To any of God’s children who go through hurt, sorrow and pain, the story of Job is a book of consolation and hope. A message that can move us from the hurt of this world to the healing of the Lord.
Job is believed to be the oldest book of the Bible. The events recorded in it are presented as poetry or a play. Though plays as such didn’t exist in that time. It is a true account of real people but told in an epic, poetical manner. It is one of the reasons it is considered one of the greatest writings in all of human history. The oldest book in the Bible, one of the greatest writings in human history is about one of the oldest question humans seek an answer for. Why do bad things happen to good people?
The Horrific Hurt
Job’s Story: His name means: one who turns back to God or assailed persecuted one. And his name certainly fits. The story begins with a simple introduction, and we are dropped right into the life of Job which reveals much of his character and sets the premise of the book.
Character Job 1:1-3 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
The Bible tells us that he was perfect and upright, he was blameless, lacking nothing in his service and worship of God. He was a good and just man. He is wealthy and that wealth is measured in possessions, in this case livestock. This helps us date the book to aout Abraham's time as this is how Abraham, Isaac and Jacob measured their wealth. We also think that Job is the first of all the books because it does not mention or refer to any other Bible books or characters, though both the books of Ezekiel and James refer back to the book of Job.
Job’s is also a man who loved his family, which is shown by the sacrifices and prayers he offers on their behalf, continually, the Bible says.
Challenge: After, we are introduced to Job, a challenge is given to the Lord, this sets the stage for the great question of why God allows bad things to happen to good people, even His people.
We are told of events taking place in heaven, these things are never revealed to Job. After the Lord, brings up Job and states that he is a good, moral, upright man, who honors God. Satan then challenges the Lord. Job 1:9-11 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
The Lord then allows Satan to run Job through the hurt of trial and tribulation.
Catastrophe: Then after this discussion in heaven, we read exactly what Satan did.
Job 1:13-19 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
This pattern of catastrophe continues until Job has lost his wealth, his household, and even all of his children. Finally God allows Satan to attack Job’s body and destroy his health.
Job 2:7-9 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
He lost his children. He lost his wealth, his servants, his health and finally, even the support and encouragement of his wife.
Our Story
Hurt People and Hard Times - We used to say, “pick up the paper and read”, but now we say check out your internet feed or if you don’t mind being lied to, listen to the mainstream media, Facebook or Google. But wherever you get your news, not a day will go by that you won’t read about horrible things happening to people who don’t deserve it. Churches are hit by tornadoes. People are shot by those who hate them and their God. Or so many times today for no reason at all. Schools children are being killed by those under the influence of Satan and sin. Pastors and their families experience car wrecks, heart attacks, bankruptcy. Faithful, loving Christians know the tragedy of suicides, drug addictions, alcoholism, divorce and violence. We relate to the story of Job because his story is our story.
How much of this universal story of hurt has been seen and experienced right here in our church in just the past few years? Job’s story of hurt is our story of hurt. His experience of tragedy is ours and if we can learn what Job learned then his healing will also be ours.
World’s Story
There is Evil In this World - Why do these things happen? From a Biblical point of view, its not hard to understand. Yes, it is hard to experience but not hard to find the reason. The reason is that there is evil and sin in this world, and it doesn’t care if you are a good person. In fact being a good person, a child of God may make you a target just as it did Job.
Why, started way back in Genesis 3:4-6 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Evil, pain, suffering and sorrow are in this world because man let it in. Adam and Eve opened the door to the knowledge of sin and with the knowledge of sin came the reality of sin’s consequences; pain, suffering and sorrow.
And in case we want to blame Adam for the consequence we need to read, Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, (Why? Because) for that all have sinned.
Adam may have sinned first but you and I have followed right in his path. Adam’s sin may explain my inclination to sin but it does not excuse my own acts of sin. Those sins and their consequences are mine and I have to answer for them.
We need to understand that sin always has consequences. It may be indirectly because of the world we live in or it might be directly because of a sin I’ve committed, but we need to know that sin always brings pain, sorrow and suffering, as happened in the Garden it is still happening today.
But if I dwell to long on the why of hurt in this world, I could wind up like the friends of Job who were convinced they knew the answer and almost ruined what hope Job had left.
The Hopeless Help
Faithless Friends Story
These are the original, "With friends like this who needs enemies." Over the next few chapters, we are introduced to Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophor. After a week of silent consolation, Job speaks and then the friends begin their lectures explaining why bad things happen to good people, but they would phrase it more like, “If something bad has happened, you deserved it. Now, accept your guilt and get on with your life.”
We could go through the arguments of the friends one by one as Bro. Chuck did so well last year in our Adult SS class, but let’s just summarize their brand of “help” by saying, they all felt the reason Job was hurt and had suffered such loss was that he was being punished for a hidden or unconfessed sin. To them nothing else made sense.
But to Job their sermonizing, simplistic, unsympathetic answers were no help but just added to the hurt. Before they came we Job in Job 1:20-21 Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb,
and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
After they came and offer their band of help and encouragement we hear Job say, “Job 30:19-21 He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes. 20 I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not. 21 Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.”
