Job 1:13-2:10

Introduction
Life is tough.  This afternoon, we will bury a good man who suffered through multiple ailments.  Darrell Steck’s passing, though not unexpected, still came as a surprise to all who knew him and his struggles.  Growing old is not for sissies. 

Accidents that take the lives of younger people are especially difficult to process.  My granddaughter posted her grief on FaceBook this week for a teacher at her school that was run down by a truck while walking along a country road.  I’ll never forget coming home late one night in December after a Christmas musical performance to receive the news that my five-year-old nephew had died from complications of an ear infection.

This world is not only tough; it can be brutal.  And the way that we respond to the terrible tragedies of life reveals the strength of our spiritual core.  Robert Duvall is one of my favorite actors.  He has done several movies that portray Christian faith will real authenticity and sensitivity.  But in Open Range, he hates God for what has happened to him and his cattlemen crew.  While he and Kevin Costner went to down, one of their cowhands and their dog are brutally murdered.  Another young man in their crew is barely clinging to life.  At the burial, Costner suggests that Duvall say a prayer for their fallen partner and the dog.  Duvall replies coldly, “You want to speak with the man upstairs, do it.  But I ain’t talkin’ to that SOB.”

Some people hate God when life turns on them.  They jettison whatever faith they had and harden into stone-cold bitterness.  Others handle it a different way… 

Horatio Spafford was a very successful attorney in Chicago in the latter years of the nineteenth century.  He was also a devoted Christian, a student of the Scriptures, and a good friend of famed evangelist, D.L. Moody.  He invested a large portion of his resources in lakefront property in 1871 which was completely destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of that same year.  Shortly after his devastating loss, Spafford and his wife lost their only son to scarlet fever at the age of four.  Feeling overwhelmed by their losses, the family decided that they needed a vacation in Europe and planned accordingly.  But on the eve of their departure, Spafford was detained in Chicago because of business matters and sent his wife and four daughters on ahead.  He planned to catch up with them in Europe at a later date.  On November 22, 1873, the S.S. Ville de Havre, the steamship on which they were traveling was struck by another ship and sank in twelve minutes.  Over two hundred souls drowned the worst civilian naval disaster in history up until the sinking of the Titanic.  Two days later, Horatio Spafford received a cable from his wife stating, “Saved alone...what shall I do?”  On board the ship in route to join his wife, overcome with grief, but stayed by faith, Spafford wrote these words:

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

When tragedy strikes we can do one of two things: curse God and spiral into bitterness, or hold on to your faith and bless God.  The first option seems natural and easy, but it’s consequences are disastrous.  The second takes courageous faith, determination, and integrity, but that kind of faithfulness will always result in deep blessing.

Job 1:13-2:10 (NIV)
One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Job’s Adversity
The story that we just read is fairly well-known by people who know their Bibles.  But sermons on Job are few and far between because the book is so long and few preachers are willing to tackle the whole thing.  Consequently, much of our understanding about Job and his journey of suffering can be somewhat shallow.  Many people think that the Book of Job gives the biblical answer to suffering in this world.  It provides some understanding, but it also raises just about as many questions as it addresses.  Some folks think that throughout his suffering Job always maintained perfect faith and never questioned God.  Not so.  Halfway through the story, we find Job very agitated against not only his friends but against God as well.  Job wanted to argue his case with and against God and, in the end, he got his opportunity. 

Job was no super-saint.  He was human – like you and me.  But though he was angry with God, he never turned away from him.  He never took the easy route to curse God and die.  Through all of his unbearable suffering, he kept his faith.

So, as we unpack this story, what are some of the things we can learn from Job to strengthen and inspire our faith in difficult times? 

Let’s begin with the reality of Satan’s operation in this broken world.  While the Bible tells us that Satan was cast out of heaven, the Book of Job also informs us that the Devil still has access to God’s throne-room.  I don’t know why God allows the embodiment of evil in his presence.  He is certainly not frightened or intimidated by Satan.  The fact that Satan has access to God also tells us that God ultimately rules over the Enemy and the whole world.  God always wins.  He always has the last word. 

Notice Satan’s tactics.  He is the master manipulator, destroyer, and accuser. The whole drama of these first two chapters is Satan’s attempt to assert that no one can be faithful to God under the worst circumstances.  He is accusing God of being unworthy of worship and loyalty.  God found no fault in Job, but Satan did.  Remember that, when you begin to doubt God’s love and forgiveness for you.  Satan wants to cut you down.  He loves to whisper his accusations in your ear.  It is one of his oldest tactics. 

