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.

Job - Inspiration for Michael W. Smith

Job 2:11-13 When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

Let's pretend for a moment that we don't know about the rest of the book of Job. That what we look at here is all we know. Three friends come to see Job and sit beside him and just weep and cry and don't say a word.

Thinking back, these actions are quite different than that of Job's wife. Now, we can understand, somewhat, the reasons for her bad actions. She, too, had just lost all her income, all of her children had been killed and looking at her husband - she figured she would be alone shortly and would rather be done with it. While her actions were wrong, I think we can all see how stressed she must have been at that moment.

These friends however, don't have any of that stress. What they have: Job, in agony. Yet they gave up their time - for a week at least - no working, no family, sleeping in the ashes with Job. Do you have a friend that would do that? Would you BE a friend that would do that? God calls us to minister to others - what better place to start than with our own friends.

In the middle of the story of Job - one of agony and misery and pain - who knew there was this sliver of touching friendship, if only momentary, for us to see. A passage that tells us a friend doesn't always need to talk to offer hope - sometimes - we just have to be there. Sitting in the ashes alongside one another. Who are you willing to sit in the ashes for?

Job - Are You A Risk-Taker?

Job 2:7-10 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

A boil usually appears suddenly as a painful pink or red bump. The surrounding skin also may be red and swollen. Within a few days, the bump fills with pus. It grows larger and more painful, sometimes reaching golf ball size before it develops a yellow-white tip that finally ruptures and drains. Boils generally clear completely in a couple weeks, though it can take a month or more. Boils can occur anywhere on your skin, but appear mainly on your face, neck, armpits, buttocks or thighs, hair-bearing areas where you're most likely to sweat or experience friction - www.mayoclinic.com

OUCH. Assuming that these were the types of boils Job had, we're looking at a good two weeks of this pain. First of all, he's removed himself from his house and everyone else and is sitting in the ashes (it's contagious). Job is not feeling sorry for himself, he's getting away from everyone so as not to infect them as well.

Don't you love the people who complain about everything. My gout is killing me. My knee can't bend anymore. My arthritis is acting up. BOILS have infected the whole of Job's body and he removes himself from physical contact with people. Then, to make matters worse, his wife comes out to him to tell him to die. Can you imagine? You are in pain, all alone, scraping yourself with broken pottery and then off in the distance you see your wife coming to you. And when she arrives, she tells you to curse God and die.

What a man Job was. Through his suffering (the kind where you just want to give in to whatever anyone tells you to do) he stood up for his God and basically told his wife she was a moron (again, Dorothy interpretation). I am in no way endorsing this type of conversation with your spouse, but it certainly does give us some insight. There are people all around us who need to hear the gospel. In my last post, I was rather adamant in what our goal is as Christians - showing Christ to others. Sometimes those 'others' might be the aborigine in Australia - but sometimes, it might just be our spouse or our child or our boss or our parent. Are you willing to risk being mocked and stand up for God by sharing His Word with someone close to you that needs to hear it?

Job - Why Are You Even Here?

Job 2:4-6 "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face." The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."

I had a hang nail. I pulled it out. It throbbed. It seemed like my whole hand would fall off. Isn't that how we are? One small thing causes us pain and we have trouble focusing on anything else. I have never had to go through any serious illness, so I can't imagine the stress and pain of living a day with this type of situation.

Satan has come up with yet another reason why Job didn't curse God. "If Job was unhealthy, if his body was in pain - then he would curse You". It would make sense. That would be the next step. People all over the world do it today - curse God for their cancer or their AIDS or their heart condition. What would make Job any different? God said 'okay'. He allowed it to happen.

Here is the thing that I noticed. He wants Job's life spared. Satan is allowed to cripple him, give him disease, cause him to be blind, mute or deaf - but not kill him. God doesn't want Job dead because God still needs for him to serve His purpose on earth. To let others see God in Job. If you haven't figured it out yet, we, as Christians, have one purpose on this earth. To tell others about Christ. That's it! That's the bottom line. Children, spouses, jobs, education, homes: these are all just perks along the way - but none of these things matter if we are not striving for that one goal of sharing Christ with others.

So if disease takes over our bodies - if we are crippled - if mental anguish has taken its hold - until we are with Christ in heaven we must strive for our goal. If God has you here on earth - in whatever capacity - He needs you. He needs you to continue toward the goal until He calls you homeward.

Job - It's a Choice.

Job 2:3 On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him.And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."

Wow, am I having Deja Vu or did we already read these verses? Why would God feel it necessary to repeat this conversation? Why not just say 'and then Satan showed up and they had the same conversation'. I'll tell you what I think, I think God is mocking him. This is too funny! God is mocking Satan. 'Weren't you the guy who was just up here saying that no one held true to My Word, that no one would follow My Way?'

