Although we left Part 1 of this blog about Job with a warm, fuzzy feeling about Job's predicament we have to remember that he isn't privied to these conversations between God and Satan. He has no idea why these things have happened in his life. He does the best he can with the lemons he is handed. This is where the rubber meets the road so to speak. Quite possibly this is where you may be, and this is where we are going to see the similarities between Job's thoughts and feelings and our own. It's funny, as much as civilization has advanced since Job's day, human nature has pretty much stayed the same.
The central theme and main struggle for Job is why. If you've been handed a lemon you can already relate, right? However, Job's question goes further ... "Why do the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper?" These questions are echoed throughout the book of Job. (Job 9:24, Job 10:3, Job 12:6, Job 21:7). I have met many people who have asked me this same question, and years ago I recall asking God this question myself. The two things God eventually showed me are- 1) We have to realize that from Satan's perspective the current status of the souls of worldly people is that they are lost. Why would Satan waste his time bothering people who are already going to hell? (Not to say he doesn't mess with the unsaved. He will steal, kill, and destroy from anyone he can). But ultimately Satan is after Christians to see them renounce God and become damned like he is. 2) Conversely, from God's perspective we know anything He allows in our life He has a plan and purpose for. Chances are what God wants to accomplish will require faith and trust in Him. Attributes only Christan's possess.
The secondary struggle for Job is his relationships with others. At the onset of trouble his own wife tells him to "renounce God and die" (Job 2:9). Talk about a supportive spouse! But that's another topic ... and perhaps a completely different blog! Anyway, Job has three friends who come to comfort him, but they keep insisting there must be some sin in Job's life that has caused this to happen. As humans we want so badly to feel we have control. We want to equate suffering with sin and convince ourselves that our good behavior will safeguard against affliction. So Job 7:20&21 and Job 13:23&24 finds Job contending with his friends and God about any hidden sin in his life. He even begins to wonder if it is a sin from his youth (Job 13:26). Finally in Job 19:4 we see him reject the notion of a hidden sin as the source of his suffering. He has come to the same conclusion many of us come to and that is the fact that we would know if there was sin in our life, and if we didn't certainly God would show us if we did.
Job also deals with alienation of friends and family members. We see this in Job 16:7 and Job 19:13-19. The lemon is many times too bitter for the people around us. Why is it that when we need the support of others most, we find ourselves alone? Maybe it's because of our own reactions to these troubles. Maybe it's because people feel uncomfortable and don't know what to say. But I think the biggest reason people flee in the time of trouble is because no one wants to be reminded of their own vulnerability to life. The more random the affliction, the more it scares people.
Through my own experience I've found that when we tend to lean on others too much, they will through varies means, be removed. For example, around the time I realized something wasn't quite right with my youngest son my mom was busy caring for my dad who was fighting cancer and my best friend was in the process of moving away. Isolation many times is an indicator that God is about to do a work in you. Embrace this time of teaching and correction because the truth is change in us has to come before change around us will.
Trials are a refining process. "When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold" (Job 23:10). "And I will bring them through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined and will test them as gold is tested" (Zechariah 13:9). These scriptures remind me of the story of a woman who after reading Zech. 13:9 decided to go to a silversmith to find out exactly how silver is refined. She watched as the silversmith diligently kept watch over the silver, putting it in and taking it out of the fire. The lady thought, "Oh I see. Look how tenderly and lovingly the Lord watches over us while we are in the fire knowing exactly when we need to be removed." Satisfied with the conclusion she had reached she opened the door to leave, when suddenly she thought of one more question. "How do you know when the silver is completely refined?" The silversmith replied, "When I can see my reflection in it." Pretty powerful to ponder, isn't it?
"Oh, that the words I now speak were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!" (Job 19:23). I'm so glad they were! We can learn alot about times of trial through Job. The interesting thing is the number of times Job speaks truly incredible and prophetic words about his situation. Words of hope that rose out of a man put to the test. "I know that my Redeemer lives ... my eyes shall behold Him, AND NOT AS A STRANGER" (Job 19:25&27). As we read the last chapter of Job we see this is indeed the outcome. "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my spiritual eye SEES YOU" (Job 42:5). The process we go through when we are handed a lemon has the potential to lead us to a deeper understanding of God. A head knowledge that is replaced by a revelation of the heart and a more intimate connectedness with our Lord.
As one of my favorite poets, Helen Steiner Rice, wrote while closing a poem on the whys of suffering ... " I ask myself this and the answer is plain- If my life were all pleasure and I never knew pain, I'd seek God less often and need Him much less, For God's sought more often in times of distress. And no one knows God or sees Him as plain as those who have met Him on the pathway of pain."
Lord God, may the lemons in my life draw me closer to you.
* Next Blog "A Lemon Tree (Part 3), Keys to Restoration"
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