The Life Of JOB

        Job was truly a good person, who respected God and refused to do evil. He was rich and had everything he wanted. He was successful in everything he did. The Lord was like a wall protecting him, his family and his possessions. But Satan talked to God and said that Job was faithful only because the Lord was blessing him. So God decided to test Job. He agreed to let Satan take away Job’s possessions and health. Job lost everything he had, his loving children, his possessions and his health. His friends accused him foolishly and considered him guilty. They thought that God was punishing Job for his sins. In spite of everything he did not sin or accuse God.

He said, “The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord”. (Job 1: 21- The Amplified Bible)

“What? Shall we accept only good at the hand of God and shall we not accept misfortune and what is of bad nature?” (Job 2: 10- The Amplified Bible)
But his sufferings were huge. His heart longed for truth and justice, as he never did understand the reason for his sufferings!

*Job speaks*

I curse the day of my birth!! Why didn't I die at birth?! Why does God let me live when life is so miserable and so bitter?!  It’s impossible to weigh my misery and grief. How I wish that God would answer my prayer and do away with me. Then I would be comforted, knowing that in all my pain I have never disobeyed God.

The truth is always painful, but your arguments (his friends’) prove nothing. Here I am desperate, and you consider my words as worthless as wind. Stop accusing me falsely, my reputation is at stake!! I know right from wrong, and I am not telling lies. God has made my days drag on and my nights miserable.

I beg you God, don’t forget me! I cry out to you in agony and distress. Why do you refuse to forgive me?! I know that no human is innocent in the sight of God. Of all the miracle works of God, we cannot understand one. How then could I possibly argue my case with God?? Even though I am innocent, I can only beg for mercy. Even if I were innocent, God would prove me wrong. I am not guilty!!! God destroys the innocent along with the guilty.

My life is speeding by, without hope of happiness. Sometimes I try to be cheerful and to stop complaining but my sufferings frighten me, because I know that God still considers me guilty. So what’s the use of trying to prove myself innocent?? God isn't a mere human like me. I can’t put him on trial. I cannot speak!!

I am sick of life! From my deep despair I complain to you, O! God! Don’t just condemn me! Point out my sin. You know I am innocent, but who can defend me against you? Remember that you molded me like a piece of clay. You, the source of my life! You showered me with kindness and watched over me. You have not explained all of your mysteries, but you catch and punish me each time I sin. Guilty or innocent, I am ashamed of my troubles. I have only few days left!!

I have always lived right and God has answered my prayers! Now, my friends make fun of me. It’s easy to condemn those who are suffering, when the one who condemns have got no troubles. Godless people live safely and say, “God is in our hands”. Every living creature is in the hands of the Lord. God is the real source of wisdom and strength. No one can rebuild what God destroys or release those he has imprisoned.

I prefer to argue my case with GOD-ALL-POWERFUL. I will be responsible for what happens to me. God may kill me, but I will trust him and offer my defense. I am certain to win!! Please point out my sins, O! God, so I will know them. Why do you accuse me of horrible crimes?! Life is short and sorrowful for every living soul. There is no way a human can be completely pure. O! Let me find some happiness!! When a tree is chopped down, there is always the hope that it will sprout again. But humans are different, we die and that’s the end. Hide me, God. When you are angry no more, remember to rescue me!

If I were in the place of my criticizers, I would offer hope and comfort instead. God has worn me down and destroyed my family. Everyone is against me; they sneer and slap my face and accuse me of sins I didn’t do. Everything was going on well, until God grabbed my neck and shook me into pieces. I dress in sackcloth and sit in the dust. Even now, God in heaven is both my witness and my protector. God is the one I beg, to show that I am right!!

My hopes have died and my time is up! All I can see are angry crowds, making fun of me. If you, Lord, don’t help, who will pay the price of my release? You must be the one to prove them wrong. People who are truly good would feel so alarmed. They would grow stronger. My hope has disappeared.

How long will people torture me with their words?! Even if I have sinned, they haven’t been harmed! They boast their goodness, claiming I am suffering because I am guilty! God has trapped me with a wall of darkness and stripped of respect. I am forgotten!! But I know that my savior lives, and at the end he will stand on this earth. My flesh may be destroyed, yet from this body I will see God. Yes, I will see him for myself, and I long for that moment.

Insults all over again! God! I am impatient. The very thought of myself fills me with disgust. Why do evil people live so long, and gain such power? God never punishes them. They are successful, without worry until the day I die! Oh! Who can tell God what to do? Empty, meaningless words are the comfort, evil people offer me.

Today! I complain bitterly! If I knew where to find God I would go there and argue my case. He would listen to me because I am innocent and he would set me free. He knows what I am doing and when he tests me, I will be like pure gold. I have never refused to follow his teachings and I have treasured his commandments. But he alone is God, who can oppose him? He does what he pleases! The very thought of God trembles me with fear.

God’s mighty strength destroys those in power. Even if they seem successful, they are doomed to fail. If I haven’t spoken the truth, then prove me wrong!! Nothing is hidden from God!! Oh! How great is his wisdom and power? How little we understand his ways?!

Lord! I am desperate!! As surely God lives, he gives me breath, I will tell only the truth. Until the day I die, I will refuse to do evil. Each day, my conscience agrees that I am innocent. But where is wisdom found? Not in the rivers or rocks! No human knows! God is the only one who knows the way to wisdom, because he sees everything beneath the heavens. Wisdom means respecting God and turning from sin.

