Keeping faith is hard during difficult times. Don Beireis shares some of his thoughts on the book of Job and its impact on his personal life.

I have often though about Job and his incredible response to the dark turn of events in his life. I’ve read many times of how patient a man he was—a man who praised God during these struggles. And I’ve never grasped it. I mean, I believe the bible is the infallible Word of God. I just have never accepted that someone living in real skin could ever face those great losses, then fall on their face and praise the God that ‘gives and takes away.’

I still don’t fully understand it even now. We’ve had our very own ‘series of unfortunate events’ and God has taken us to the story of Job. We have discovered that it is not the ending, but the journey that has so much meaning for us. What follows is my awakening to the role of God in this story.

God asked Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?” Then God testified on Job’s behalf, “there is no one like him, he is blameless and upright…”, and Job’s character is corroborated by the Expert of witnesses. Satan then questions whether Job is faithful to God out of self-interests or true devotion. “Strike all he has and he will surely curse you to your face.”
Satan is tempting God! Satan also tempted Jesus in the wilderness in the beginning of His ministry, and Jesus rebuked Satan on the spot for tempting Him. So why didn’t God rebuke Satan now?

Key 1: God trusted Job. God so believed in Job (evidenced in his testimony of Job) that He was willing to accept the wager offered by Satan. If He didn’t trust Job, He would have rebuked Satan. We often discuss trusting in God – and we should – but do we consider that God trusts us?

Key 2: God drew limits on Job’s trial. God permitted Satan to touch all Job possessed, but not to touch him personally. God knew what Job could handle and He wouldn’t allow the trial to exceed those limits.

So, Job has ‘one of those days’ on the grandest of scales. One servant rushes in, Master, the donkeys and oxen have been stolen by the Sabeans, all the servants killed, and only I escaped to tell you. While he was still speaking, another servant rushed in, Master, Fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and servants, and only I escaped to tell you. While he was yet speaking, another servant came rushing in, Master, the Chaldeans stole all your camels, killed all your servants, and only I escaped to tell you. While he was still speaking, the fourth servant rushed in.

Imagine that amidst the chaos of three distressed servants speaking at the same time, Job’s heart broke inside of him as he knew where this fourth servant had been. Master, a mighty wind collapsed the house in which your daughters and sons were eating, killing them all, and only I escaped to tell you.

In moments, Job lost his great wealth, but more tragically, lost his precious children. Then he does something I can’t comprehend. He falls on his face and worships God saying, The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, the Lord be praised!

Incredibly, what is missing between the end of chapter 1 and beginning of chapter 2 is perhaps the biggest part of the story: Job had proved God right! God won Satan’s wager – Job had proved His confidence was well placed!
The second story (chapter 2) only occurs because Satan had ‘egg on his face’ and wagers again, ‘double or nothing.’ Again God accepts the wager, because He trusts Job, and again He draws limits.

During our time of trial, will we accept that God hasn’t rebuked Satan because HE TRUSTS US? That He is willing to call out “Let it ride,” because He believes in us?

This past November, we attacked our savings to replace a roof, and complete some auto repairs and other things around our house. Just two weeks later, we were laid off when our bank downsized. Shortly thereafter, the entire banking industry fell on its face, and still to this day the shrinking job market is matched in speed only by the growing pool of unemployed (and very qualified ) candidates. As the primary provider for a family of six, my stress level escalated, especially since my kids seem to have a daily contest on who eats the most or who grows out of their clothes the fastest. Didn’t God know this would happen? Why didn’t He stop us from draining our reserves? I know that God won’t shut one door without opening another, but that’s so much easier said than lived.

Many applications, interviews and closed doors later, I am still waiting for God to move on our situation. Although He supplies every one of our needs as they arise (Thank you God!) I still await “that phone call or email” where God opens up His Door of Providence and reveals His plan.

But, in the mean time, I have heard His message loud and clear. When I see another door close, get another “you’re late” phone call, or let doubts creep in that perhaps this situation will not turn for the better, He reminds me again of Job. I now know that God has declared to Satan that I am His child, He has already drawn limits on my trial, and He has taken Satan’s wager because He believes in me. Now it’s my turn to prove Him right.

Previous Articles:

• Finding Relevance through Biblical Characters: Introduction 

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