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Job was the greatest of all the men of the East,

From greatness, Satan lowered him to be the very least,

Job’s faith in God made Job to top God’s list,

He was a genuine man of God, his faith got Satan pissed.

Satan took all that Job had and made him sick,

Even when his body was sick, his faith in God was never weak,

Job was never proud; he was ever meek,

Job never cursed God as his wife advised; he praised God seven days a week.

Adversity mounted on Job’s life, but he accepted no defeat,

He bravely soldiered on, conquering his battles. He did not retreat,

He loved his neighbors and friends; with them, he did not compete,

His patience was admirable, with faith, in Job’s shoes we’ll fit.

Job maintained his integrity like a steel beam in a skyscraper,

Amidst trials and troubles, he stood firm, a truth embracer,

Through the storms of life, he was a moral landscaper,

His deeds, like prayers, reached God, the mighty Creator.

Hebrews 11:32-35 (KJV) – “³² And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: ³³ Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. ³⁴ Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.”

Picture Job’s life like a wild rollercoaster ride in a dark tunnel. It was full of ups and downs, just like his arduous journey. He faced tough times, like a brave adventurer exploring a super-duper deep and dark cave.

But guess what? Even in those super-duper tough times, Job found strength. It was like a superhero holding onto their cape during a strong storm. He talked to God and felt better, like when you talk to your best friend about what’s bothering you.

Job hoped for better days, like a pirate dreaming of finding hidden treasure. He believed that things would get better, just like you believe the sun will come out after a rainy day. He trusted that God is fair.

Even when things got hard, Job stayed true to his beliefs, just like how you stick to what you think is right. His journey was like an exciting adventure story with ups and downs, like a detective solving a tricky mystery, but his firm belief made it even better.

Job 1:1-3 (KJV) – “¹ There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. ² And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. ³ His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the East.

We are introduced to Job as a perfect, upright man who feared God and avoided evil. The Bible tells us of his great possessions and that he was the greatest of all the men in the East. It tells us of his ten children and the amount of material wealth he possessed.

Many Christians think that a genuine Christian is bound to suffer. We tend to believe that material wealth is meant for the people in the kingdom of darkness, and it has no place in the life of a converted Christian. This is not true.

God created wealth; it comes from God, and God owns it. Satan owns no wealth. The power which he exercises over the things of this world, he exercises it through permission from God. Therefore, joining a cult to gain wealth is foolish because the Devil has nothing to give.

Job obeyed God and treated the Lord with utmost reverence. He avoided sin, and as a result, God made him the greatest of all the men of the East. The secret to greatness is to live by faith. Hebrews 11:2 tells us that the elders obtained a good reputation by faith. A good reputation can only be obtained by faith.

Job 1:4-5 (KJV) – “⁴ And his sons went and feasted in their houses, everyone his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. ⁵ And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.”

Job feared God because he constantly took responsibility for other people’s mistakes. He took responsibility for his children’s sins. Therefore, he regularly made sacrifices to keep them in harmony with God. He was not always with his children to know what they did. However, he always felt the urgent need to intercede for them because he understood how deadly sin is. Parents should always intercede for their children. The enemy never rests. He is always seeking a moment to destroy your offspring.

Job did not just pray; he went the extra mile to offer sacrifices. People should go the extra mile beyond prayer to bless their children and families. They can do this through fasting, helping the afflicted, serving in church, etc. We are to keep watch over our children’s spiritual lives, confessing their sins on their behalf even when we do not know the wrongs they have committed like Job did.

It is an act of faith to intercede for someone. If we pray for other people and go out of our way to help them, we will be helping them and helping ourselves, too. We shall get abundant peace of mind and infinite joy through blessing others.

Job 1:6-12 (KJV) – “⁶ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. ⁷ And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. ⁸ And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast Thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? ⁹ Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? ¹⁰ Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. ¹¹ But put forth Thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to Thy face. ¹² And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.”

God was so pleased with Job because of his faith. He even went ahead to tell Satan about Job. Being wicked and jealous, Satan accused God of favoring Job too much, giving Job a reason to be faithful to God. Satan does not want to believe that it is possible for someone to love God without expecting anything from Him.

The Devil told God that Job worships Him because He had blessed him with good health, a good family, and great wealth and has put His hand of protection over everything that Job has. God knew Job’s heart because He is all-knowing.

