J.O.B.

For a while now I am have been thinking about an intriguing little book in the Bible called Job.

And if you were like me, the first time you saw the title of it, you thought it was called J.O.B. Job.

Essentially it is a unique story in the Bible about a man and his family.

It starts out by telling is about a man called Job and just how blessed he is. 

Large family. Heaps of possessions.

It appears by all accounts that he is super successful!

In fact, and I quote, “He was the greatest man among the people of the East”.

It is event thought that maybe this story predates even the books and accounts of Moses.

But back to the story and why it has made me think so much about it in the last year.

Early on another character is introduced, a protagonist by the name of Satan.

Essentially he challenges God over this man. Telling God that if Job lost all his success, lost all he valued, that Job would look at God differently.

And that is what ends up happening…

This is story quickly becomes the story of a man, a family even, that seems to quite randomly to them, experience huge tragedy and loss. 

It quickly pivots to being a story of the painful journey Job and his wife navigate.

It includes some people called “friends” who appear to console and to counsel Job in his moment of pain.

Here is what I have experience and seen in life…

When tragedy seems to randomly come our way we follow a pattern that seems to mirror what is recorded here in Job’s story.

We question why me? Why did this happen?

And just like with Job, others come around us or pontificate from a far, trying to rationalise and explain away the reason why we are facing the challenge or the deep pain we are experiencing.

We are really good at theorising aren’t we?

Super good and sharing our opinions!

Are we any different from Jobs friends in this story? 

Endlessly pontificating about what God is like, why He does what he does. Sharing through a narrow filter of our own experiences as though they are the only experiences worth considering?

When someone goes through a tragedy like Job, what is it that they really need?

Rationalising and Pontificating?

Bible lecture by way of quoting bible verse ?

Or maybe simple company, care and prayer?

I would argue the later.

In another book in the New Testament it simply states that what is recorded in the Old Testament, where we find the book of Job, well it is there in part of teach us, so we can learn from their experience.

Maybe you are going through a “Job type season” and struggling with the pain and wrestling with your thoughts. And maybe you have become tired and even a little cynical with all the so called well meaning ideas shared by those around you?

My hope you is that find the right friends, more than just mere acquaintances, who will simple sit with you and give you company, show you care and other you prayer. Those who would be willing to simply minister to you without some pathological need to fix you or your situation.

And my final hope, my final encouragement is to hold in to the hope you have. No matter how challenged it my feel or strained it has become due to your circumstances.

Job’s story finishes with God doing abundantly more than he could ever hope, dream or even imagine, along with not discounting the pain he experienced.

May you experience this same change in due season. 

May you experience God coming through in a supernatural way.

And may the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace you trust in Him. Romans 15:13 NIV

Something to think about…