I long for the past, when God took care of me and the light of his lamp showed me the way. I was in the prime of life and God was my closest friend. Everyone was pleased with what I did and said. I was highly praised! I felt certain that I would live a long and happy life. I was strong and my friends listened to my advice. My words were eagerly accepted. The smile on my face renewed everyone’s hopes!!  Oh! Good old days!!

Young people insult me. Worthless nobodies make up jokes to disgrace me, spitting in my direction. God has destroyed me! My reputations vanished like a cloud. I am sick at heart! I have been thrown in the dirt and now am dirt myself. I beg God for help, but there is no answer. My only songs are sorrow and sadness.

I promised to myself, never to do anything wrong again. God keeps a close watch on everything I do. I am not dishonest or deceitful and I am begging God to prove my innocence. I was fair in my ways. Otherwise what answer would I give to God, when he judges me?! God is the one who gave life to each of us before we were born. I have never cheated anyone. I was caring and kind-hearted! I never trusted wealth or worshiped anything other than my creator. Why doesn't God listen and answer?! And so I remain silent!!!

*The Lord speaks to Job out of a storm*

Job! Why do you talk so much when you know so little?! Now, get ready to face me! Answer the questions I ask! How I laid the foundations for the earth? It’s length and width? What supports it? Who placed the corner stone?! When was the ocean born? I set its boundaries. I built a wall around it and locked the gates of the powerful waves! Did you ever command the sun to rise? Did it obey you? Did it take hold of the earth and shake out the wicked?! Early dawn outlines the hills like stitches on clothing and sketches on clay. Have you ever walked on the ocean floor?! Have you seen the gate to the world of death?! How large is the earth? Tell me! Where is the home of light? Where does darkness live? Can you lead them home?! You must know, since you talked like you were already born when I created everything!! From where does lightening leap? Where does the east wind blow? Who curves the path for thunderstorms?! Who sends torrents of rain on empty deserts and where no one lives? Who is the father of the dew and of the rain?! Who gives birth to the sleet and the frost?! Can you arrange the stars?! Do you control them? Do you know the law that governs the heavens?! Can you make them rule the earth? Can you order the clouds to down pour?! Will you be able to teach the birds about their way?! Can you count the clouds?! Answer me! Job! Do you help the lions hunt when they are hungry? Do you satisfy the hunger of the young ravens, when they cry out for food?! When do mountain goats and deer give birth? Who sets the wild donkeys free?! I alone help them to survive. Could you force a wild ox to be tamed? And do you know about the ostrich? Did you give horses their strength?! Did you teach the hawks to fly south for the winter?! Did you train the eagles to build their nests?! I AM GOD-ALL-POWERFUL!!!  You have argued me that I am wrong! Why should I hear you?! Now face me and answer me!! Are you trying to prove that you are innocent by accusing me of injustice?! Do you have a powerful arm and a thundering voice that compares with mine?! If you can punish the evil and the proud, I will agree you have won this argument. I CREATED YOU!!!! Can you catch the sea monsters?! It’s the king of all proud creatures and it looks upon others as nothing!!

*Job, unable to answer any of those questions, speaks*

Lord! No one can oppose you!! You have all the power to do what you want! No plan of yours will fail! I have talked so much about things that are far beyond my understanding. I heard about you from others. Now, I have seen you with my own eyes!! That’s why I hate myself and sit here in dust and ashes to show my sorrow.

*Job was ashamed of his former pride, when he came to know God as He is*

*The Lord corrected Job’s friends as they did not tell the truth and asked them to offer sacrifices to please Him*

After Job had prayed for his friends, asking God not to punish them for their foolishness, the Lord answered his prayer and did not punish his friends. Then, God made Job twice as rich as he was before. The Lord blessed Job more than ever. God gave back everything Job lost, including his children. Job’s daughters were the most beautiful women in the world and he lived long enough to see his great grandchildren. He shined like pure gold that comes out of the refiner’s fire, after God had tested him.

A happy ending indeed!!

“I know that you can do all things and that no thought or purpose of yours can be restrained or thwarted”. (Job 42: 2- The Amplified Bible)

Yes! No plan of God in our lives will fail. He is the Almighty GOD and he does what he desires. God will never allow us to see darkness, unless or until he has a very good reason for it. He will surely rescue us and restore double for everything we lost, if we remain as prisoners of hope. We must learn to praise God and trust him completely no matter what happens. Even if our situations make us lament, we mustn't dare to leave him. He is with us all the time, as he has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. We should be fully convinced by his promises and be confident that he will fulfill them in his perfect time! Never late, never early!

Troubles can never overcome us, because our God walks with us. We are the over comers because we are born of God! We must strive to rejoice, even when we go through loss, pain and suffering. For Joy of the Lord is our strength!

“Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS; again I say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4: 4- The Amplified Bible)

“Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering; it’s the presence of God”- Sam Storms.

We must cling to God when we are tested, laying down our pride and self-righteousness. When we had come out of our sufferings, we would have clearly understood the ways of the Mighty God we worship and the supernatural miracles he is able to perform. The cross experience will take us to crown experiences! Valleys lead us to the next peak! Wilderness experiences take us to land of milk and honey! Be patient and pass the test, holding on to the love of Jesus!

“Blessed is the man who is patient under trails and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him”. (James 1: 12- The Amplified Bible)

“Those who dive into the sea of affliction bring up rare pearls!” – Charles Spurgeon.

We belong to GOD! He knows us even before we were formed in our mother’s womb. He is the God of Peace and he will crush the head of Satan under our feet, for sure! And when he does it, we will be like pure gold, nicely polished, shinning in the midst of people who persecuted us, magnifying the name of Our Father in heaven! We will be singled-out by our creator! Amen! 

~ Blessed Christian!