Job’s so-called friends and their so-called help deepened Job’s hurt and made him question God’s fairness and love. He sinks deeper into despair and he argues with God about His actions and feels so alone that he pleads for the compassion of a true friend in his time of need.
Job 6:14-17 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. 15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away; 16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid: 17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
Job cries out, “Friends should offer encouragement, like a drink from a cool stream on a hot day, but instead you deceive and when I come to the stream to find encouragement, it is frozen over or dried up.”
Fatally Flawed Philosophy
We often make the fatal mistake of thinking just like Job’s friends, "All tragedy or suffering is punishment, or there must be a reason I can see, a plan which I can understand that will make all this hurting be worthwhile.”
It can be fatalistic because in its final conclusion it comes down to this, "Since God caused it, then I must blame God." That is fatally flawed reasoning coming from a child of God. And it can ruin your walk with the Lord, as Job’s friend almost ruined his walk with God.
We must be especially careful that we don’t hurt the hurting more with this way of thinking.
What Paul looked for, Galatians 6:1-2 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
What John looked for, 1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.
What Jude looked for, Jude 1:21-23 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Restoration, intercession, compassion, and intervention is what God’s word instructs us to do when we confront the hurt in others or in ourselves. Retribution or the reason why is up to God.
Flaw Exposed By Jesus
Jesus exposed the fatal flaw of this black and white reasoning about suffering when the apostles asked Him about the man born blind. In John 9:1-7.
You remember the question? John 9:1-7 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6
When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
The hurt and the pain of this man was not God’s punishment but instead an opportunity to show His power and love. The cause, well that was none of their business, but seeing and securing the glory of God in that hurt was their business.
The Healing Honesty
Elihu’s Story. Elihu is the last orator in this poem. He is the youngest of those assembled and he seems to come from out of nowhere. He speaks and he acts as a spokesman for the truth. I believe that his six chapter speech holds the key to finding healing after the hurt of this world’s sin and evil.
I believe this because when Elihu finishes speaking neither God nor Job contradicts or rebukes him. The lectures of the three friends are rebuked by both Job and God, but not the words of Elihu.
Elihu states his purpose in Job 33:6-7 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. 7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
He says, My aim is to fulfil your desire when you asked for someone to speak the truth about you and God. He tells Job, “I am a man, made from clay just like you and unlike these false friends, you have no need to fear my words, they will l not add more hurt to your heart.
So, what did Elihu say, that is the key to Job’s healing? His words are hard but honest.
First, he says that Job had justified himself rather than God in Job 32:2.
Secondly, he said the friends of Job had accused Job without any knowledge in Job 32:3.
Thirdly, Elihu says that Job had begun to blame and contend with God as though he was an equal, Job 33:8-11 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
The core of the lesson from the book of Job is found in Job 33:12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
Elihu speaks until chapter 37 and then God speaks and he rebukes the friends and he rebukes Job but not Elihu. God’s rebuke of Job seems to prove Elihu’s overall conclusion, that God is greater than man.
Hurt To Healing (is through God’s Word and Character)
In order for us to move from hurt to healing, we must know what scripture teaches and what scripture does not teach. Lets begin with what it doesn’t teach.
What scripture does not teach. That all problems, pain and tragedies are caused by God for a special reason or punishment.
Scripture doesn’t teach that I will always be able to see God's purpose in my hurt or a tragedy.
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Neither does God’s word teach that all tragedies for Christians have "happy endings" as the world counts happy endings.
It also doesn’t teach that Christians are immune to hurt, pain or loss. In fact the opposite is usually true because we are Christians we feel these things more.
We need to know what scripture honestly says and teaches, because that is the key to finding healing after hurt.
Scripture tells us the Lord is with us in all circumstances. John 14:18-19 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
It tells us that God is greater than anything or anyone in this world. 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
God through His word tells us that He can bring good out of the worst sorrow. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
And scripture also tells us that God can use suffering to make us stronger.
1Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Conclusion: A Believer’s Perspective on Pain and Sorrow
Remember that bad things sometimes happen so that good people, by God’s grace, can become better people, but sometimes bad things happen simply because we live in fallen, sinful world.
Don’t neglect God’s warning, that if there is unrepentant, habitual sin in my life, our Heavenly Father will chastise us, to bring us back to Him.
Learn to change our way of questioning of God. Instead of, "God, why is this happening to me?" we need to ask, "God, as we walk together, what comes next?"
And never forget that God is greater. Greater than man, greater than Satan, greater, sorrow, greater than pain. If I trust and follow Him, He will bring good out of evil every time.
Let me close with another poem by Annie Johnson Flint. She wrote it to a friend who was going through hard times and wondering like Job, why God was allowing such trials. The poem is called, “What God Hath Promised”
WHAT GOD HATH PROMISED
God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.
God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain rocky and steep,
Never a river turbid and deep.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
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