The words "I told you so" seem to slip our of our mouths so easily. Was it the same way for God when Satan returned from wreaking havoc on a man with so much integrity? Did God basically look at Satan and say, "I told you so".

Now two things could've happened at this point. Satan could admit defeat and go home, or his anger burned inside of him so much that he would come up with new ways to try and torture Job into cursing God. Satan chose the latter.

What about us? When we've challenged God, whether it be to make our own decisions and not seek God's guidance or outright going against His Word. Do we humbly admit defeat and ask Him to forgive us, or do we get angry and start throwing out excuses as to why we acted the way we did. What will we do today?

Job - Is it Raining at Your House?

Job 1:12-22 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house,a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"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.

Have you ever heard the phrase "when it rains it pours"? I often hear myself say it when there is sickness in my family. We'll go along for a nice stretch of everyone being healthy and doing school on time and then one of the kids will get a sore throat and the next thing you know - all the kids have it - when it rains it pours. It's hard enough to deal with it when it's only one child - but when it's four, it's just plain exhausting.

God has said the words that Satan wanted to hear, and off he goes to the land of Job. Job was minding his own business. It absolutely blows my mind to read these verses and think of Job simply sitting in his house taking it all in. First - the Sabeans attack and take all his plowing animals and field hands. This had to be a blow to Job. That was part of his income, and all those people that worked for him - how sad, how would he deal with the families of his workers. But, before he has time to think about this, another man shows up to tell him all his sheep and shepherds have been killed. A meteor fell from the sky (Dorothy interpretation) and killed them all with fire. That's almost unbelievable. I think Job would've been looking for Allen Funt and his hidden camera at this point. Job didn't have time to look though because another man had just come into his house to tell him that the Chaldeans came and took all his camels and servants. I think that about covers all of his income. Bankruptcy had to be imminent. No time to dwell on that though, because a tornado came (again Dorothy interpretation) and killed all of his partying children. Still, Job in all his grief, praised God.

I know I've mentioned this before, but I must say it again. It's not God's fault when something bad happens. Every bad event that just occurred before Job was instigated, laid out and followed through by Satan. Don't think for one minute that abortion, murder, rape, theft, adultery, alcoholism, starvation, cancer have ever come from God. Satan is at the forefront of all evil. Can God overcome this evil? Absolutely! Is it possible that God may not intervene in the situation? Yes. Will it all work out for God's people in the end anyway? Without a doubt.

In this horrific situation that Job is going through - caused solely by the devil - would it have been easy for him to blame God? Sure. God is always a good fall-guy. But here, in the book of Job - make no mistake - scripture reveals it - Satan is at the steering wheel and the problems start when he arrives. Cling to God, rest on His promise, hold fast to His truth and know there is hope.

Job - Just Say No

Job 1:9-11 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."

Today during math time, Sarie (my youngest, 8 year old daughter) began to get an attitude because she got a problem wrong. As I began to explain - very calmly really - why she should not act like this, she looks me in the eye - puts her hands to block me out and says, "This conversation is over." . . .
Needless to say, Sarie is without TV for a month. Along with that punishment, she received a nice long lecture on who was in charge in this relationship and she has no business talking to me like that. It's a good thing she's cute. :)


In walks Satan - after God tells him that Job is upright and fears God - Satan tells God that it's only because God protects and gives him everything, that Job wouldn't love God if He didn't give him all that stuff. Maybe here is where God should've explained to Satan who's in charge in that relationship - that Satan had no business talking to Him like that. Why didn't He? Why didn't God just say - Get out of my house and leave my people alone!

Here's why He didn't. Here's why He doesn't. He leaves it up to us. It is up to us to tell Satan who's in charge and to leave us alone. So if you didn't know it before, here it is for you now. It is up to US to say 'no' to Satan. It is up to us to turn away from him and make that effort to stay strong in God.

Job - Jesus loves me.

Job 1:8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."

I really debated putting more than one verse, but I just didn't want to. I thought there was so much to see in just this one verse that it deserved a whole post all by its little self.

Satan has been bragging, again, about how he has had such an impact on everyone on earth. The pride that satan has developed over how he can persuade and manipulate people to do what he wants them to do - which is, quite simply, anything contrary to what God wants. The idea of this is infuriating - not just because satan is so evil - but that what he claims is pretty accurate. We, as a people, are easily swayed.

Then God speaks.

