Thursday, December 26, 2013
When Job Prayed
Job’s story is probably one of the most widely publicized stories of the bible in non-religious settings. Of course we learn about this story early on as believers as well, but it gets a lot of air time in general. Briefly, Job is one of God’s people that He is very proud of. The devil comes along and tells God the only reason Job serves God is because God gives Job the silver spoon treatment allowing no harm to come to him. God tells the devil he is wrong, and tells the devil he can do anything to Job he wants, except kill him.
Job’s life goes from fairy tale to disaster. Not only are family members dieing and he loses his worldly possessions, his friends turn on him. Even his wife feels Job must have done something really wrong to have all of the evil come his way. Job insists it is not true. But even his wife gives him grief about his relationship with God.
Job 2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
Clearly Job faced challenges about what others thought about him and his relationship with God, even his wife. And this was at the very beginning of Job’s trials. As time goes by, more trials come his way, and Job stands fast in his testimony that God was true. Job’s “friends” continued to speak unkindly about Job. After enough is enough, God shows up, and reminds everyone just who He is and what He has done. Job tells God he will be silent in repentance. God tells Job’s friends they were wrong and to repent. Now here is the cool part.
Do you think Job turned to his friends and said, “I told you so”? I think I would have been tempted to do that. Not Job. Job immediately prayed for them. THEN, God gave to Job twice what he had ever had before.
Job 42:7 And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them: the Lord also accepted Job.
10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Today I have to say that I want to be more like Job, the one God accepts because I say the right things about God. Unfortunately all too often I have been like Job’s friends. How about you? I am so thankful that in those times there have been Job’s in my life praying for me. And I am thankful that God can teach me to be like Job.
Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You as the Most High God. You created everything from the beginning. The majesty of Your creation is impossible for men to figure out. We thank You for bringing people into our lives that tell us the truth about You and who You are. Please watch over Your people today God. Please keep us safe from harm. Please deliver you people today, and provide for their every need. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.