How Can I Go On?

Job 1

When I read the story of Job, I cannot help but think of Paul. Both men went through a lot of suffering and trials. We do not know how long Job's suffering lasted, but we do know that it was intense. Since I connect these two in my mind, I also cannot help but be reminded of what Paul said in II Corinthians 4:8-10:

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8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

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Chapter 1 sets the stage for what transpires in the following 41 chapters. We learn that Job is a very rich man. His wealth is tied up in livestock. Also, he is rich in children; 7 sons and 3 daughters. While children are not currency, they certainly enrich a family. Job also had a lot of servants.

The scene then changes and we go to heaven. In verse 6, the angels are reporting to God. All of a sudden, Satan shows up among them to give his report. He tells God that he has been busy running all over the world. God then poses a question, "Have you considered my servant Job?" (v.8). Satan tells God that Job only serves God because of how much God blesses and protects him. God then gives Satan permission to touch all the Job has, but not Job himself (v. 12).

We then flash back to earth and we see that Job, in a single day, loses everything he has. All his livestock are stolen or killed. Almost all his servants are killed. His children die when a great wind comes and blows the house that they were all eating in down.

You can almost hear Satan's thoughts. "Surely now Job will turn against God! I took everything from him. What more reason could he have to worship God?" Can't you hear his evil sneer? He surely thought that he had won.

So, how did Job respond? Verses 21 and 22 tell us this.

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Naked came I out of my mother’s womb,

And naked shall I return thither:

The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away;

Blessed be the name of the LORD.

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Job 1:21-22

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Wow! Job's response to all this tragedy was to praise God. As far as Job was concerned, God was God and he could do what he wanted. No matter what God did, Job was resolved to praise Him for who He is. That is a mature response. That did not simply occur because Job had a shallow prosperity faith. He truly worshiped God as the Sovereign deity of the universe.

Let's consider his response. First, he says "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither...". Job was not implying that he was returning to his mother's womb. What he was saying is that he entered this life with nothing and he was going to leave this world with nothing. Job had a perspective that reached beyond his present woes. He understood that the things we accumulate are only good to us here and now. They didn't help us enter life and they will not go with us once we leave. That is contrary to the beliefs of many pagan religions.

Next, he says "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away...". Job recognized that God is sovereign. There was nothing that Job could gain or lose without God allowing it. Job makes this statement without knowing the conversation that had taken place between Satan and God. He may not know what was going on, but he knew God was in control.

Finally, he said, "Blessed be the name of the LORD." Job blessed or praised God. He ended this statement of his doctrinal beliefs by praising God. Because he knew that his life was in God's hands, he praised God. No matter what was going on, God was his God and worthy of his praise.

There is a great lesson for us in Job's response. When life is beating us down, we should do the same thing. We need to 1.) recognize who we are, 2.) recognize who God is, and 3.) praise Him as God. If we will do this, we will find a strength that will help us endure our difficult times. We will not fall apart under the extreme pressure.

Finally, we read "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly". God had this little caveat added to show us Job's faithfulness. This was a little moment of recognition from God. However, just like the conversation in heaven, Job didn't get this message either. That is because it wasn't for him. God having the writer include this note is for us. It is to show us that, if we will follow the example of Job, then just like Job, we can come through extreme trials without sinning of charging God foolishly.

Isn't that what we tend to do? We find ourselves in difficult times and we want to question God. "Where are you at?" "If you really loved me you wouldn't allow this to happen!" "What kind of father are you?" On and on the list of questions and statements could go. Yet, this is not what Job did. God wants us to see that we too can come though trials without turning on God.

I do want to add a little note. This is not to say that we cannot ask God questions in prayer. We absolutely can ask God questions, as long as we recognize who he is. David is a great example of this in the Psalms. He asked God all kinds of questions. "How long...?" "Have you forsake me?" For David, it was not about questioning God's character. He just wanted to know answers to questions he had. The only source he could go to for answers was God. The same is true for us as well. We can ask questions, but we must remember that God is God, and he is sovereign. When we ask our questions, we must also remember to praise Him!

Father, life is filled with trials. Help me to not question you when I feel beat down. When life feels uncertain or unfair, may I praise you and remember that this life is short, but I have all eternity to spend in your glory, free from all the cumbersome cares of this world!