When something bad happens in our life or in the life of our church, we begin to ask ourselves, “Why? Why did all of this happen?” In moments like these we most often turn to the book of Job. When our worship leader left us to go to another church, and one of the arms of the local body was, as it were, “cut off,” I noticed that while we were praying, God directed us too toward this book. God placed in my heart three lessons from the book of Job to share with you.
1. NOT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN OUR LIFE COMES BECAUSE WE HAVE DESERVED IT OR BECAUSE IT IS GOD’S WILL.
The book of Job begins with the description of an idyllic picture. It seems as if everything in Job’s life was in order. He was exceedingly wealthy, he had seven sons and three daughters, and on top of all that he was good and righteous (Job 1:1-5).
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. 4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be 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. (Job 1:1-5)
Job was living well and serving God, but suddenly bad things began to happen to him (Job 1:13-19).
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 18 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, 19 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!” (Job 1:13-19)
The same thing happened to our church. Everything was going along well, and then suddenly, out of nowhere, people — and not just people, but ministers — left our church, our finances sharply worsened, and we entered a severe crisis. We were praying, we were preaching the word, and yet look what came of it… And here the question arises: “Did we deserve all of this? Is this really God’s will?” But before we answer that question, we must ask: “Did Job deserve what happened to him? Was what befell him a punishment for his own sins?”
His friends thought so. They did not know what had actually taken place in the heavenly realms, in the spiritual world, but when Job lost all his property and all his children, they began, in a merely human way, to reproach him, saying that he himself was to blame for it.
When something bad happens to us, we too are inclined to blame ourselves and to sink into self-pity. But God did not consider Job’s friends to be right in their assessment. And I think this is precisely why this book was written — to examine the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” and to stress that not all the misfortunes in our life are the consequence of some sins of ours.
After the discussion of the situation between Job and his friends was finished, God appeared on the scene and began His word with these words (Job 38:2):
2 “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? (Job 38:2)
The only result of the complaints, discussions, and accusations that Job and his friends hurled at one another was that in this way they obscured the brightness and perfection of God’s providence. In the end God condemned Job’s friends for their wrong positions (Job 42:7-8):
7 After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” (Job 42:7-8)
Instead of debating whether what has befallen us is God’s will, who is to blame for it all, and asking the question “Why?”, we ought to look to God’s greatness and say together with Job (Job 42:2-3):
2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. (Job 42:2-3)
And so, the first lesson we can draw from the book of Job is that the fact that something unpleasant happens to us does not necessarily mean that we are somehow to blame for it and that, you see, God is punishing us for our sins. We do not know what is happening in the spiritual world. We do not know what God’s providence is. But we do know that God loves us and that, as it says in Romans 8:28:
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
2. WHEN SATAN DOES SOMETHING EVIL, HE CANNOT GO BEYOND THE LIMITS THAT GOD HAS SET FOR HIM.
The book of Job is very interesting, because after showing us the human reactions to calamity, it reveals to us what is actually happening in the spiritual world. In this way we understand that all the misfortune that befell Job took place with God’s knowledge. The devil did it, but only because God permitted it (Job 1:6-12).
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” 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.” 9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “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. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. (Job 1:6-12)
Job was a truly righteous man — so much so that God boasted about him before Satan. But the devil, as a true slanderer, accused Job of honoring God only for the benefits he received from Him. Satan challenged God to test Job. God accepted the challenge and allowed Satan to harm Job and his family, but not to touch Job’s life (Job 1:12; 2:7).
Notice that when God permitted Satan to reach Job’s life, He set very precise limits for him that the devil could not cross. Satan cannot transgress even a millimeter of the boundaries that God has set for him. In Job 38:10-11 God speaks certain words that refer to the sea, but I believe that they apply with the same force to the devil:
10 when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, 11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’? (Job 38:10-11)
No matter how much its waves splash and roar, the sea cannot go beyond the limits that God has set for it. In the same way God says to Satan as well: “This far you may come and no farther!” Glory to God!
We must know that whatever happens to us or to our church, whatever the devil does, God continues to be in control! In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it says:
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Through whatever difficulties, persecutions, or troubles we may pass, we must never lose our balance and our hope. Here is what the apostle Paul says on this matter in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9:
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
All our troubles have certain limits. And these are limits set by God, which Satan cannot cross. Job was struck down, but not destroyed. It is the same with us. We may be “perplexed” by what is happening to us, but “not in despair.”
3. IF WE ENDURE THE TEMPTATION-TRIAL, IN THE END WE WILL BE “ABSOLUTELY DOUBLED.”
I say “the temptation-trial” because the two are like the two sides of the same coin. Whenever God tests us to see whether we will remain faithful to Him, the devil tempts us to do what we want rather than what God wants. Without trials, however, we cannot mature morally. This is like the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that God placed in the Garden of Eden. If it had not been there, Adam and Eve would have remained innocent, but they would not have been virtuous. For virtue is to have the opportunity to do something evil and not do it. Satan, our adversary, caused Job the greatest possible suffering. His goal was to tempt Job to renounce God because of the unfavorable circumstances. Job, however, endured the trial. He resolved that he would worship God no matter what was happening around him and to him. In Job 1:20-22 and 2:10 it tells how he reacted to the loss of all his property and his children:
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 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.” 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. (Job 1:20-22)
Naturally Job grieved and mourned for his children and for himself. This is a completely normal and natural human reaction. Regardless of everything, however, Job did not drive God out of first place in his heart. On the contrary, he continued to worship Him and to give Him glory. Job acted rightly. May God help our reaction also to be like this when tragic circumstances befall us.
After Satan took additional permission from God and ruined not only Job’s family and property but also his health; after he tempted him even through his own wife — even then Job did not give up (Job 2:1-10).
1 On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” 3 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.” 4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 6 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 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. (Job 2:1-10)
Through Job’s trial, God proved to Satan that there will always be people who love and honor the Lord without reservation. I pray that God would grant us also to endure the trials to which we are subjected.
What is encouraging in the story of Job is that in the end he was far more blessed than before his trial began (Job 42:10-17).
10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. 11 All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the Lord had brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. 12 The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. 15 Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers. 16 After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. 17 And so Job died, an old man and full of years. (Job 42:10-17)
Notice that in the end God “gave Job twice as much as he had before,” and He blessed the latter days of Job more than his former ones. His trial lasted only a few months, but afterward he lived for long, long years. I believe the same will happen with us. So be encouraged (James 1:12):
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)
TO ENDURE THE TRIAL…
From Job we can learn that to endure the trial we need steadfastness and patience. In James 5:10-11 it says:
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. (James 5:10-11)
The devil causes all the tragedies and troubles in our life. But let us be encouraged, because as we understand from the book of Job:
- The fact that something bad happens to us does not necessarily mean that it is God’s punishment for our sins. Job was righteous and remained righteous. Even so, he suffered immeasurably. Yet the author of the book stresses that the cause of his suffering was not his sins.
- Because we know that whatever the devil does, he cannot cross God’s limits. He can attack us, but only to a certain degree. And it is a degree that we can always endure. God will never allow us to be tested beyond our strength, but together with the trial He will also give us a way out, so that we can come out of it as victors. Let us never forget that He is on our side, and not on the side of Satan.
- Let us be encouraged, because as we see from the end of the book of Job, if we remain faithful to God and stand firm to the end, in the end we will be restored and twice as blessed as before the beginning of our trial!