MIGHTY JOB

 

“It Is not the function of religion to answer all questions about God’s moral government of the universe, but to give courage (through faith) to go on in the face of questions a man never finds the answers to in his present status.

“Therefore, take heed of yourselves, and as a wise world thinker once said, “If the time comes when you feel you can no longer hold to your faith, then hold to it anyway. You cannot go into tomorrow’s uncertainty and dangers without faith.”  (Elder Harold B. Lee, Church News, as quoted by Keith H. Meservy, “Job: Yet Will I Trust In Him”, pp 139-53)

After 50 years in the Church, I am still striving to fully understand about suffering. I have had my fair share of it and understand different aspect of it but not in its entirety. I wish there was a different medium through which we can earn eternal life and I wish that the Saviour didn’t have to suffer so.

Every time I re-visit the account of mighty Job, I come to understand a little more of this principle but the lessons from this man’s life are endless. The whole premise of Job’s experience is that God does not spare righteous people from suffering in this life.

It was believed anciently that suffering only comes upon the wicked and that it is God given as punishment. When Jesus healed a man blind from birth, His disciples asked Him: “Master, who did sin, this man or his parents that he was born blind?”  Jesus answered that neither sinned and that the purpose of the man’s blindness was for the ‘works of God to be manifest in him’ (John 9:2,3). So with all of us, there is obviously a purpose for whatever we are afflicted with that is not of our doing.

I rather think that Job had to learn this lesson. His friends accused him of being sinful in some way to have ended up in such extreme suffering. Job defended his integrity (Job 27:6), knowing full well he did not sin but he must have wondered why he, a man who God called ‘perfect’ (Job 1:8) was not spared.

Job’s service to his fellowman was extensive: he strengthened weak hands (4:3); supported those who were falling (4:4); strengthened the feeble knees (4:4); delivered the poor (29:12); cared for the orphans (29:12); helped those whom no one else would help (29:12; gave the widow cause to sing with joy (29:13); was eyes to the blind (29:15); was feet to the lame (29:15); was father to the poor (29:16); searched for people in need of his assistance (29:16); opened his home to strangers (31:32).

 In his extreme suffering Job wished he was never born and disclosed a fear: “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me” (Job 3:25). Perhaps seeing so much suffering in others, made him fear sin and think that his righteousness would spare him. This made him question if he did really commit some sin so he begged the Lord to reveal it to him so he could repent (Job 13:23).

While Job did not understand why God permitted his affliction, he would not judge the Lord nor lose his faith in Him and could therefore say “let come on me what will” (Job 13:13). Had he distrusted, he would have questioned God’s integrity in whom he believed impeccably. (See the Old Testament Student Manual, Job: “Hast Thou Considered My Servant Job”)

There is one other man who might have wondered why he wasn’t spared….Joseph, the beloved Prophet of the Restoration… and we all know about his suffering…..

Your watchful eye was over all my trials

So carefully crafted

With love and tender care,

The crucible almost too hard to bear;

Yet did I worship Thee

Praising Thy name forever.

 

You stood as sentinel to my yielding heart

Knowing my trust would stand the test of time;

You crushed the enemy of my soul in the final hour,

Your glory, Your might, Your unfathomable power.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Oh God, Where Art Thou? by Paul Marli)