Bible Study Chat #17

OK, our last post about Job covered Job 1:13–19 mainly, although we did cover a bit of 20 as well. But let me post that part again so we can remember how Job dealt with losing all his children and wealth since it's so opposite of how most of us would react to such a thing:

Job 1:20–22 —At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship *and said: “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.” *In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. *

Notice that Job realized that God is sovereign and in control of everything, including the "bad" things that happen. He didn't rant and rage about the actual people who had attacked and killed his slaves and stolen some of his livestock. He didn't rant about the terrible "fire from God" which was most likely lightening that started a fire, that killed more of his livestock, or the terrible tornado that wound up killing all of his children and the rest of the slaves. But Job also didn't rant or rage about God allowing these things either, as so many of us would.

Job wasn't "calm", he was devastated by his loss, but he recognized that God was in control and never did anything wrong, so he assumed that somehow, it would all work out. He had no idea how, and wasn't even thinking of that I'm sure, but that was his basic belief. He also knew that God had given him all he had, that it didn't come from his hard work or because he tried hard to do right, or any other reason. He knew he didn't deserve any of it, but that God had given it all to him anyway, so it was God's right to take it away anytime He wanted to. Therefore he didn't "blame God" or think God was being mean or evil for allowing such things to happen. He refused to give in to bitterness or self pity at this point, and in the midst of his grief, praised God for who He is.

We can all learn a great deal from this alone. As Job's basic beliefs were all scripturally true. God does not owe any of us anything except hell and damnation for eternity. I don't care how good we've been or how hard we try to be good or do good or help others etc. Even if we lived an almost perfect life for our entire lives, it wouldn't be enough to pay for Jesus having to suffer die for us, or for the Father and Son having to be separated for the first time in all eternity when Jesus became sin for us.

We'll never know the intense horror that our beloved Lord must have felt when He, the perfect, pure, sinless lamb of God, became sin for the whole world. We don't often think about that. It's too ugly and horrible to think about. But Jesus carried ALL the sins of every human being ever created since the world began including all who will be created in the future. The pure son of God felt the sins of murder, abortion, hate, etc, and the Father had to turn away from Him, the Son He loved.

Because of that, how dare we ever think for even a moment that God "owes" us anything? He's already given His Son and His Son gave His life and more for us, and He already loves us and has saved us, giving us eternal life and every spiritual blessing, as well as a guaranteed inheritance in heaven! God gave us our lives and has given us ever breath we've ever taken. It's all a gift from Him. Yet we in our arrogance regularly demand more and get upset when we don't get it.

No, Job didn't know about Jesus and what He would do, but he knew about his own sins. He knew he was a sinner and that it was only because of God's mercy that he was even alive, and only because of God's mercy and love that he'd been given all that he'd had. He knew and believed that someday God would send a Savior that would take care of his sins and so because of that faith he was saved. Not knowing Jesus, but believing that somehow a Savior would save him from his sins, Job knew better then we do about how to react when "bad" things happen to us.

Job's response to all his loss, in his grief, showed that Satan was wrong and God was right. People could and would worship God even without receiving good in return for it.

Of course this only made Satan even angrier and more determined then ever to prove that he could make Job sin. But we'll get into that next time, as I'd like to give us some time to reflect on Job's response and how different it is from our own. I'd like to give us time to think about all God has already given us so that we can all realize that even if He never gives us another thing; even if, like Job, everything we have is taken from us, He has still given us more then we could ever ask for and certainly more then we're worth! He is most definitely a God to be praised forever!

I'd also like to point out that this is the attitude of many during the "bible times". Do you recall Daniel's friends who were thrown into the furnace? Remember what they said to the King? Daniel 3:17–18 —If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. *But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” *Like Job, they knew God "could" rescue them if he so chose, but they didn't not demand that He do so. They were content that His Will be done in their lives, regardless of whether or not that meant they would die that day. They knew God didn't owe them anything and they wanted the king to know that regardless of what God did, He was still worthy of their worship.

 

Originally Posted by jackswife: Grief and tragedy are definitely some of the hardest tests of our relationship with God. Unfortunately, many who at least think they have faith lose faith. Many, like me, who find in the end that their faith is strengthened, find their faith shaken and questioning God
I am glad that you pointed out that Job was not necessarily calm when he had that conversation from God. He had just lost so much. But you are right- even in this extreme circumstance he knew that God is in control.
I wish I could say I ALWAYS reacted like Job to the negative circumstances.
That would be a lie. But I do strive to do that. And the more I do what I can to build my faith and abide in Him when the waters are calm, the more automatic it becomes to react like Job did.

 

I'm sure everyone wishes they could react the way Job did when tragedy strikes. As we continue to study though we'll find that even Job fell apart at times. He too was only human and had his doubts. While it's awesome that he was able to react this way to such horrible tragedy, and it is a wonderful example and lesson for us all, the Lord never wants us to beat ourselves up for our failures either. (We'll also see that as we continue) Yes, He will show us the correct way, His ways, and He will point out our failures. But when He does it, He does it gently, with love, and so we can learn a better way, not to beat us up or put us down. Whenever we feel beaten up or put down by our sins we can be positive that it's Satan we're hearing and not our Lord.

I think too that when tragedy strikes, especially when it seems to keep on striking, that it's pretty normal for it to shake up a persons faith and make them question themselves. I honestly don't think there's anything wrong with that, in fact it can be a good thing, as long as we remember to take it to the Lord and talk to Him about it and search His Word for our answers instead of looking to the world for them. When we do that, we find that when we are finally able to climb out of the ashes that our faith is much stronger then it ever was because it survived not only the tragedies, but our questioning too. And through our questioning we found more love, more answers and more guidance and comfort from our God. It really shows how true that saying is that nothing worth having comes easy. Job will be learning all of this too for we'll see that he too begins to question.

You're absolutely right too when you say that the more we do to follow God's ways when things are calm, the more often we can react that way when things go wrong. Not that it's "easy". I'm quite sure it wasn't "easy" for Job either. He was truly what God said he was, a godly man. Even in his extreme grief, his thoughts were to offer God the sacrifice of praise, and in this, he shows us what the "sacrifice of praise" really is.

I can remember often wondering about the wording of that. I finally got around to asking the Lord what He meant by it since I knew that every word was inspired. He showed me through other scriptures that the "sacrifice of praise" is when we praise Him even though it's the last thing we "feel" like doing; when it's the last thing that we'd normally do under the circumstances - just like Job did. Then our praise becomes a sacrifice and brings glory to God.

Amazingly though, we're the ones it helps. That really surprised me! I realized though that God doesn't require anything from us. He doesn't "need" us for anything and He's not some egomaniac who just likes to hear people saying how great He is all the time. (I've even heard some atheists use this argument about God) When we praise God though, I mean really praise Him, not just with words, but with our hearts, it lifts our spirits and strengthens us. We go from despair to feeling joy or at least peace before we're done. Even better, because God loves us so much, He will help us if we will at least try to praise Him in these times. Even when we start our just repeating words, not fully "into it" but at least trying, if we continue and persevere in praise, He will help us until our whole heart, mind and spirit is involved in the praise. Then, when it does get to that place, He can begin to heal our hearts and give us peace and comfort us with His love. It's really a miracle and can change our whole outlook.

Because of that, it's something I've learned that I can do whenever I'm starting to feel down, that will change my whole perspective and pick my spirits up for the rest of the day. It's also another reason why I listen to praise and worship music constantly. That way I can stop at any time and listen more closely and get involved in praising Him with song myself for a bit.