Job was a man who, according to the Bible, experienced life’s greatest turn of events. He went from riches, to rags, and back to riches again. And all of this was allowed by God so that Job could prove his faithfulness and experience more deeply a relationship with Him.
In chapter one Job is put to the test. Satan has asked God to test Job. The testing becomes more severe in chapter two. The rest of the book is Job’s response to the testing.
A basic truth is – life is a test and it is a trust. How we handle the bad stuff in life is important – so too is how we handle the good stuff. Things like faithfulness, hope, endurance are important. How do you know if you will be found faithful if you are not tempted with unfaithfulness?
James 5:11 asks: “Have you not heard of the endurance of Job?” Endurance counts. Job endured the test. He has set an example for all of us to follow.
When we, like Job, have a FIRST HAND experience with God several things happen.
I. We Understand God (v.2)
The Bible says that the just shall live by “faith.” Well, Faith in God can only come when we come to experience the truth of Job’s statement: “I know that you can do all things....” It signifies Job’s confidence in God’s ability.
And, many of God’s people do not live with this confidence because they have not “experienced him first hand” as Job had.
When you experience him first hand, as Job did, you begin to understand God as an all loving and all powerful God.
II. We Understand Life (v.3)
B. But when we experience God FIRST HAND, and I mean experiencing him in spiritual growth, we come to understand life itself.
III. We Understand Ourselves (v.6)
That is an important lesson that everyone here needs to know.
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing.”
Our fruit bearing as a Christian is totally dependent upon our connection with God.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
We cannot afford to forget this important truth!
Job had been humbled. And in his humility he experienced God like never before. And when he did, he came to understand more about God, Life and himself.
God does not leave the scene just yet, but goes to Job's friends and speaks with them about their judgement towards Job. Though Job's friends spoke truths, they wrongly applied them and falsely accused Job. They did not speak rightly about God nor did they understand His perspective as a result, they provoked God.
We need to pursue diligently an understanding of God's perspective when trying to apply truth to a given situation. Do not be like Job's "friends," do not assume that someone's illness or trial is a result of sin or judgment. Encourage the downcast; strengthen the weak; comfort the afflicted.
7And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 8Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”9So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job. Job 42:7-9 (NKJV)
In verse eight God now prescribes to the three friends of Job what they are to do. “Take seven bulls and seven rams – go and make an offering.” Notice that God also gives them another task in the middle of this verse – “go to my servant Job.” God always has given us two tasks – to love Him with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves. If we think that we can love God without loving our neighbor – we are mistaken.
First John four says: “If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.” 1 John 4:20-21 (NASV)
Jesus said: "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” Matthew 5:23-24 (NASV)
10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10 (NIV)
In verse ten we find that Job too obeyed what God had instructed in verse eight. Job had been instructed to pray for his friends – and he did. A good man will not just pray for himself but will also pray for others – even if he is at odds with them. The prayer for others often is profitable for the one who is praying. When we pray for a change in our enemies we are often changed ourselves.
Pray for those who misunderstand you. God restored all that Satan had taken when Job prayed for those who had falsely accused him. Forgiveness is a key to restoration.
Jesus said: “I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 (NASV)
The remainder of the chapter tells us how Job is restored and in the end blessed. But let me say – our adversities in life affect us. We can become bitter or we can become better. Job could have turned his back on God. Job could have cursed God and died – yet he didn’t. Throughout all of his trials and testing he never turned his back on God. Did he get angry – frustrated – depressed? Yes! But he endured. He set an example for all of us to follow.
~Bits and Pieces of the sermon by Tom Shepard and Mike Hamilton
Humility the Beauty of Holiness by Andrew Murray
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