Job Chapter 1 floods my mind with many Life experiences.
Job is a wealthy man who is blameless and upright before God. He fears God and hates evil. He has seven sons and three daughters and he owns thousands of farm animals and MANY servants.
God is pleased with his heart and Satan says if you took his possessions away he would quickly curse you. God allows Satan to take Job's possessions.
In one day, Job loses all his children, all his animals and all his servants except just a few servants survived. Job 1:22 says, “In all this Job did not curse God by charging him with wrongdoing.”
As for me, when a trial and tribulation has struck me of certain magnitude, I have responded with different emotions.
1. When my dad died of cancer it was sad but I rejoiced knowing he was with Jesus and I would one day see him again.
2. When in college, my girlfriend broke up with me. I was an emotional wreck, but I spent three times a day alone with God praising him, not because my girlfriend broke up with me, but because God was still God and he was in control.
3. When we took a terrible hit with our finances, our car broke down and needed major repairs. And our heating system broke down and needed major repairs. We immediately became in debt which we could not afford to pay. As a result, bills were not getting paid which resulted in further debt. This trial and tribulation lasted for a few years and I was a big baby before God. I whined and complained before God and begged and pleaded for him to put an end to such chaos. I was angry with God over and over again.
I've seen people lose loved ones or have a loved one become very sick and they have turned their hearts away from God.
I want to be like Job and be able to still praise God amongst disaster but I'm not sure I would. Sometimes I want to fight him in my anger verses praising him.
Perhaps I need to change my whole attitude and realize:
1. Nothing we have is really ours. It belongs to God and for such a short time he is allowing us to have it, but we are never guaranteed to have anything or anyone for eternity on Earth.
2. Everything is temporary on this Earth. We tend to think life is only what we see. So we become consumed with this life on Earth and consumed with people and possessions when really this life on Earth is so temporary. The life we face when we leave this earth is what is eternal: Whether eternity in heaven or eternity in hell. We can't be consumed with temporary things whether it be possessions or people or even our own life. We need to be responsible with our lives and with our possessions and around people, but if we lose something, we should not hold on to it like it defines who We are or defines our existence. Once we let people or things define who we are or define our existence, and we lose it or lose them, then we lose any hope for a living. We need to let Christ be the reason that we live because Christ can never be taken away from us.
So realize (and I hate to say this):
1. We will experience loss because everything is temporary.
2. We will experience loss of loved ones or loss of money or loss of possessions.
* Expect it. Don't dwell on it and don't let it bring fear into our lives but just expect it.
* The only thing that is eternal is Jesus. Be consumed with him. Live for him. Let him define who you are and let him define your existence and not the things of this world.
God help me to be like Job during the most difficult times and forgive me when I curse you. Forgive me when I let people or things define my existence in life and not you.
I have one song to share by ApologetiX that goes with the book of Job. The song is called Such Impressive Loving Smart Close Friends. It’s a parody of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles. I plan to post the link as a reply to this comment. It may take some time to become available as it has to be approved first.
This chapter and actually whole book is intriguing to me. One reason is because of how there is an interaction and communication between God and Satan. I don’t think we see that happen very often. I also don’t usually think of Satan as wanting to appear before the Lord or even being permitted to do so, but that is what we see in verse 6. It seems somewhat strange to me and makes me wonder even more. Another unanswered question is about when this all takes place in time as we don’t really know when Job lived. One thing that we do know for sure is that God has complete control as Satan is only permitted to do what God allows him to do.
I was reminded today of 1 Peter 1:22-25.
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding Word of God; for
“All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the Word of the Lord remains forever.” And this Word is the good news that was preached to you.
In Ephesians 6, when Paul encourages us to put on the full armor of God. He tells us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world, and spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms.
Revelation 12:10 tells us that at some point during the Tribulation, there is a battle in heaven and as a result Satan will no longer be able to accuse believers before the throne of God all day and night because he will no longer have access to heaven.
We as believers under the New Covenant, do not need to worry about Satan’s accusations. Jesus Christ is our advocate (1 John 2:1). And, no accusations can stand against those whose sins have been forgiven because of Christ’s sacrifice for us on the Cross. (Romans 8:33-39). Thank you, Jesus – there are no words to adequately express my thanks.