The Good Giver, The Giver of Good

O. T. #1112  "The Good Giver, The Giver of Good"
Dec. 11, 2017
Job 1-Part 5

LET IT GLOW

Last time we discussed the four rapid-fire disasters that Satan used to destroy Job's livestock servants, and children. Only the four messengers of such survived. Satan's purpose for all of that tragedy was for Job to curse God, having nothing left.
In verse 20, we read of four verbs which describe what Job did before it tells what he said: he arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell down on the ground, and worshiped. Job did all of this tin expression of his grief.

He didn't wallow and wail...he worships. The Hebrew verb means to fall prostrate in utter submission and worship. (Swindoll)

The one cursing was Satan. Of all things, the man lost it all, and the One who allowed it to happen, his God, the man still worships Him. No blame, bitterness, cursing, clinched fists, no "why," no "how dare You."

What was it this man of faith had grown to realize and recognize in his life? We find the answer in verse 21:
Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I turn thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Job came in this world naked and would go out the same way, as his body was prepared for burial. All that we have in between those two events is given to us by the Giver of Life. It is all on loan to us. Blessed be the name of the LORD for loaning it to me. Blessed be His name for choosing to remove it. Now that is a man who has his priorities in the right place. It's all on loan, every bit of it, as Swindoll said..

So the next time we walk through out house, sit on the couch, sleep in our bed, drive our car, go to our job, will we give thanks to the Good Giver, the Giver of good?


LET IT GROW

Stuff never owned Job, did it? When our possessions own us, then we are in trouble. Job did not set his affections on things on the earth, but on God. Even concerning Job's kids, he believed that the One who gave them has the right to take them when He wants. Job was not the soul owner and he knew it. We are only stewards of what we have been given. After all, we will let go of it when we die, so why not acknowledge God's right to take it early?

I'm not saying this is easy. Haven't we Americans gotten comfortable here in this world? (Perhaps greedy for more things, the latest of things.) What are we teaching our children? Do they see we love God above all thins?

In all this, Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. (verse 22)

Satan failed at his tasks. In spite of his tremendous losses and legitimate grief, Job did not impute anything wrong to God, much less curse Him to His face. This does not mean Job understand why all these things happened to him, but he did recognize God's sovereign rights over His creation. (Falwell)

Job still continued to worship, even while he grieved. His circumstances did not make a sinner out of hm. He didn't turn to evil when evil came to him.

Isn't it wonderful that God has given us a heroic and enduring  example in Job to show us that we can make it through whatever life throws our way?

No matter what happens, will we continue to love and serve God?
Will we trust Him to word all things out for our good and His glory?
When our world falls in on us, will our faith in Jesus see us through?
Is there anything we need to release our ownership to God?

LET IT GO

Give God my everything so He can be my Everything.
Hold all things loosely.
Accept the unrevealed answers as to God's reasons for taking something back.
Let nothing separate me from God's love.