Job 1:6-12
Job's Hedge
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Job 3:11-26
Job Suffers
11 “Why did I not perish at birth,
and die as I came from the womb?
12 Why were there knees to receive me
and breasts that I might be nursed?
13 For now I would be lying down in peace;
I would be asleep and at rest
14 with kings and rulers of the earth,
who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,
15 with princes who had gold,
who filled their houses with silver.
16 Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child,
like an infant who never saw the light of day?
17 There the wicked cease from turmoil,
and there the weary are at rest.
18 Captives also enjoy their ease;
they no longer hear the slave driver’s shout.
19 The small and the great are there,
and the slaves are freed from their owners.
20 “Why is light given to those in misery,
and life to the bitter of soul,
21 to those who long for death that does not come,
who search for it more than for hidden treasure,
22 who are filled with gladness
and rejoice when they reach the grave?
23 Why is life given to a man
whose way is hidden,
whom God has hedged in?
24 For sighing has become my daily food;
my groans pour out like water.
25 What I feared has come upon me;
what I dreaded has happened to me.
26 I have no peace, no quietness;
I have no rest, but only turmoil.”
Job 42:1-6
Job Had Spoken of Things He Did not Understand
1 Then Job replied to the Lord:
2 “I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’
5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.”
Job had a good life...At one time he had this great hedge that the evil one could not and would not penetrate into his life...But things changed for Job...God allows the evil one into Job's life...And his suffering becomes very great and painful...God can allow suffering as we read about Job...
With all his suffering happening, Job even asks, "Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?...Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed?"...For had he died he says he would be lying down in peace; and that he would be asleep and at rest...Job could not rest in his sufferings...
Job must have wondered why would God allow this type of suffering?...Why did he have to go through these things?...“Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure, who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?...It seems Job wanted to die...Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?...For sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water...What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me...I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.”...Job's greatest fears were now in his life...And it was with God's help that had put him in this suffering mode...
Life changes...God had challenged Job to take a look at life from another perspective...Job had to look at life from outside the great hedge...Life had changed...Life had turned quickly in Job's life...The hedge was now gone...How one deals with suffering was now Job's great challenge...And when we suffer we often question God...Job had his many questions...Why had this happened to him, he tried to be good?...Job could not understand the wisdom of God, while he suffered...
Yet, through his thoughts of God, and his questions for God, Job was unwilling to discard his belief and allow his hopes about God to go completely away...Job continued with his questions to God...And then he felt God's Presence...And somehow in God's Presence, he better understands the Mystery of God...He better understands the Wisdom of God...In his great suffering, Job said that he had spoken of things that he could not understand...In listening to God's questions to him, he found the Great Designer Completely Understands all things, including suffering...We see that God's Presence helps with our suffering and it alleviated Job's sufferings...