Trials, troubles, situation, and issues – we all go through them, some can be just a small annoyance like a buzzing fly but some can be devastating destroying our families, our marriages and even ourselves if we allow it.
The fact that these situation come shouldn’t really surprise any of us… when Adam sinned in the garden after Even was deceived by Satan … pain, sickness, suffering and death came into the world.
Therefore trials, troubles and situations will come… we don’t even have much control over them, a neighbour hits a patch of ice, and we are invited to a funeral, a relative goes to the doctor and a life is on hold…waiting for death. Situations will come,but how we handle those situations, how we respond to what life throws at us… that we do have control over.
Job is a perfect example of going through the very worst that Life, Satan and the World could throw at him, but he came through it not only with class, but great victory,
So how did he do it?
The clues are all through the story…
Lets start with the what happened...
Job and His Family in Uz
1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and [a]shunned evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the [b]people of the East.4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and [c]sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed[d] God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.
Satan Attacks Job’s Character
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and [e]Satan also came among them. 7 And the Lord said to [f]Satan, “From where do you come?”So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you [g]considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and [h]shuns evil?”
9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not [i]made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse[j] You to Your face!”
12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your [k]power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Job Loses His Property and Children
13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; 14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the [l]Sabeans [m]raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and [n]consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from [o]across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
- We see Job devastated…as any of us would be… but lets look at how Job handled the situation…First – lets look at what he didn’t do… he didn’t call all his neighbour, he didn’t text everyone he knew about the issues, he didn’t flip out or have a complete meltdown…although if any one was entitled to,,, he certainly was… but no… Job did what is has always done… he worshipped God.
The first thing we do when trials come, is get to a place of worship, begin to magnify the Lord, put things back in proper perspective.
Humans are not meant to carry burdens like what was handed to Job and he quickly transferred the pain, the sorrow and the grief to the Lord, humbling himself and worshipping- doing what he could do. The issues were large, by focusing on the Lord he gained perspective, the issues, pain and suffering became smaller and bearable and the Lord was the comforter, the helper, the king and the only one who could help Job bear the pain..
But Satan wasn’t finished yet…
Satan Attacks Job’s Health
1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. 2And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to [a]destroy him without cause.”
4 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely [b]curse You to Your face!”
6 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.
9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? [c]Curse God and die!”
10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
2. Notice again more trials, more, issues, the worst kind, now Job is sick. most likely an autoimmune disorder do to all the tragedies.
So how do we see Job handling this…first he holds onto his integrity
Intrefety is not a word we use much lately but it has a deep and powerful influence on our lives- it means to be of a strong moral character, innocent, another way to day your standards… what Satan wanted Job to do he was admit to a guilt that wasn’t his and to lower his personal standards… so that he could further accuse him.
People like Job, strong worshippers of the Lord, those who sacrifice to serve him, those who hold to high moral standards and virtues, Stan hates people like that… and will do anything he cam to get them to fall.
בְּתֻמָּתֶ֑ךָ (bə·ṯum·mā·ṯe·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun – feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong’s Hebrew 8538:1) integrityintegrity
Feminine of tom; innocence — integrity.
But Job passed the test he kept his integrity he kept his faith, he kept his self worth and he knew who he was, he wasn’t going to allow issues or circumstances to change that. He wasn’t going to blame or accuse Him like his wife wanted him to do.
The second thing we do during trials, situations and issues, is keep your integrity, hang on to what you know to be true trusting God and knowing who you are in Christ – a child of a king- a joint heir with Christ.
3. Now we Satan move in for the kill… he sends three of Jobs closest friends to comfort him…
Job’s Three Friends
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. 12 And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.
Of all the trial Job went through I personally believe this was the most difficult- because instead of comforting him, the condemned firm , the accused him, they tormented him… listen to what Job says in Job 19
14 My relatives have failed,
And my close friends have forgotten me.
15 Those who dwell in my house, and my maidservants,
Count me as a stranger;
I am an alien in their sight.
16 I call my servant, but he gives no answer;
I beg him with my mouth.
17 My breath is offensive to my wife,
And I am [e]repulsive to the children of my own body.
18 Even young children despise me;
I arise, and they speak against me.
19 All my close friends abhor me,
And those whom I love have turned against me.
20 My bone clings to my skin and to my flesh,
And I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.21 “Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends,
For the hand of God has struck me!
22 Why do you persecute me as God does,
And are not satisfied with my flesh?
Wow – Job was being temped by Satan to put his trust and faith in people,,,rather than in the Lord…he was temped to expect people to fix the situation…this was making him feel alone, persecuted and empty… I personally believe this is one of Satan’s greatest tools, getting us to draw strength from the people around us instead of from the Lord… then when those around us fail us…because this was never their role in our lives, to emotionally, spiritually and physically sustain us… we then choose to attack them for being human and we begin do the work of Satan for him. We begin accusing people for not being there, we hear words like nobody cares, nobody will do anything, when a person is tempted to put their emotional and spiritual well being in the hands of mortal man… hopelessness will be the result, and this is when we may open ourselves up to agree with Satan about people and lose the love we have for our neighbours.
This was Jobs greatest temptation to date… and his decision and how he handles this will either make or break him
23 “Oh, that my words were written!
Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!
24 That they were engraved on a rock
With an iron pen and lead, forever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
26 And after my skin is [f]destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
27 Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my [g]heart yearns within me!
28 If you should say, ‘How shall we persecute him?’—
Since the root of the matter is found in me,
29 Be afraid of the sword for yourselves;
For wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
That you may know there is a judgment.”
Those closest to him have accused him, they have tormented him, they have been mightily used of Satan to destroy him… but Job.. does something powerful… he turns to the Lord, and puts himself and others completely into the hands of a Just God!
He begins to encourage himself in the Lord- he knows who his God is- he turns to him for comfort for judgement to defend him.
He pours out his pain, his grief, his confusion everything to the only one who can help him ..the Lord!
In Pentecost we call this “praying through”… we go to the rock of our salvation for deliverance.
We repent of the sin that opened up any door to the enemy- we seek the face of the Lord and allow him to help us.
Our trial and troubles are too much for us to bear,they are too much for us to expect others to bear for us — it is Jesus we run to for it was he that bears our sorrows and grief on the cross.
Is 53:4 Surely He has borne our [g]griefs
And carried our [h]sorrows;
Yet we [i]esteemed Him stricken,
[j]Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5But He was wounded[k] for our transgressions,
He was [l]bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes[m] we are healed.
6All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord [n]has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.7He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
8He was taken from [o]prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
9And [p]they made His grave with the wicked—
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.10Yet it pleased the Lord to [q]bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
11[r]He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
12Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the [s]spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.
So the third thing we can do,,, is repent and forgive others who have not lived up to our expectations,,, repent for abusing them through our expectations…
Then lastly seek the face of God— he, and he alone is the answer to every pain, every sorrow, every trials and let his peace surround you and his spirit fill you.
Is 53:5 But He was wounded[k] for our transgressions,
He was [l]bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And what is the result of repentance and seeking the Lord…
Job’s Repentance and Restoration
1 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
2 “I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 Listen, please, and let me speak;
You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You.6 Therefore I abhor[a] myself,
And repent in dust and ashes.”7 And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 8Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept [b]him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord had [c]accepted Job.
10 And the Lord [d]restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold.
12 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first [e]Jemimah, the name of the second [f]Keziah, and the name of the third [g]Keren-Happuch. 15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.
16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. 17 So Job died, old and full of days.