The Lord knew Job would still worship Him even if He took everything he had. Therefore, He allowed Satan to afflict Job briefly to prove that there are faithful people in this sinful world (where almost everybody expects to receive without giving) who can love God wholeheartedly and worship Him without selfish interests.

Job 1:13-19 (KJV) – “¹³ And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: ¹⁴ And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: ¹⁵ And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁶ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁷ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁸ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: ¹⁹ And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”

God allowed Satan to take away all that Job had. Satan took away Job’s animals, his servants, and his children. These events happened so rapidly that before one could finish reporting a tragedy to Job, another would come to report a different disaster.

While God’s work is adding and multiplying what you already have, Satan’s work is subtracting. The Devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He takes away what we already have to make us lose hope in life and eventually lose trust in God. He thought he had won over Job when he took all he had. He was wrong.

Job 1:20-21 (KJ21) – “²⁰ Then Job arose, and rent his mantle and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground and worshiped, ²¹ and said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Job did not lose his fidelity to God. Instead, he bowed down and worshipped Him after getting all that negative report. Satan was not satisfied. He thought Job retained his loyalty to God because he still had his health intact (Job 2:4-5). God allowed Satan to touch Job’s health, and the Devil smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to his head (Job 2:7). Job still maintained his integrity to God.

Job 2:9-10 (KJV) – “⁹ Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die. ¹⁰ But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” His wife gave him a suggestion to curse God and die. He refused. He chose to stick to God through thick and thin.

Job 9:32-33 (AMP) – “³² “For God is not a [mere] man, as I am, that I may answer Him, that we may go to court and judgment together. ³³ “There is no arbitrator between us, Who could lay his hand upon us both [would that there were].”

Even though God highly favored Job, he understood that God was not on his level. The closer you get to God, the more you understand how infinitely high He is. Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV) – “⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. ⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God is not a man (Numbers 23:19).

Job felt that he was not worthy of going before God. Therefore, he sought a mediator between him and God who could reconcile him with God. He treated God with great reverence. Few people in the world fear God. Therefore, many do not treat Him with the reverence that He deserves.

Some mock God and insult Him because they think He does not exist because they have never seen Him. We should not wait to be in a situation similar to Job’s to recognize that there is a God in heaven. Job loved God before facing his affliction, and he still loved God even when Satan threw his sharp darts at him.

Job 13:15 (AMP) – “Even though He kills me; I will hope in Him.”

Job chooses to trust in God even when God does not bless him. Many of us worship God and serve Him because we know He can bless us, and He has promised to bless us if we obey Him. We seek God not because of a genuine love for Him but because of the good things that He promises. Job loved God genuinely. He was going to trust God even if God caused him harm.

Job’s love for God was not conditional, dependent upon earthly prosperity or good health. It was a love that transcended circumstance, grounded in an understanding that God’s ways were far beyond his comprehension, as the book of Job makes evident. Even when God seemed to be causing him harm, Job’s trust remained unwavering.

The story of Job challenges us to reflect on the nature of our faith. Are we pursuing God primarily for the material blessings He can bestow upon us, or are we ready to love and trust Him unconditionally, even when life’s challenges seem insurmountable?

Job’s example reminds us that authentic faith involves an enduring commitment to God, irrespective of our circumstances. It encourages us to trust that God’s purposes may not always align with our immediate desires but ultimately lead to a deeper, more profound relationship with Him. This type of faith is a refuge in the most challenging moments of our lives, an anchor in the storm of uncertainty, and a testimony to the enduring power of love and trust in the Divine.

Job 19:25-27 (KJV): “ ²⁵ For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: ²⁶ And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: ²⁷ Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.”

“Into the experience of all there come times of keen disappointment and utter discouragement—days when sorrow is the portion, and it is hard to believe that God is still the kind benefactor of His earth-born children; days when troubles harass the soul, till death seems preferable to life. It is then that many lose their hold on God and are brought into the slavery of doubt, the bondage of unbelief. Could we at such times discern with spiritual insight the meaning of God’s providences, we should see angels seeking to save us from ourselves, striving to plant our feet upon a foundation more firm than the everlasting hills; and new faith, new life, would spring into being.” – My Life Today, Page 328, Ellen G. White.

