“I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Job 42:2-3
When you think about the book of Job and specifically Job himself, you may be reminded of all the things he suffered. Not only did he lose his livelihood but also his children and finally, even his health. Then, there were the intangibles; his standing in the community and the respect that had been earned over a lifetime.
Much of the story of the slice of his life that the book of Job covers has to do with his interaction with his wife and some of his friends. They all had advice for him, and his friends even had answers as to why Job had suffered so much misfortune in his life. His wife’s advice? Curse God and die!
But as we take a step back and look at Job’s life from God’s perspective, something becomes clear even through the fog of everyday life and the challenges that come with it — no one understands life but the Giver of Life, God. For the rest of us, there are, and will be some things that are beyond understanding.
From the very beginning of the book of Job, we see God’s opinion of him; a man who is blameless and righteous, who fears God and turns away from evil. So much for all of his friends’ explanations for the trouble and tragedy Job experienced. To lose everything in this life even to the point of being near death himself and still maintaining faith in the Lord and blessing His name is a good indication that this story isn’t over yet!
Just because you face troubles in your life is certainly no indication that you are not highly favored by God. If you could just hear what the Lord is saying about you in heaven, you would trust Him beyond the storm and praise Him even in the darkest night. The good news is that you can know what He says about you, for He has written it down; the Bible is God’s love letter to you and about you.
But what about all you are going through right now? Surely everything Job’s friends had to say must have some merit, right? After all, you may have some friends like Job’s friends, with an explanation for things that are beyond understanding; an explanation that condemns you with no chance of a happy ending. Fortunately, just as in Job’s life so it will be in yours — God has the last word!
And how does it end for Job? Happily ever after, of course! The Lord blessed Job with more than he had before: more sheep, more camels, more oxen, more donkeys, ten more children and one hundred and forty years of life with his children and grandchildren to four generations. Don’t try to figure everything in life out, just keep on trusting in the Lord and keep pressing on with Him, knowing that some things in this life are beyond understanding.
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