Have you ever watched a romance movie where the man, who you thought - kind of - maybe - liked the girl in the lead role, lays his whole heart on the line and confesses how much he truly loves her in the end. Think Pride and Prejudice. She spends the whole movie somewhat giving and taking, never wanting to wholly open up to Mr. Darcy - but then finds out in the end how much he deeply loves her.

Not that God is anywhere close to Mr. Darcy, but some of us play the role of Elizabeth Bennett. Only giving what they think they're getting. Why oh why do we play these games.

When God speaks here, we can see the amazing amount of love He has for Job and all of us. He praises Job for his commitment and love of God. If we could hear God in heaven speaking about us, would we not hear the same praise? Job was not perfect, this book never says he was - he was a man trying to live a life blameless before God. As we all are. Struggle after struggle. Know that God cares for you, loves you, and praises your efforts when you strive to be like Christ.

Job - Unwelcome home.

Job 1:6-7 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

This was an interesting verse for me to read. I'll be honest - sometimes I read the Bible and 'nothing'. No insight, no understanding, zippo. Other times, I'll do a little research and things begin to get clearer and I can get a general idea on what God is really saying. This verse - even after all the research I did - came up differently to me than anything else I read. So - I can't say it's dipped in educational background or scholarly rhetoric - it's just from little ol' me. So here goes it.

Why is Satan walking in with the angels? I don't get that. Then it hit me - Satan, the master of disguise. . . maybe the angels don't realize who he is - is that possible? But notice that God doesn't rebuke the angels for hanging out with Satan - He speaks directly to Satan, himself. If this is true - if even the angels can be fooled by Satan, who are we to ever think we can come up against him without Jesus on our side. Who are we to ever think we can make it to get up out of bed without running into something Satan has cooked up for us and never even realize it. Thus the importance of morning quiet time - to get armed with Jesus before Satan ever has a chance to attack.

Satan answers God's question. He's not simply stating where he'd been, he's bragging. He's relishing the fact that he has been all through the earth and has inhabited the people there and had such an effect on them. We know that this is true of America today, but is it true in our own lives? If Satan had come to our door and toured our homes, would he be able to brag to God like he does here in verse 7? Would he be able to come in unknown, unrecognized and welcomed.

Oh God - we need You.

Job - Now I lay me down to sleep. . .

Job 1:4-5 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.

There are 13.6 million single parents in the United States today. With 84% of those parents being the mother. It is not far-fetched to assume the child will take on the mannerisms and morals of the parent they are with the most.

In the time of Job, the role of the woman was to raise the children. The majority of the time, I bet Job's kids were at home with mom. We see the effects of children who have grown up in Hollywood getting everything they want and living the rich lifestyle - it seems like that lifestyle also affected Job's children.

As parents, we will go to extremes for our children - it was no different for Job. He would offer a sacrifice for each child after their partying to cover any sins they may have committed. Are we guilty of that? Are we teaching our children that our relationship with God is enough for them as well? Or do we show them the wonderful love that God has for them and how much they will benefit from having their own relationship with Him.

It is important for us to show an example to our children by living a life as Christ-like as possible, but we must also teach them how to have a strong relationship with Christ. Like any relationship - it takes work. It takes effort on our part to make the time to study His word and spend time talking to Him and praising Him and being kind to others for Him. Our kids need to hear this from us - it is not the responsibility of the preacher, the Sunday School teacher, the Youth Minister or even grandma. It's time for us, as parents, to start parenting. Children are a gift from God - I want to make sure I let Him know how much I appreciate that gift.

Job Begins - And That's The Way It Is

Job 1:1-3 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

Warren Buffett has finally beat out Bill Gates as the richest man in America. Gates had a good run though - thirteen years in first place. Mr. Buffett has hit the record at $62 billion dollars.

Walter Kronkite was once titled as the "most trusted man in America". He read the news, gave his opinion, and people believed it. He was an American icon.

Paul Roos, was officially named 2008 Australian Father of the Year. The Australian Fathers Day Council awarded him this honor in direct relation to how he was raising his children.

Each of these awards are great achievements all on their own, but to have accomplished all three of them? Virtually impossible. Except for Job.

We are introduced to Job in the very first verse of his book. Job has it all and on top of that - he's a God-fearing man. We are so quick to think how easy the Joneses have it because of their high paying jobs and their expensive homes, but with the reputation that Job has, what a difficult time it must be to avoid becoming prideful. We get complements and our head swells, Job has it all and still he remains a good and honorable man.

One day, we will have it all because Jesus will have given it to us - will we be able to stand in His presence and ever think we are worthy? Are we thankful now for all that we have? Do we realize that it is only because of Him that we are even here. Job knew it, and I can't wait to be encouraged by his strength in what we will learn in his book.