After all his animals have died, and all his children and he is in a critical health condition that seems that he is approaching death, Job still believes that his redeemer lives. He still has hope that God will turn around his situation for the better one day. He believes that problems will not last forever and one day all problems that we are facing on earth will end when Jesus comes back the second time.

Unlike most of us, the second coming of Jesus does not seem too far-fetched for him. His patience has developed to a level that he trusts in God’s timing and is willing to wait on God for as long as he lives.

Besides Jesus, no man in the Bible is narrated to have the same patience as Job. Patience is a vital fruit of the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, many Christians do not have it. We want quick results, and we give up so easily. We do not exercise patience in our human relations. Therefore, we end our friendships when the other person makes a mistake. Many have ended their marriages because of a lack of patience. Some people have bypassed and despised stupendous opportunities due to impatience.

I once heard one of my professors at University narrating how he bought Apple’s stocks. He said that after he bought them, the company’s share price went down. Therefore, he ended up selling his stocks at a loss. He said it did not take long before the stocks rose to mind-blowing levels again. Lack of patience cost him a lot of money. In the Bible, Esau despised his birthrite because of being impatient (Genesis 25).

Former Basketball player Magic Johnson said that when Nike Company was still new, they offered him a deal to be their brand ambassador in exchange for their stock because they did not have much money then. He refused and demanded instant cash instead. He was not patient enough to wait for the time it would take for the stocks to mature. He regrets that decision to this day because he has seen the leaps and bounds that Nike’s stocks have made.

Job 37:23 (AMP) – “The Almighty—we cannot find Him; He is exalted in power And He will not do violence to [nor disregard] justice and abundant righteousness.”

God is a just God. It is quite common to hear people saying that God is unfair. God is not unfair; He is a God of justice. We often accuse Him of injustice because we are limited in our view of things.

We do not know the cause and the back story of why some things have happened to some people the way they have. For example, the people surrounding Job knew Job as a faithful man of God, but they did not understand why he faced the problems he was facing. They did not know of Satan’s meeting with God and that God would reward Job greatly in the latter end.

God’s justice is an unshakable pillar of divine character, but our limited human perspective sometimes leads us to label it as unfair. In our finite understanding, we often question God’s fairness, failing to grasp the intricate tapestry of His divine plan. We are like individuals peering at a single puzzle piece while unaware of the grand mosaic it contributes to.

The narrative of Job exemplifies this human tendency to misjudge God’s justice. Job, known among his peers as a devout servant of God, appeared plunged into unfathomable suffering without apparent cause or reason. The perplexed onlookers, like us, could not discern the underlying purpose.

Job’s story teaches us that a profound backstory is often hidden from our view. The meeting between Satan and God, as detailed in the Book of Job, remains concealed from human eyes. It is a glimpse into the heavenly realms where God’s divine wisdom and purposes unfold.

Job’s tribulations were not punishments but part of a divine plan to demonstrate the depth of his faith and character. God’s justice extended beyond immediate circumstances to a grander design that would ultimately vindicate Job and abundantly reward his unwavering faith.

Like Job’s contemporaries, we frequently rush to judgments about God’s fairness based on our limited understanding, but in reality, His justice surpasses our comprehension.

We must acknowledge that being omniscient, God considers the broader spectrum of eternity, an aspect far beyond our limited human perception. Even when life’s circumstances appear unjust or harsh, we must trust God’s overarching sense of justice.

Through the lens of faith and a deeper understanding of divine wisdom, we can genuinely appreciate the fairness inherent in God’s actions. Job’s journey reminds us that God’s justice prevails, even when our immediate circumstances may suggest otherwise.

God deals with people differently. However, whatever way He chooses to deal with an individual is just and righteous. Some people may look good in our eyes and seem to be doing good things, but we do not know what they are doing behind the scenes. Therefore, when they face the consequences of their sinful actions, or God decides to punish them so they can change their ways, we accuse God of being unfair. God delights in mercy and exercises plenty of justice.

Job 42:2 (AMP) – “I know that You can do all things, And that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained.”

Countless times, we often doubt the omnipotence of God. We sing songs that acknowledge and praise God for being all-powerful, but we do not truly believe that all power rests in Him and with Him. We believe that God can do some things, but He cannot do all things.

Sometimes, we judge God based on our abilities and the abilities that we have seen in human beings. For instance, we may have an ailing patient with us whom we have taken to all the best doctors in the world and have failed to cure them. Therefore, we think God cannot heal since the most educated worldly physicians have failed to heal. God’s prowess begins where all combined human prowess ends.

