Job's Life Turns Inside Out

READ: Job 2:11-13

Ever seen the Disney movie Inside Out? If not, drop everything and go watch it. Seriously. I’ll wait. Just bookmark this page so you remember to read the devotional when you’re done.

Welcome back. Great movie, right? And now you understand that sometimes people just have to be sad. In fact, Matthew 5:4 says sadness is a blessing: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Not comforted by joy, but by the blessing of those willing to mourn with them. That is what Job’s friends do when they tear their robes, sprinkle dust on their heads, and sit with him in wordless silence. And that is what Paul instructs us to do: Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15)

Mourning is good. It’s purposeful. We glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4)

Hope, not joy. For hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? (Romans 8:24)

But what great hope we have in the Lord! 

The Lord with surely comfort Zion

and will look with compassion on all her ruins;

He will make her deserts like Eden,

her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.

Joy and gladness will be found in her, 

thanksgiving and the sound of singing. (Isaiah 51:3)

Now that hope is a comfort worth sharing!

Being OK with not being OK

Job 1:20 - At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.Then he fell to the ground in worship.

This verse comes on the heels of Job's learning of the devastating loss - his property, and most shocking of all - the loss of his children! Who could stand up under such horrible news? At the news, Job falls apart - who wouldn't? It is okay to show emotion, it is healthy to do so. Keeping our pain bottled up can make us physically sick.

One thing associated with Job is his patience. The patience of Job is a common phrase when pointing out the fact that many of us lack this trait. The more I read about Job and the more I consider all he has faced up to, I don't think I would call it patience, while he may have had an abundance of it, the word I think of and admire is FAITH. The faith of Job is admirable and desirable. Oh, to be able to withstand even one of the trails he endured and exhibit faith like his

The portion of verse 20 which got my attention was “he fell to the ground in worship.” I don't know if I could do that. In fact, I am pretty sure my pain would take over and I might become inconsolable, maybe even blaming God; but certainly not worshiping Him. But it was Job's faith which allowed him to worship.

That is what I want to be able to do; worship while in the depths of pain. Life is very good today, worship comes easy and is enjoyable. There will be a tomorrow when life falls apart and things are not OK. That is when I want to be able to worship with all my heart. God, develop that kind of faith in me. Amen.

Friends and Enemies

Job 5:7 (NIV) Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
I wonder if the question, "With friends like this, who needs enemies?" didn't have its origin in the

book of Job. Job had three close friends who left everything to be with him when his world began to crumble. They sat with him for 7 days, in companionable silence, but I'll bet their minds were going a mile a minute.

When one did speak, the words began as comfort, emphasizing Job's good qualities. They soon turned the discussion to the probability that Job's misfortunes (putting it mildly) were a result of God's chastening of Job. Those must have been hurtful words. His friends were questioning what he had done to deserve all that was reigning down on him.

It is human nature to try and place blame for unexplainable pain and heart ache. His disciples asked him,“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2 NIV) Jesus' disciples asked Him much the same question. How many times have we wondered what we had done to deserve such treatment? Or, what someone else had done.

Job 5:8 (NIV) "But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him.
What would I be thinking if all that fell upon Job, fell upon me? Would I be questioning my actions, pleading with God to show me the way out? Would I be on my knees begging for relief and mercy; for Him to make it all go away? The answer is probably 'yes' to all of it. Putting myself in Job's place gives me a new respect for the man. He didn't give up on God, he didn't desert or turn his back on God.

Job 5:9 (NIV) "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted."

Job 5:1-9

Job 19:13-29

Job Foresees the Resurrection

We know Job endured the most horrific experiences anyone could imagine when his family and all of his possessions were destroyed. Following that, he became ill and suffered beyond what we can imagine physically, all because he was a devoted man of God. He was exceedingly tested.

This scripture addresses perhaps the feeling of his heart. In addition, it appears that through especial inspiration of the Holy Spirit he spoke prophetically. “”I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God..” (Job 19:26)

Though incredibly miserable, Job stood firm in his faith and in turn was used by the Lord to predict his coming in glory to redeem the world.

How easily we are disenchanted with our God when life’s trials wound us, and people beat us down with words. Perhaps we should consider taking example from Job. He was attacked from every angle. Everything on this earth he held dear was taken from him including his health, yet he continued to walk with the Father and be used by him

.

Remember: Suffering produces perseverance. The definition of perseverance is this: steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. 

Persevere! The Lord knows your trials, and He is with you.

Read/Listen to Job 19:13-29

Cornelius and other good people

“At Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius ... He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” Acts 10:1-2

(To read today's Scripture, Acts 10:1-8, click here.)

What a great guy, Cornelius!  Generous, God-fearing, an accomplished leader, great family. If we could choose our next door neighbor, he would be the one!  While we were at it, we might fill out our happy cul-de-sac with Job (“blameless and upright”) and Ahimaaz (“a good man”), and even persuade Joseph (“a good and upright man”) to retire here from Arimathea.

And in doing so, we would have socially engineered “Exhibit A” in a classical debate over human nature, for some hold the opinion that people are basically good, while others maintain we are all inherently evil. And both sides would point to these men to make their case!

For if we compare people to other people, it naturally follows that some indeed rise to the level of “good” and others sink in comparison to “evil” status, like Nabal, “surly and mean ... wicked and foolish.” And we have to chuckle at the caveated description of Hananiah, who “feared God ... more than most people do.” (“Hey!”)

But God’s standard for goodness is infinitely higher than ours. It is not relativistic at all, rather it is one of perfection, as the words of the prophet Habukkuk still resound, “[God’s] eyes are too pure to look on evil; [he] cannot tolerate wrong.” And who among us has never done wrong? No one, says Isaiah: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags ...”

Yes, there is a gap between man’s standard and God’s. And forever speaking truth into each situation, Jesus exposed that chasm: “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken (Matthew 12:34-36).” And to the rich man who fell on his knees before him, Jesus pointedly inquired: “Why do you call me good? No one is good – except God alone (Mark 10:19).” Simply put, our "good by comparison" falls far short in the presence of God.

All people, no matter how highly we think of them, need a Savior who is good by God’s terms. Our new neighbor Job not only knew such need, he embraced it: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. (Job 19:25)”

Still not convinced? Go next door and ask the Corneliuses. Upon hearing the gospel, these good people put their faith in Christ. And they’re still celebrating.