God said "Yes!"

by Jen G. 2011

I have recently been faced with a potential trial. So far it is simply an inconvenience, but it could very well turn into an ‘event’. Not surprisingly, my planned Bible reading took me to the book of Job this week.

Job “was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” (v. 1) He was wealthy, had a great family, lots of stuff to make his life comfortable, and was intensely committed to the Lord. He even made regular sacrifices for his children just in case they sinned against God. His took his job as a father and priest of his home very seriously.

One day while Satan was in the presence of the Lord, the Father asked him what he had been up to. Satan responded that he had been going back and forth over the earth. I think it worth noting that Satan does not mention that he has been wreaking havoc or looking for someone to torment (although he probably was!). It was the Lord Himself who pointed Job out to Satan.

Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” v. 8

Satan’s ears perk up and he begins to mock Job and God. “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (vs. 9-11) Satan basically dares God to test Job’s faithfulness and love for his Creator. And then…

*

God said yes.

From this point on in the book, Satan is given permission first to strike Job’s family and possessions and then his personal health. And in all of this, Job never forsakes the knowledge that the Lord is sovereign. In fact, towards the end of the book, Job goes so far as to say, “Though He slay me, yet I will praise Him!” He is committed to the truth that the Lord holds all in His hands; that anything that touched him first passed through the righteousness and goodness of the Father, regardless of what it felt like.

Of the friends who came to minister to Job, only one seemed to hit the nail on the head. Elihu reminds Job of the omnipotence and goodness of God.

“Surely God will never do wickedly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice.” (34:12)

Whatever is being permitted to enter your life as a believer in Christ - medical problems, a wayward child, financial trouble, a tense marriage, sleepless nights, children with learning issues, fractured relationships, job loss, depression - take the counsel of Job to heart. “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (2:10) The trials we face give opportunity to grow closer to Christ and to become more like Him.*

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1:2-8

Instead of falling apart – the normal human reaction – count it all joy that the perfectly-good-in-all-His-ways, sovereign God said “Yes!”

Prayer:

Father, I ask that You position my heart to receive what You are allowing in my life. Let my reactions to trials be a testimony of Your goodness. Let the trials refine me to be more like You. Amen.

Challenge:

Read the book of Job this month and ponder the reactions of Job and his friends in light of the trials Job was experiencing. Journal through your reading and make note of the passages that speak to you. How are YOU reacting to trials? We have a responsibility to let patience learned in trials to have its perfect work and to not be double minded.

*Note: Trials, whatever they are, are used to refine us and make us more like Christ. Sometimes those trials do come as a result of sinful actions on our part. Repenting of sin that has brought consequences in the form of trials will not necessarily remove the trial, but it will make you more like Christ if you push through and refuse to enter into that sinful behavior again. Nothing is beyond use for God’s glory when given to Him!

Jen G. 2011