The Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
I must be honest with you, I avoided Job for years. I falsely thought that he had set himself in harm’s way through fear. I falsely thought that I could avoid being tested, and that testing was not the path to obedience. I didn’t know that my position was the same as Job’s three friends. “Bad things happen to bad people.” “If you are suffering it is because you have sinned.”
This left me defenseless when bad things happened, and I was told it was my fault.
Religion places space between God and His creation. It begins from the satanic view that God does not trust us, love us, or care for us unless we are good.
Job was a righteous man, who held to his integrity. His integrity was His relationship with God. God pointed out Job to Satan, and Satan challenged God that Job only loved God because God took such good care of him. First Satan took everything from Job, and then after that, He took Job’s health.
Job fell into despair and hopelessness, and he desired death rather than life.
Job’s friends rebuked, accused, and tormented Job’s soul with accusations of wrongdoing, but found no answer for Job other than condemnation. Job 32:3. This had come to Eliphaz in a demonic dream and formed the basis of all their arguments, Job 4:12-21.
Job held his integrity and the injustice of the treatment he was receiving. Job justified himself rather than God. Job 32:2 Elihu enlightened Job of God’s faithfulness to help and communicate in our trials. Elihu called Job on his self-righteousness that gave Job the right to be angry, and his defiance in the face of accusation and suffering. Elihu justified God rather than Job, and in five chapters led Job out of His myopic vision.
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
“Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you will answer Me.” Job 38:1-3
In four chapters, the Lord drills Job with questions, over a hundred questions, that leave Job speechless and repentant. From creation, the love and care the Lord has for His creation and creatures, to can you humble a man, can you draw out Leviathan with a hook? Ending with the truth of the problem we all carry.
Pride.
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
“I know that you can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things to wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you and you shall answer Me.’
I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore, I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42: 1-6
This Sunday, I hope to share the glory of our Lord and His end that He has intended for us all. I hope to justify the Lord and empower us with endurance to run the race set before us. I pray we will all see that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
Last Sunday, February 4th; we entered Job’s losses. To watch it on demand, please click here.
This Sunday, February 11th; we enter Job’s gains. To watch live, click here.
