Job 2-3 Job Knows

God kind of “rubs it in” to Satan that Job didn’t cave with all the calamities Satan had brought upon him.  This just stokes Satan up for another round.  Evidently, God is confident in how Job will fare and gives Satan permission to inflict him with physical suffering but not death.  Job’s wife can’t stand it all and begs Job to just curse God so his misery will end in death.  She is unwittingly being used by the tempter to get Job to do the one thing God forbade Satan to do.  Job answered, “Should we take only good things from God and not trouble?”  Amazing!

 

His three friends arrived hardly recognized him.  For seven days they simply sat with him and shared his misery – what good friends should do.  Job finally spoke, not wishing for death, but in a very Jewish way cursing the day of his birth.  It’s almost as if he believes that in doing so, God might go back in time and undo the event itself.

 

Job asked a lot of “why” questions.  My commentary noted:  “There is nothing wrong with asking why, as long as we don’t get the idea that God owes us an answer.  Even our Lord asked, “Why have You forsaken Me?”  But if the Lord did tell us why things happen as they do, would that ease our pain or heal our broken hearts? … We live on promises, not explanations; so we shouldn’t spend too much time asking God why.”

 

I also read, “In times of severe testing, our first question must not be, “How can I get out of this?” but “What can I get out of this?” … Faith is living without scheming.  It is obeying God in spite of feelings, circumstances, or consequences, knowing that He is working out His perfect plan in His way and in His time.  The two things Job would not give up were his faith in God and his integrity.”

 

One final thing I noted, in verses 25-26, Job saying, “Everything I feared and dreaded has happened to me.  I have no peace or quietness.  I have no rest, only trouble.”  Job feared and dreaded at some point in his life.  Did Satan read his thoughts and produce these very things to torment him?  If so, then it would be all the better for us to have no fear of things in this life because we know God is in complete control.

 

Father, just yesterday I was reflecting over events at work over the previous two years.  You assured me at that time that You had it all under control, so I believed you and didn’t fret over it.  I’ve lived on promises and I’ve watched as You’ve worked to bring about their fruition.  How differently those years have played out without fear than they could have.  How great it has been to be assured that You are at the helm, Your hands steady on the wheel, guiding us through it all.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Thank you for what You’ve shown me.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford