To any of God’s children who go through hurt, sorrow and pain, the story of Job is a book of consolation and hope. A message that can move us from the hurt of this world to the healing of the Lord.
Job is believed to be the oldest book of the Bible and it is no surprise that the oldest book in the Bible deals with the oldest question of humans existence; Why do bad things happen to good people?
The Horrific Hurt
Job’s Story: His name means: one who turns back to God or assailed persecuted one. And his name certainly fits. The story begins with a simple introduction, and we are dropped right into the life of Job which reveals much of his character and sets the premise of the book.
Character Job 1:1-3 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
The Bible tells us that he was perfect and upright, he was blameless, lacking nothing in his service and worship of God. He was a good and just man. Job’s was a man who loved his family, which is shown by the sacrifices and prayers he offers on their behalf, continually, the Bible says.
Challenge: After, we are meet Job, we are privy to a challenge given in the presence of the Lord. We are told of events taking place in heaven, events never revealed to Job.
After the Lord, brings up Job and states that he is a good, moral, upright man, who honors God. Satan then challenges the Lord. Job 1:9-11 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
The Lord then allows Satan to run Job through the hurt of trial and tribulation.
Catastrophe: Then after this discussion in heaven, we read exactly what Satan did. Job 1:13-19 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
This pattern of catastrophe continues until Job has lost his wealth, his household, and even all of his children. Finally God allows Satan to attack Job’s body and destroy his health.
Job 2:7-9 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
He lost his children. He lost his wealth, his servants, his health and finally, even the support and encouragement of his wife.
Our Story: We are often Hurt People enduring Hard Times
Wherever you get your news, not a day will go by that you won’t read about horrible things happening to people who don’t deserve it. Churches are hit by tornadoes. Schools children are being killed by those under the influence of Satan and sin. Christians and their families experience car wrecks, heart attacks, bankruptcy. Faithful, loving Christians know the tragedy of suicides, drug addictions, alcoholism, divorce and violence. We relate to the story of Job because his story is our story.
World’s Story: Yes, There is Evil In this World
Why do these things happen? From a Biblical point of view, its not hard to understand. It is hard to experience but not hard to understand. The reason is that there is sin in this world, and it doesn’t care if you are a good person. In fact being a good person, a child of God may make you a target just as it did Job.
This started way back in Genesis 3:4-6 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Evil, pain, suffering and sorrow are in this world because man let it in. Adam and Eve opened the door to the knowledge of sin and with the knowledge of sin came the reality of sin’s consequences; pain, suffering and sorrow.
And in case we want to blame Adam for the consequence we need to read, Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, (Why? Because) for that all have sinned.
Adam may have sinned first but you and I have followed right in his path. Adam’s sin may explain my inclination to sin but it does not excuse my own acts of sin. Those sins and their consequences are mine and I have to answer for them.
We need to understand that sin always has consequences. It may be indirectly because of the world we live in or it might be directly because of a sin I’ve committed, but we need to know that sin always brings pain, sorrow and suffering, as happened in the Garden it is still happening today.
