"I shall come out as gold" - Job 23:10-12 (ESV)

These are the words of a man who has suffered dramatically but remained faithful to walking before the Lord with a pure heart. I am speaking of Job. 

This is a short look at the life of Job and what he went through.

This passage tells us a lot about Job and his connection with the Lord. We tend to think of people of old (like Job) as being somewhat backward in their views and focused on ancient traditional practices rather than having a relational faith with the Lord, that is not the case with Job. 

Job was very relational with the Lord and realized that the suffering he was going through was not meant for his death, but was meant for purification. 

It becomes clear in verse 10, where Job calls attention to the fact that “God knows which way I take.”  Job realizes that where he goes is where God resides, his heart is steadfast and pursues the Lord, for he sees no other option in life but to trust the Lord. 

He calls attention that there is a purpose for the testing of God, which is for purging and refinement. Job also takes ownership of the trial which he is in as part of his relationship with God and not a separate event, it is common to ask “why” when it comes to difficult trials, but Job recognizes that the trial is part of God’s plan and purpose. God will produce a result that is His perfection in him.

  

Job speaks of the steadfastness his walk with the Lord; in some ways, he seems a little self-righteous, for who can judge the matters of the heart other than God, but he makes it understandable that he has not intentionally walked out of step with the Lord. 

I am reminded of David when he is humbly asking the Lord to reveal his heart when even he is unaware of any evil way in his heart.

“Explore me, O God, and know the real me. Dig deeply and discover who I am. 

Put me to the test and watch how I handle the strain. Examine me to see if there is an evil bone in me, and guide me down Your path forever.” 

Psalm 139:23-24 (VOICE)

Job makes a fantastic statement here “I have not departed from the commandment of his lips,” Job is saying (in essence) that he has an interpersonal relationship with the Lord where he speaks with Him, and the Lord speaks with Job. Job is revealing that the living word interacts with him and regularly gives him charges and precepts concerning His desires. 

Job has a wife and family, which he recognizes as a gift from the Lord; he also has property and servants, which indicates he has wealth. Job is a man of substance, and God has blessed him with many things in his life.

Even though we nourish and care for our bodies by providing food and water daily, Job has declared that he desired to hear the Lord’s voice more than receiving his daily portion of food. He goes even further to say, “I have treasured the words of His mouth...” 

Job desired to hear the Lord speak to him regularly and reveal his lovingkindness to him. His respect and love for the Lord are evident.

Satan approached the council of God to test God as well as test Job by bringing disaster to him and his family, but Job realized that EVERYTHING comes from the hand of Lord. The Lord is always to be praised despite our circumstances. His goodness is excellent and is everlasting. 

The difficulties brought on by the Lord’s testing did not change Job’s resolve, but it did change Job, how could it not? The loss of his children, his wealth, and even his health put immense stress upon Job personally; I could only imagine that the pain of his loss was great, but Job was willing to die without speaking ill against the Lord.

Why is this story relevant in our time? Jesus alluded to this when He spoke to His disciples:

“Whoever knows Me here on earth, I will know him in heaven. And whoever proclaims faith in Me here on earth, I will proclaim faith in him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me here, I will disown before My Father in heaven.” 

Matthew 10:32-33 (VOICE)

This line of thinking is not to convince you that God is somehow cruel by what He did to Job; on the contrary, God blessed Job even more afterward because of His love for Job. 

David recognized this facet of God’s character when he said:

“Sing praises to the Lord, you who belong to him; praise his holy name. 

His anger lasts only a moment, but his kindness lasts for a lifetime.  Crying may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” 

Psalm 30:4-5 (NCV)

God knew how Job would respond, but Job didn’t know. The the experience changed him in surprising ways, which caused him to understand his love for God was more significant than he knew, for his passion came from God. Job realized afterward that it was the revelation of the living word within him that sustained him through the painful difficulties he faced. 

Paul recognized this as the mystery of Christ, who abides within us to accomplish His good pleasure.

“On account of this, I bend my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (you having been firmly rooted and established in love), in order that you may be strong enough to grasp together with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” 

Ephesians 3:14-19 (LEB)

God expressed His love for Job by restoring him entirely many times over; Job was a changed man because of his losses, for he had trusted that the goodness of God would be his reward. 

Paul wanted us to see that Christ now lives in our hearts by faith (trust), and we are grounded in  His love (goodness) that we may be filled with the fullness of God. 

So the story continues in our lives...and we find that God’s goodness IS everlasting.

Be Blessed;

Stephen Barnett