| What I Can Learn From . . . , Part 5: Job |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, October 10 2005 00:00 |
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We can learn from Job essentially what he learned from God. First, that all suffering is not the direct result of our own sin. It is true that all suffering in the world is the result of sin, the original sin of Adam that brought about God’s curse. But our own suffering may or not be in consequence of what we have personally done. Some suffering may be the result of others’ sins; some may arise from circumstances. But God is always sovereign over the realm of suffering (Lam. 3:33, Isa. 45:7, Eccl. 7:13-14, et al.), and He never wastes it. It always serves for our sanctification, either by testing our faith or producing trials that develop our personal character (James 1:2-4, Rom. 5:3-5). We may also learn from Job that God is sovereign over all created reality and that His purposes are never thwarted. If we start reading with Elihu’s wise response to Job, and if we especially concentrate on what God said to Job directly (beginning with “Where were you when I…?) and note Job’s response to God, we shall learn valuable lessons. In Job 42:2 we hear Job cry out to God: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know…My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” If people but understood these great truths! But sadly, they are often apprehended only in the way Job did: through suffering. |
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