The Glory in Suffering: Part 1
𝒯𝒽𝓊𝓇𝓈𝒹𝒶𝓎'𝓈 𝒫𝓇𝒶𝓎𝑒𝓇: 𝟣/𝟤𝟪/𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟣
𝒮𝒸𝓇𝒾𝓅𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒: Job Chapters 1-2
𝒯𝑜𝓅𝒾𝒸: "The Glory in Suffering"
𝒢𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒜𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓃𝑜𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝒴𝑜𝓊,
The Book of Job is a masterpiece of literary expressions that covers suffering and trials of one man. No person wakes up in the morning and tells God, "Hey God, how about you give me one of the greatest challenges of my life that will make me wish I wasn't born". Not one of us. So while enduring a personal trial of my own, I asked God's Holy Spirit to lead me to the exact area of scripture that would inspire and strengthen me through one of my darkest seasons. The Book of Job was perfect for this task!
Why was it so significant to study Job during my own suffering? I believe it's because Job was described as a righteous man and yet endured one of the darkest seasons ever recorded in biblical history. And yet, he did not turn away from God. I have studied the Book of Job for years, but in previous seasons, I was not in any state of suffering. This lesson hit different.
In the beginning of Job, we learn he is married with a large family and a multi-layered household. Job was a man of integrity, influence, and wealth. Here is a description of his family and possessions.
1. He has seven sons and three daughters.
2. Seven thousand sheep. Equivalent to $300.00 per sheep
3. Three thousand camels. $260.00 per camel
4. Five hundred yoke of oxen. $3,000.00 per yoke
5. Five hundred donkeys. $1,000.00 per donkey
6. A household of multiple servants.
Those were the figures during Job's lifetime. However, If we counted Job's assets today, in 2021, Job would have an estimated net worth close to and over $60,000,000.
Job was considered one of the greatest men of all the people in the East (Job 1:3). Job's children, being a derivative of their father, were also rich. Job was such a righteous man that he offered burnt sacrifices on behalf of his children, just in case they sinned (Job 1:5). It was customary that when the sons of Job feasted, they would invite their sisters over.
In Job 1: 9-12, we see Satan come in (possibly with a group of Angels referred as the "sons of God") and God asks him where did he come from? Satan answers from going to and fro in the earth, walking up and down. This tells me Satan was desperately looking for his next "prey", because we know Satan's plan is to steal, kill, and destroy until his time is up. The Lord asks Satan has he considered his servant Job.
Satan answers God by basically saying God has allowed a hedge of protection around him so of course Job is blessed, and faithful, and honorable. Satan was basically saying, only good things happens to this righteous man; let's see what happens when he loses everything. Satan set out to prove a point to God that Job would eventually curse God to his face once opposition struck. At this point in Job 1:7-12, God allows Satan to test Job.
During the feast of the sons and the sisters at one of the oldest brothers homes (Job 1:13), Job received four messages from servant survivors:
The first messenger reported that the Sabeans took Job's oxen while plowing and also killed the servants. Only this messenger survived. Job 1:15
The second messenger reported the fire of God fell from heaven and burned the sheep, and the servants. Only this messenger survived. Job 1:16
The third messenger reported the Chaldeans took away the camels and killed the servants with a sword. Only this messenger survived this act. Job 1:17
The fourth messenger reported a great wind from the wilderness causing the house to fall on on all of Job's sons and daughter's. Only this messenger survived. Job 1:19
Whew! That's a lot for anyone! Job immediately went into mourning, shaving his head and falling to the ground and worshipped God! WOW!! Still, Job did not sin!!
As if this wasn't enough, Satan was proved wrong and again sought permission from God to further test Job.
God gave the approval but warned Satan to not take his life. Only this time, Satan went after Job's physical presence, (thinking he would destroy the inner presence of God inside of Job). At this point, Job suffered boils, rotten flesh with maggots crawling out, he was still mourning, his body was covered with sores, and yet, Job still did not sin against God.
There's so much more that could be discussed in chapters 1 and 2 of Job. But I would like to stop right there a moment.
What does this say to you? What does this tell you about you? It tells me, "Monica!! Girl. If a righteous person, without any documented blemishes, serving God, offering burnt sacrifices in case his children sinned against God, of great influence and wealth.... If THIS man had to be tested in the worse possible scenarios, what makes you think you will not face tribulation as well"? That's what this tells me. (Just ministering to my own self).
Job. Still. Did. Not. Lose. Trust. In. God!
Job was sad, he mourned, he cried, he lamented, he prayed, he questioned, but he did not curse God and did not sin against God. In a series of speeches, later to follow, his friends accused him of sin and felt that's why he lost everything. And we learn, they were wrong.
I will stop this entry here for today. I encourage every reader to review the first and second chapters of Job. There's so much to be said about this....
Father God in the name of Jesus, we understand that suffering, trials, and tribulation come to make us stronger.
Father God we give You all the praise, all the glory, and all the honor for what you are doing in our lives. Father God help us to have the faith of Job, the strength of Job, and the patience of Job.
Father God we understand that suffering comes, but we know You are there in the midst with us. Father God we thank you for allowing suffering to only be temporary.
Your Word says that weeping may endure for a night but Joy comes in the morning. I thank You God for the Joy!! We love you God and we thank you for loving us enough that you would sacrifice Jesus for us!
It's in Jesus name we pray, Amen.
𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒,
𝑀𝑜𝓃𝒾𝒸𝒶
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