January 19 - Job 1:1-4:21

Good morning everyone,

Today we come to the book of Job. Now, the Old Testament is divided into 5 parts; the Pentateuch, History, Poetry or Writings, Major Prophets, and Minor Prophets, we will find Job in the third part with poetry. You’re saying what? Poetry? It’s true. The book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible being penned somewhere around 2000 BC, quite possibly making it one of, if not THE, oldest book ever. The author, though unknown, is believed to be an Israelite since the covenant name Yahweh is used for God. 

Job doesn’t seem to be a member of God’s chosen family line but he was a very godly man. He spent time with God, he knew God and totally believed in God’s plan for his life, which is grossly understated. Job had faith in God’s decisions, the ways of God and that ultimately everything was God’s, gifted to us and able to be taken back at will. He knew right from wrong and showed deep concern for the spiritual welfare of his children, spending a lot of time burning sacrifices to God on behalf of his children whom he feared may curse God at their family gatherings. Parents, one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is time on our knees in prayer for them. Sacrificing a portion of each day to ask God to guide them and protect them as they grow. 

So Job, a very wealthy man with outstanding morals, in the course of an afternoon lost his herds, his flocks, his possessions and all his children. Think for a moment, how devastating that would be. Seriously. One messenger after another is running up to you with reports of mass loss and what does Job do? He tore his robe, shaved his head, then he fell to the ground in worship. Amazing! 

Then, we’re told, on another day, Job lost his health as well. Indeed a bummer. His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” Job replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

Often people will say “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Recently I heard a reply to that, that quite honestly I plan to use a lot, it was, “That’s easy, there are no good people. Romans 3:10 tells us ‘There is no one righteous, not one.’ So the better question would be, why do good things happen to us, we are all sinners?” The answer of course is Jesus. When He died His blood covered our sins. We will see that though Job was indeed a righteous man, in the end he was a sinner just like you and me. He will repent before the Lord and all his riches will be restored.

One more thing I do want to point out is that Satan, though God tossed him from heaven, still has to, along with all the angels living in heaven, make an account to God of what he has been up to, and …. this is a VERY big “AND”, he does not get to do anything to us unless he has God’s permission.  1Corinthians 10:13 tells us “We will not be tempted beyond what we can bear.” Why? Because it is all in God’s control. God made us, He loves us and He knows us so well, so very, very well, so more than we could ever fathom. So while He will allow us to be tempted to strengthen us, to give us confidence ourselves and in Christ Jesus, He will also gives us the power to succeed. Make sense? 

Like Job, we too must trust God when we face hard times, bad days, cranky people, financial difficulties, health issues, you name it;  staying strong in our faith even when someone may say to you, like Job’s wife said to him, “are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”  Now in all fairness, maybe she was just wishing him to die to put him out of his misery, I don’t know, but given the fact that Job would make regular sacrifices to God for his kids I am thinking that maybe her faith was not as strong as Jobs. What I do know is God loves me, He loves you very much, and like I’ve said before, He’s got a plan, and His plan is perfect. Amen?

Have a really good day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all …..