There is some comfort in reading Job and the trials that he suffered. Not that we want to dwell on the trials, but it is nice to know that one went before us, as many have gone before us. Then there are those who try to give good wisdom to the troubled, only to have it come out as sarcasm and judgment. Such a time was what Job had to endure by his so-called friends. They wanted him to admit that God’s judgment was aimed at him, and for him to change, but Job was an upright man. This testing did not happen to Job because he was evil, but was testing because he was strong and good. But his friends didn’t see it that way. In one conversation with Zophar in which Zophar was trying to get Job to see the wisdom that God was delivering these hardships on Job because of his sin. But I want to write in here Job’s response, which I think all of us should take a moment to meditate on: “No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you! But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who doesn’t know the things you are talking about? I am a laughingstock to my friends, by calling on God, who answers me. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock. The one who is at ease holds calamity in contempt and thinks it is prepared for those whose feet are slipping. The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure; God’s power provides this. But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Or speak to the earth, and it will instruct you; let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind. Doesn’t the ear test words as the palate tastes food? Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life. Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His. Job 12: 1-13 We so often equate trials as God’s punishment, and I have heard many say that we are being punished now. When I ask you and others to turn from wicked ways, it is for the purpose of repentance before our Almighty God, even if we don’t have pronounced sin in our lives. We are to turn toward repentance and acknowledge our Lord as our Master, even if it seems like He is not listening. Much happened to Job, but his faithfulness remained. He didn’t try to find his sin, but concentrated on his relationship with the Lord God. His friends wanted him to accept that he had sin in his life and he was being punished for it. But Job did not see it that way. He trusted God with all that he was and had, everything was in His hands. He gave, and He takes away. Satan was arguing with the Lord that Job only was good because God had given him so much, but God knows the hearts of His people. In Chapter one, the end verse sums up the relationship that Job had with God, when he says, “Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.” v1:22 Let’s remember this wisdom. That all that befalls us today is not necessarily because we are evil, as some would like us to think. We do need to evaluate ourselves, but trust God still has this under control – ALL OF IT! So we too, can say, “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Praise the name of Yahweh! Pastor Andy
Barnabas Man 