By Pastor Rich Paradis
With
Job’s impressive credentials and character behind us, the unknown author of Job
continues the story with a direct U-turn. Where it appeared that Job was the
man that everyone wanted to be, now it would be quickly demonstrated that Job
was the man that nobody wanted to be! He was rich, he was virtuous, and he was
loved by his family. But now he is under attack by Satan and God has allowed
it. God has removed His restraining hand from Satan in regard to Job with one
caveat: do not afflict Job’s body. Let’s see how the story continues…
I.
A
Few Introductory Thoughts
a.
Any
time that you consider the suffering and struggling of another, you must
reconcile some things in your mind. One of those things that must be considered
is the character of God. While this would seem to be down the list a ways when
the storm is raging, it really needs to be very near the top of our thoughts. A consideration of His character will keep you
from a broken theology that does not see His omniscience, His goodness, and His
ultimate control over all that He has created. If our understanding of His
character is less than this, He is not wrong… we are.
b.
Another
consideration must be our own limitations in character and virtue. To begin our
thinking during suffering with anything less than our own sinfulness is to miss
the mark as well. The idea of the “innocent” being under attack, while on one
level reconcilable is on another level not true. There are no “innocents”. We
are sinners in need of a Savior.
c.
A
final consideration for now is that Job is a book that will not offer the
solution as to why people suffer. But it is a book that will offer much
assistance in understanding “with whom” and “how” to suffer as a believer in
Jesus Christ. The lost person who suffers is not a focus in this book. His or
her solution is to draw near to the provision and to the guidance of One that
has, can, and will offer Himself to even the most difficult of troubles.
II.
Job
Under Attack Job 1:13-19
a.
According
to Job 1:4-5, the children of Job gathered to enjoy birthday celebrations on a
pretty regular basis. They would eat and drink together and Job would soon
after present sacrifice and prayers for them on the off chance that they had
sinned in some way during these celebrations. As this day opens, Verse 13 tells us that the ten children
were together at the home of the oldest brother. There was nothing unusual about the scene up
to this point.
b.
To
continue that “normal day” thought, Verse
14 tells us that the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding next to
them. Again, this is a normal occurrence on a normal day. That is often the
situation when suffering comes our way. Sometimes, troubles seem to show up at
the most unexpected times. And even though there have probably been messengers
that have arrived at Job’s home with information, there had never been a
messenger that had showed up and delivered the kind of message that Job was
getting ready to hear.
c.
That
message begins in Verse 15 with the
news of an attack by the Sabeans. These nomadic, traveling merchants most
likely were from the southern part of Arabia in Sheba. They have attacked Job’s
possessions and his servants. The oxen and the donkeys have been stolen and the
servants have been killed with swords! This messenger that brought this
horrible news in fact was the only one to get away from that scene.
d.
Messenger
#1 was not even finished with his bad news when a second messenger ran up to
Job and shared another piece of horrible news. Verse 16 tells us that this messenger tells Job that both his sheep
and the servants that tended them were all killed by a tremendous “fire of
God”, probably a lightning storm. Again, the messenger that is bringing this
news is the only one that escaped.
e.
With
two messengers still on site and the second one still speaking, a third
messenger shows up. Verse 17 tells
us that he shares that the Chaldeans, a Bedouin tribe until about 1000 B.C. and
would later become the nucleus for Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian empire, have
made a raid on Job’s camels and the servants that tended them. The camels were
stolen and the servants killed by the sword! For the third time, the one that
is delivering the message is the only one that escaped this horrible scene.
f.
And
before that messenger is finished delivering his awful news, a fourth messenger
approaches Job with the worst news yet. Verse
18-19 tell us that the messenger tells Job that while his 10 children are
celebrating together a “great wind, probably a tornado-like wind, hit the home
that they were in with such force that the four corners of the house all
collapsed simultaneously and all of them were crushed and killed! For the
fourth time, the messenger tells Job that he is the lone survivor of this awful
occurrence.
g.
So
let’s inventory the account thus far. In fact, let’s get the list from Job
1:2-3. In a matter of moments Job has lost to tragedy or theft the following:
i.
10
children (7 sons and 3 daughters), 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 1000 oxen, 500
female donkeys, many, many servants.
h.
Don’t
just read this list, think about it. In a matter of a very short period of
time, Job has been ambushed by pain and grief. He has not even had time to
react to the first disaster before the next one shows up. And the trouble seems
to be coming from all angles! The Sabeans were from the south, the fire was
from heaven, the Chaldeans were from the north, and the wind was from all
around!
i.
How
would you hope to react? How would you probably react? What does your reaction
have to do with anything? We’re “allowed” to be at our worst during these
times, right?
III.
Job’s
Reaction Job 1:20-22
a.
With
the news of his own children being killed by this “great wind”, Job can take no
more. He rises up and begins the preparation for a time of great mourning. He
tore his robe, shaved his head, and according to Verse 20 he…
b.
WORSHIPPED!!!
Job’s true character and response was one of brokenness (God does not blame Job
or us for our despair and our grief) and worship. And what does Verse 21 say that he said to his Lord:
i.
Job
realizes that he was born without and he will die without – He entered the
world with nothing, and will depart the same.
ii.
The
Lord gave and the Lord has taken away – It is the Lord that both gives and
takes. Job is only a steward of all that he has. God alone is sovereign in
these decisions.
iii.
Blessed
be the name of the Lord – Could Job trust himself and all that he had to the
Lord? YES!
c.
And
a last statement is added to the inventory in Verse 22. Job did not sin or blame God. Was Job sinless? No. Was he
a man of deep conviction and high character? Yes. It is worth noting that Job
was accused in Job 1:11 by Satan. The accusation was that if God “touched” all
that Job had, he would curse God to His face. But instead, as Satan tried his
best to drive Job away from God he really only drove him toward Him!
IV.
An
Application For All Of Us
a.
How
attached are you to your “stuff”? Take a look at Luke 12:14-21 for a parallel
discussion on this topic.
b.
Can
you trust yourself in the hand of God? Do you believe Romans 8:28-29?
c.
Will
you follow Him even when you don’t understand?
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