the end of the book, we find that Job was no exception. As hard as this experience was for him, he grew greatly in his relationship with God. Job described his before and after state as follows: “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” (Job 42:5) He thought he was close to God before, but what a difference adversity had made! Jam 5:11 reiterates that God had great blessing prepared for Job that could only be enjoyed after the enduring of his trial: “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” I hope you’ll take the time to carefully read the text below and be able to embrace the truth of God’s absolute control over your suffering, dear saint. May it comfort you to know that God has a glorious end in mind for you as He did for Job for we read “the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning”. (Job 42:12)
Job 1:1-2:10
Chapter 1
(1) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.
(2) And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.
(3) Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.
(4) And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
(5) So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.
(6) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
(7) And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
(8) Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
(9) So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
(10) Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
(11) But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
(12) And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
(13) Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house;
(14) and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
(15) when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
(16) While he was still speaking, another also came 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!”
(17) While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
(18) While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
(19) and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
(20) Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
(21) And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
(22) In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
Chapter 2
(1) Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
(2) And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
(3) Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”
(4) So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.
(5) But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
(6) And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”
(7) So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
(8) And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.
(9) Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
(10) But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Jamie
