Part 1 of this blog about Job outlined the cosmic bet between God and Satan. Part 2 dealt with suffering's many struggles. Today we will look at the restoration of Job. Many of you probably already know how the story ends, but that will not be our focus. Because this blog site is all about "Turning Life's Lemons Into Lemonade," we are going to pay close attention to the process in which restoration occurs and identify the keys that unlock Job's troubles. Although the keys for Job might be different than our own, there is a process in which restoration unfolds, and those steps apply to us all.
Step 1: Continue to Seek God!
The first step in Job's restoration is that he continued to seek God. He did not allow his problems to pull him away from God, which is exactly what Satan would like. Both Jeremiah 29:13 and Matthew 7:7-8 tell us that if we will persistently seek God as a vital necessity with our whole heart we will find Him. I know some people think it is disrespectful to seek God with questions, but this is not true. Your questions and frustration do not threaten or anger God. He already knows what you are going to ask, how you feel, and what you need (Matt. 6:8). Just be honest with Him. He is big enough to handle it!
Job peppers God with questions throughout the entire book. Over and over Job struggles with questions that he is blatant with God about. Finally in chapter 38 God responds to Job's inquiries but not with an answer. Instead God has a slew of His own questions for Job. Those questions bring Job to a place of humility and a clear understanding that God is God and Job is not! Job acknowledges this fact when he says, "I now see I have rashly uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know" (Job 42:3). Although this is where God shows up and Job has his epiphany, THIS IS NOT WHERE JOB IS RESTORED. However, it is the first key in the process of Job's restoration ... restoration of the truth of God's sovereignty over his life.
Step 2: Search Yourself!
The second step in Job's restoration is that Job continued to search himself, and the more I study this out the more I'm convinced this step played a huge part in Job's joyous outcome. You see, sin may not be the cause of a problem, but sin can keep you in that problem! As I mentioned in Part 2's blog, the majority of Job's family and friends deserted him when trouble hit. The only friends who remained where ones that tried to convince him this was his fault ... some hidden sin, etc. Throughout Job's journey his friends said many things that made him upset. We know this because of Job's responses to them. Here are a few brief examples ...
1. "No doubt you are the only wise people in the world, and wisdom will die with you! ... I am not inferior to you." (Job 12:2-3)
2. "... wearisome and miserable comforters are you all! Will your futile words of wind have no end? What makes you so bold to answer me like this? ... if you were in my stead; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you." (Job 16:2-4)
3. "How long will you vex and torment me and break me in pieces with words? ... you are not ashamed that you harden yourself against me and deal severely with me." (Job 19:2-3)
4. "Allow me, and I also will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on." (Job 21:3)
Do you sense Job's frustration? Can you imagine your own frustration? Is it possible that Job could have taken offense or became resentful toward his friends? The obvious answer is YES! The Bible never tells us if Job forgave them as he went or if he forgave them in one fail swoop, but I submit to you that Job was placed in a position to show mercy and forgive his friends. Thus, forgiveness became the second key to unlocking his misfortune.
Step 3: Obedience to God's Instructions!
The third step in Job's restoration was obedience to God's instructions and is closely linked to the second key of Job's restoration which is FORGIVENESS. Job 42:7-9 tells us that God was unhappy with Job's friends for not "speaking of Me the thing that was right," and He commanded them to take animals to Job to offer up a burnt offering that JOB is to pray over. Why Job? No where in this entire account is it stated that Job is a priest. But look what happens when we couple the "Forgiveness Factor" with these scriptures ... "When you pray, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him ... so that you may be forgiven" (Mark 11: 25-26). And "Pray for one another that you may be healed and restored" (James 5:16). Forgiveness opens God's ear to our prayers and puts us in a position to receive from Him. Job must have offered up the burnt offering and prayed from a forgiving heart because Job 42:10 says "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job and restored his fortunes, WHEN HE PRAYED FOR HIS FRIENDS ..." The Bible goes on to tell us that God restored double to Job of all he had lost.
Notice the order of restoration ... FIRST was Job's restoration with God. THEN came Job's restoration with his friends. LAST was the physical restoration of Job. So many times we get the cart before the horse. We are after the the deliverence, the healing, the solution to the problem. The Bible says "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and THEN all these things will be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33). God knows when we are seeking His hand instead of His face. Also notice that the restoration process begins WITHIN Job and moves OUT of him. It begins with a change of heart toward God, moves to a change in attitude and action toward his friends, and culminates in a physical manifestation of complete deliverence. 3 John 1:2 says "Beloved, I pray that you be in health and prosper EVEN AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS." Our outward prospering is linked to our inward prospering. As I mentioned in my last blog, change in us always comes before change around us will, and no one can change us like God can.
Although Satan is the source of the lemon, that lemon puts you in line for promotion. "Instead of your former shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor you shall rejoice in your portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs" (Is. 61:7). When we are handed a lemon if we will continue to seek the Lord, observe His commands, and obey His instruction we set ourselves up for the double! God promises to restore the years that are lost (Joel 2:25), make beauty from ashes (Is. 61:3), and that those who sow in tears will reap in joy (Psalm 126:5). He is a God that does exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or even think (Eph. 3:20). Just look at what He did for Job!
The last thing I want to point out is the words of Job 16:21 "Oh, that there were one who might plead for a man with God and that he might maintain his right with Him ..." How fortunate and blessed we are to live in the time that Job speaks of! "For there is only one God, and only one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5). Remember, Job is the oldest book in the Bible. These events took place long before Moses recounts creation in Genesis. Job didn't have a Bible! If Job could have such great faith in God, how much more should we have through the written word and shed blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? He is seated at the right hand of God the Father pleading intercession for us (Rom. 8:34). Because He suffered and was tempted, tested, and tried, Hebrews 2:18 tells us He RUNS to the cry of those who also are being tempted, tested, and tried. My friend, He was victorious. Let Him lead you to victory too!
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