Opus 2025-200: The Mystery of Hope

A number of books that I’m reading have made reference to the sufferings of Job.  He really went through it.  I hope that I never even come close to what he experienced.  Perhaps you feel you’re close.

Keep in mind the Job was totally innocent of any attitude or action.  He could have been facing discipline from God.   That is not what we see.  We start off with God giving a glorious testimony about the faithfulness of Job.  So if you’re going through hard times, don’t assume that it’s because you did something wrong.

Another thing that comes through when you read the book, Job never caved in to the criticisms and wisdom of his friends.  He didn’t accept their analysis.  He did not accept their traditional theology.  Keep in mind that part of their traditional theology was that he was suffering because of sin in his life.  He rejected that and made what we would call an arrogant claim today.  He claimed that he was not guilty.  He claimed that he was innocent of any wrongdoing.  He claimed that he stood tall before God and defied them to show where he had failed.

We are surrounded by theological traditionalists.  Their beliefs are based more on what they were told that on what they’ve actually found in the scripture themselves.  There is a real danger of arrogance on our part, but we must be responsible to read for ourselves.

Also keep in mind that the suffering of Job came to an end.  It had a limit.  He hung in there.  He got through.  I’m not sure that the children who died when the building fell were too blessed by that, or the cattle that were stolen were rejoicing in their new masters.  I’m not sure I would want to start all over again at that age.  But the testimony is that he was again blessed and found to be a good and faithful servant.

Hang in there.  Keep trusting.  And rejoice in the Lord.

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