And Satan doesn’t give up.  He brought a barrage of tragedy upon Job and he wasn’t shaken.  So Satan demanded the right to afflict even more pain on Job.  He recruited Job’s wife to deliver his tempting message.  Let me tell you, it’s hard for a good man to rebuke the wife he loves.  Job’s wife was Satan’s trump card and he wasn’t afraid to play it. 
But why would God allow such tragedy to befall Job and his family?  That’s the question that is the most difficult to answer.  And if we are honest, there is no answer that can completely salve the aching pain of human tragedy.  In the end, the answer is, “God is God, and you and I are not.”  But in the story of Job, pastor, and theologian Warren Wiersbe suggests that “the fundamental reason God allowed Job to suffer was to silence the blasphemous accusations of Satan and prove that a man would honor God even though he had lost everything.” 

Friends, that is a significant truth, and saints down through the ages who have lost everything, even their lives, have remained steadfast in their faith and devotion to God.  It is possible to remain true in a tough world.  God is a good Father and He is worthy of our worship and unfailing trust.  

Humility to Stand
God has built into the human body and spirit the powerful ability to withstand unspeakable blows to our being.  When our bodies sustain a serious injury it goes into shock, which is elevated levels of functionality for a brief period of time in order to survive.  The human spirit is the same.  If you’ve ever experienced personal tragedy, you may have been surprised at your ability to handle the event for the first few moments or hours.  I remember when Diane was in labor with twins at twenty-five weeks and we had to discontinue the anti-labor treatment that she was on because the drugs jeopardized her well-being.  For twelve hours, our hearts and minds were overwhelmed with the circumstances that we were experiencing.  If the babies were born, they would have been under two pounds with less than a five percent chance of surviving.  But we weren’t hysterical or in panic.  Throughout the experience, there was a peace and clarity that sustained us.  It was the grace of emotional and spiritual shock.  I believe that is what we see in Job’s heroic statements of faith that we just read. 

But its also in those moments of shock that our true character is revealed.  And what we see in Job is true humility and full dependence on God.  He looked back at his birth and forward to his death, realizing that he was completely in God’s hands.  And he looked up in worship and trust, saying, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” 

But as the initial shock wore off, the questions came flooding in.  And isn’t that true with us as well?  There will always be questions, friends, even for those who love God deeply.  Let’s not pretend that it is always well with my soul.  It isn’t, and the Bible allows us grace and space to ask the tough questions of God. 

C.S. Lewis was perhaps the most profound Christian intellectual of the twentieth century.   In 1940, he wrote in his book, The Problem of Pain, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.  It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”  Twenty years later, he got to experience that pain firsthand when his wife, whom he had married later in life, died of cancer.  A Grief Observed is his reflection, rant, and heart cry against God who took the love of his life away.  It is raw and it is honest.  Like Job, Lewis questioned God, but he never lost his faith. 

God invites your tough questions.  He can take it.  Your feelings don’t shock him.  What parent would refuse to hear the pain of their beloved child?  And like with Job, God will eventually answer you.  But it is an answer that you must be ready to hear.  While Job did question and even accuse God, he always knew that God was God.  And when God showed up and reminded Job that he was still the sovereign Creator and Ruler of the Universe, Job relented.  While Job raised a fist to God in his pain and confusion, his heart was always humble before Him.  Notice Job’s response to God’s answer:

“I know that you can do all things;
    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know.
You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.’
My ears had heard of you
    but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself
    and repent in dust and ashes.” 
                                    Job 42:2-6

The story goes on to say how God blessed Job with even more children and riches than what he had before.  But the greatest riches that Job discovered was that prior to his sufferings, his knowledge of God had been indirect and impersonal; but now that was all changed.  Now Job knew God intimately and personally and he understood that he was but dust and ashes. 

The greatest blessing of suffering is that your soul will go deeper with God.

I will testify to that many times over.

An Indomitable Faith
Don’t waste your sorrows, friends.  I don’t presume to have all the answers to your suffering.  I have questions about the struggles that I’ve had in my own life.  But this I do know: that God is a good God who can be trusted and that if you’ll walk with him, though often confused and devastated through your pain, the deep and intimate personal relationship that will be forged with God in the crucible of suffering will be worth all that you have endured.   Stay true.  Stand fast in your faith in this tough, tough world.

Jeremiah probably suffered more than any other prophet in the Old Testament.  He saw his beloved city of Jerusalem destroyed and her people ravaged and carried off into exile.  This was his lament and cry in steadfast faith: (Read this very slowly)


I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.
It is good for a man to bear the yoke
    while he is young.
Let him sit alone in silence,
    for the Lord has laid it on him.
Let him bury his face in the dust—
    there may yet be hope.
Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
    and let him be filled with disgrace.
For no one is cast off
    by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love.
For he does not willingly bring affliction
    or grief to anyone.
                                                Lamentations 3:19-33

This is the good word of the Lord for you and me today.



Comments

  1. On the Sunday night after we lost our son Brian I walked into the church service alone; a little late on purpose. The worship was in progress and the congregation was singing "It is well with my soul." A very special moment for me as I knew that to be true.

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