Post date: Nov 1, 2011 4:27:25 PM
Read Job 1, and note Job's reaction in verses 20-22 to the devastation that came to him.
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 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. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
This man must have had incredible trust in and love for God to have this reaction to the disaster he experienced.
Let's take a closer look at this chapter of Job.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
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.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. Job 1:6-12
Here we see that God accepts Satan's challenge. Since God is an all-knowing God and Satan isn't, God knew how Job would respond, and that in the end, Job would have a greater understanding of who God is.
Read Job's response to God after his ordeal:
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:2-6
We can trust God to have the victory. He will give us the power to overcome, if we are willing to place our lives in His hands.
Consider what Paul wrote to the church of Colosse:
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Colossians 1:9-11
Paul doesn't pray that the church won't experience hardship. Hardships will come. Persecution and sufferings will happen. Rather, Paul concerned himself with the spiritual needs of these Christians. He understood that suffering enables us to see God in a way we would never see Him if we didn't endure disasters. Paul knew from personal experience the strength and power God provides during times of tremendous peril and suffering.
For the love of his Saviour, Paul put himself in harms way, willingly suffering so that others might know Christ. He knew God would provide what he needed to endure and didn't fear death. He saw it as a benefit. "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 2:21.
A rare person willingly suffers for the sake of another. How much are we willing to endure in order that we might increase in the knowledge of God, in the knowledge of His glorious power that will keep us through every trial?