Focus
Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.
Read
Job 1:1, 2:1-10
1:1 There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
2:1 One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD.
2:2 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
2:3 The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.”
2:4 Then Satan answered the LORD, “Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives.
2:5 But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.”
2:6 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, he is in your power; only spare his life.”
2:7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
2:8 Job took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes.
2:9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die.”
2:10 But he said to her, “You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Reflect
In the first two chapters of Job, it is mentioned three times that Job was “blameless and upright, one who feared God and shunned evil”, and two of those times the Lord himself is the one stating it (1:8; 2:3). A man who trusted God his entire life and whose life was blessed and protected by God. His character and integrity were known to those around him, to God, and to Satan. Satan however asserted that Job’s loyalty to God was because of the protection and blessings of God and that if those were removed, Job would “surely curse you [the Lord] to your face” (Job 1:11). God was confident in Job’s integrity and took the challenge to prove Job’s love and loyalty was not merely based on his wealth and status. And God was proven to be correct. Job maintained his integrity and immediately after losing everything he owned and all his children, he “fell to the ground in worship” (v. 20) and choked out his praise:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away,
may the name of the Lord be praised.” (v. 21).
Acknowledging the Sovereignty of God rather than blaming God for the intense suffering he was experiencing. And then, because Satan declared to God that Job would curse God to his face if the suffering was more personal, there was yet another test that we read about in chapter 2. There was no position sitting, standing, or lying down that Job was without pain. And to top it off, his wife tells him to “Curse God and die!” Those words seem so insensitive and cold-hearted. Let’s not forget, though, that Job’s wife was also suffering, yet she was not the one being tested. Job’s response to her again shows his love and loyalty to God.
Today, suffering remains a part of life. Sometimes the suffering is self-inflicted. Sometimes it comes at the hand of another person. But there are times that misery comes to the life of a God-fearing, faithful saint for what appears to us as no apparent reason. That’s hard and doesn’t seem fair. When it comes in that way, will I be like Job, or will I be like Job’s wife? “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” To be like Job and to maintain integrity, faith, and loyalty to God in all circumstances in our life means to KNOW God and His character and to trust that He is Sovereign and in control over the world. Any suffering we experience, as was proven with Job, can bring glory to God, refine our faith, and instill hope to those around us.
Pray
Lord, today we step up and step out on our faith that you are God and everything in and of this world is under your control. You are not a puppet master pulling the strings of helpless puppets. You are God Almighty, Alpha and Omega, and you are the Ancient of Days who will one day take your seat on your blazing throne with wheels of fire. And at that time the suffering your children have faced at the hands of others and Satan will be judged and true justice will come. Until then, Lord, we will trust that you are Sovereign, and thank you that every circumstance in our lives is an opportunity to worship, praise you, and strengthen our faith. Amen
Go with God!
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.