"One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"" Job 1:13-19 NIV
"And while he was still speaking….." Blam, Blam, Blam……the world that Job knew, the very joys he had in his children, the wealth of his flocks and cattle, and the very buildings that housed all of it……gone. One heartache after another after another…… Job's response was very dignified, even so, as the Israelite who accounts the story tells us in the following verses:
"At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."
All for the desire not to sin against God, even as his world crumbled at his feet. Even the weakest in faith will first turn to God as the rains come, the sorrows flow, and the disasters pile upon them. Even the unsaved turn to the Abba Father in their distress, despite what the atheists would have you believe.
We all cry out for recognition in the storm, for help to draw us to the safe shores.
But, even Job—blameless and upright—eventually falls prey as the weight of the attack batters him and bruises him beyond his endurance. He declares to God that he has a demand to be heard, a case to present before the Most High. And God proceeds to show him how wrong he is to even think that he has that right to demand, to accuse God of wrongdoing in the disasters visiting upon him.
Job survives his trials, because of his faith in God and his understanding of the nature of God.
Today, my car finally 'gave up the ghost' as they say, the brakes giving out (I think master cylinder and rear brake caliper) on the way to work. I was talking to my sister as I traveled to work; to figure out a way home…..I live an hour away. A friend had offered to carpool with me as he works several buildings over from me in the complex here. Tomorrow is another day and another problem to solve as I shift my life from one lifestyle to another and am forced to rely on the goodness of God and His promises as the needs crash over and over upon the eroding soil of my shore.
I lifted my praises up to God in the beginning of all of this mess, but I have found it increasingly hard to do so as the needs pile up and the cries seem to go unheard. Or seem to be heard only to fall upon the rocks exposed in the receding waves…..
I have had my jobian moment of instruction and teaching of God's greatness and His mighty power. I have been humbled, I thought, by the understanding that I am no more stronger than a grain of sand, yet this Creator has called me a Beloved Son and called me to ministry to compassionately serve His family here upon this broken and fallen world.
And I had thought I responded in jobian fashion too, acknowledging this and acknowledging the foolishness of my pleadings and demands to be heard. My friends have not argued against the stand I have made and even the arguments that I have raged against God, but have stood beside me in this struggle to be.
As I wait in fearful expectation, I return over and over again to expectful affirmation of the promises that God has provided me to never harm me, but to prosper me and bless me in abundance.
I thank Him for all He has given me; the ability to safely arrive at work, friends to call upon, and most of all, HOPE.
Pray. Where three or more gather in agreement, so the Lord will grant the request. In His way and His time. Those are the 'burnt offerings' that I need from my friends and family within the body now.
God will as God wills.
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