Tried, Time-tested and True
Job 19:25 (NIV)
“I know that my Redeemer lives…” – Job 19:25 (NIV)
Job, a servant of the most high God, was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. God blessed him with a wife, immense wealth, and ten children. He had a rich life. His wealth did not make him proud and arrogant; instead, he took every opportunity to worship God, Who he acknowledged as the source of everything.
Satan, in order to test Job’s integrity and loyalty to God, asked God to remove the hedge of protection that He had around him, his household, and everything he had. Satan was confident that Job would curse God once his protection and comfort were removed. God granted the request but instructed that he must not lay a finger on Job.
Satan destroyed all of Job’s livestock and killed his children along with most of his servants. In his diabolical plan, he ensured Job was informed that the devastation of his children and livestock was blamed on God (Job 1:16). But after receiving the terrible news, Job never charged God for any wrongdoing. Instead, he fell to the ground and worshipped God, declaring, among other things, that the “Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:20 – NIV).
Defeated satan then asked permission to amplify Job’s tests (Job 2:4-6). God assented. Satan afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. His wife demanded that he should discard his integrity, curse God and die. But Job refused and described her utterances as foolishness.
Job’s three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, initially came to sympathise but stayed to criticise. They accused him of perpetrating evil that attracted the wrath of God. Job informed his friends that they “…have proved to be of no help…” – Job 6:21 and described them as “worthless physicians” (Job 13:4) and “miserable comforters” (Job 16:1). In the midst of the torment, Job declared “I know my Redeemer lives.”
At the end of his trial and testing, God rebuked his friends and accused them of telling lies about Him. They were instructed to offer a burnt sacrifice in repentance of their sins, and Job was commanded to pray for them. The Lord restored Job’s fortunes, gave him twice what he had, and blessed him with ten more children. He was able to see his children to the fourth generation.
The lessons learned from Job’s experience:
1. We should never be judgmental and imagine negative things about others (Luke 6:37).
2. In the midst of suffering, we must never lose hope in God. This too shall pass (Deuterobomy 28:1).
3. Our friends may forsake us, but God will never leave us nor forsake us (1 King 8:57).
4. It does not matter what is going on in our lives, God is still in control (Psalms 125:2).
5. After repentance and forgiveness comes blessing. Job received double for his troubles (Job 42:10).
Read: Luke 22:28; James 1:2-4
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 15:21-30; Acts 16:16-40; I Kings 14:21-31; I Kings 15; I Kings 16:1-7
