Job - Ends

Job 3 - 42.

The story of Cinderella is a classic. Every little girls dream fantasy of going to a ball and being swept off their feet by a handsome man. But I'd like to look at a different part of this story. Cinderella is badly treated by her step-mother and step-sisters. Yet, she remains kind and continues her daily work. Then, she gets this amazing opportunity to go to the ball and her dreams are dashed when her family makes it impossible for her to attend. We all know the rest of the story, and towards the end, in the midst of being mistreated, the prince arrives and announces that it is Cinderella who he has been looking for and asks for her hand in marriage - even in all this excitement, she accepts the apologies of her family and forgives them.

For the next 35 Chapters in Job, Job and his friends have a conversation. One where the friends tell Job that he should not be putting up with what he's going through because he doesn't deserve it and Job defends God saying that He is the almighty and he'll take whatever He decides to give. It's a long read, but the one-liners that Job comes up with are true and amazing. For 35 chapters Job goes on and on defending God and talking of His greatness only to the constant debate from his friends. And then it happens, the Lord speaks. Like the prince coming for Cinderella, God confirms that it is Job. Job is the man of whom He is proud. God berates the friends for their behavior and tells them it is up to Job to pray for their forgiveness ( and they have to sacrifice things) and He'll listen to him.

Can you imagine - going through all the struggle, all that pain and then - through the clouds - to hear the voice of God justify your argument.

Here's the thing: If we continue to stay strong in the word, to praise God even in the times of struggle that we have, to call on His name when we know we are weak - we Will hear the voice of God. It will be our comfort in the hurt and our strength through the storm.

Esther - A Cinderella Story?

Esther 2:1-4: Later when the anger of King Xerxes had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. Then the king's personal attendants proposed, "Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful girls into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. Then let the girl who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.

It has been four years since the big party - within this time, the king has UNsuccessfully battled against Greece and returns home to an empty palace (meaning no wife). I can hear him uttering the words now, "Oh no, what have I done?" He wanted his woman - and was forced to recall her behavior and the path he had to take, according to the law, because of it.

His "need" for his woman must have been obvious, because those who were around him noticed it and started offering advice (verse 2). Not that it was bad advice - in fact, I'm thinking of implementing this same process when my son gets old enough to marry. Gather all the pretty girls who have remained pure, give them makeovers, and then - in the words of Kuzco - "Trot out the ladies".

I would like to think of the storyline that begins in verse 3 as sort of a Cinderella idea. The main male character of nobility announces his royal decree to all the land that he wants a wife. All the women begin to plan and prepare for the day of their meeting. Where dreams of 'happily ever after' begin to form. Unfortunately, this story has a much darker tone.

It's rather ironic to watch as the kings' servants will do whatever possible, and to whatever extent to please and keep their king happy. If the king would've set his purpose on pleasing God instead of himself - he wouldn't have the need to find his happiness in the bedroom with several women. But as we will see, God will use the most unlikely of events, the most unlikely of people, for His plan.