Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job…?”
Recently I came to the end of the Book of Job in my personal Bible reading and I was troubled with the same thoughts from previous readings of the book over my 30-year walk with the Lord. Why Lord? Why allow such pain and suffering to one of yours?
I have read and studied Job’s book many times. I have heard sermons, read commentaries, used illustrations from the book in my own sermons and teachings. I get the good from it, the benefits to the believer. James 5:11 tells us Job was a model of perseverance and patience. Job also shows us that the righteous will suffer and that there is a longing in all of us for a true mediator with God. Good stuff.
The agonizing question, however, remained. Why this way with Job, Lord? Coming to the end of the book, praying and asking for divine inspiration to this question, I read in chapter 42 where Job is answering the Lord after so much suffering and before his restoration. He says, “In the past I heard about you (Lord), but now I have seen you with my own eyes, and I am ashamed of myself. I am so sorry. As I sit in dust and ashes I promise to change my heart, and my life” (Job 42:5-6).
Wow! It is a true, heartfelt confession from Job. After, meditating on this confession, I was awakened at 1:19 in the morning as clarity filled my heart about Job and the question “Why Lord?” I had to get up an write it down. I was directed back to chapter 1:8 where the Lord says to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?” Satan was looking for a soul to destroy, and the verse seems to imply God was offering up Job as a sacrifice with whom Satan could have his way.
And yet, what the Holy Spirit showed me in God offering Job’s life to Satan is that God was already dealing with Job in their relationship together. Job’s confession and repentance confirms his shortcomings that were going on. Job apparently had great knowledge of God, blessed in the peace of God, “I have heard of you” (Job 42:5). But it is clear from Job he was lacking in a relationship of true depth and love with God. He did not have the fullness of peace. The peace with God which is the ability to experience the peace of God in all things, all circumstances, having a clear conscience (Hebrews 10:20-21).
God had to strip Job of his blessings before Job would surrender to a right relationship in peace with the Lord. His confession speaks to Job truly knowing God now and being at total peace with God. Where the relationship was tainted by darkness and the things of the flesh, it is now shining in a light of brightness he did not know before. Praise be to God.
What about you beloved of Christ? What about your relationship with God? We are all Job’s—imperfect creatures but works in progress. In our relationship with God, He desires all of us to be in a place where we can experience all of life at peace with God. To get to such a place may just depend on how one is willing to change.
This is what God wants for you friend. I am not saying you have to lose everything like Job, but if that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes. How many flights of stairs must we fall down before looking up to be in complete peace with God?
Job got there. What about you friend?
By Pastor David Massie, Bible League International staff, California U.S.