Job 42:10 (KJV) – “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

“According to his faith, so was it unto Job. “When He hath tried me,” he said, “I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10. So it came to pass. By his patient endurance he vindicated his own character, and thus the character of Him whose representative he was. And “the Lord turned the captivity of Job: … also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before…. So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning.” Job 42:10-12.” – Education, Page 156.5, Ellen G. White. 

“On the record of those who through self-abnegation have entered into the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings, stand—one in the Old Testament and one in the New—the names of Jonathan and of John the Baptist.” – Education, Page 156.6, Ellen G. White.

“Jonathan, by birth heir to the throne, yet knowing himself set aside by the divine decree; to his rival the most tender and faithful of friends, shielding David’s life at the peril of his own; steadfast at his father’s side through the dark days of his declining power, and at his side falling at the last—the name of Jonathan is treasured in heaven, and it stands on earth a witness to the existence and the power of unselfish love.” – Education, Page 157.1, Ellen G. White.

“John the Baptist, at his appearance as the Messiah’s herald, stirred the nation. From place to place his steps were followed by vast throngs of people of every rank and station. But when the One came to whom he had borne witness, all was changed. The crowds followed Jesus, and John’s work seemed fast closing. Yet there was no wavering of his faith. “He must increase,” he said, “but I must decrease.” John 3:30.” – Education, Page 157.2, Ellen G. White.

While still deep in adversity, Job’s faith in God enabled him to pray for his friends. This was someone who could give himself no reason to help another person because he was probably encountering more problems than everyone around him. His difficulties did not stop him. He believed that despite the misfortune that he was facing, he still had something to give. He had no money to give since he had lost all his wealth, but he could still pray for someone.

The Devil didn’t take away the ability to pray from him. Some people think they have nothing to give because they do not have money. Matthew 5:42 (KJV) – “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” Jesus said we should not turn away anyone asking us for help. Jesus understood that we are not going to have money all the time. However, he gave us this instruction because he knows that we have something to give even if we do not have money.

Acts 3:6 (KJV) – “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Peter and John did not have money to give the lame man, but they had a far more precious gift than all the silver and gold he had been borrowing in his entire lifetime. Through the power of Christ, they prayed, and he got healed. None of us lacks something to give someone.

Job’s story illustrates that faith is not only about celebrating God during times of blessing but also about remaining steadfast in trust and reverence during times of suffering and questioning. It is a story of unwavering faith in the midst of adversity.

The faith of Job is a beacon that shines brightly in the heart of adversity, teaching us that even in our questioning, we can discover answers in the whisper of faith. Job’s story serves as a sanctuary of hope and a masterpiece of patience and resilience, illustrating that the path to wisdom often winds through the valleys of adversity.

Just as the phoenix rises from the ashes, so does Job emerge from his trials, reminding us that through unwavering faith, we can endure and find strength in suffering. His journey echoes that in our darkest moments, we can find the prelude to our brightest days. Job’s unwavering trust in God’s justice reminds us that faith is not passive but a powerful expression of hope, perseverance, and resilience.

Job’s unwavering faith, reminiscent of passages such as Isaiah 40:31, allowed him to mount up with wings like eagles, renewing his strength even in the face of unimaginable adversity.

As Job praised God seven days a week, he kept the Sabbath principle of remembering God as the Creator. He embodied the commandment to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy, as seen in Exodus 20:8-11. Job’s life was a living testament to this sacred day of rest, for even in his darkest hours, he rested in the assurance of God’s providence.

Just as Job faced trials, James 1:2-4 comes to mind, highlighting endurance through suffering. Job’s story becomes an earthly embodiment of this concept, as he persevered and emerged from his trials more potent than before, bearing witness to the power of faith in James 1:12.

The Sabbath, a solemn day of rest, carries us through the valleys of life. In the heart of adversity, we, too, can find rest of the soul. As expressed in Psalm 46:10, we can be still and know that He is God. Job’s journey mirrors this truth, revealing that faith is not merely a passive observance but an active expression of hope, resilience, and the promise that, like Job, we can rise from the ashes through faith.

GOD BLESS YOU!

Prayer

“Dear God, help us maintain our faith in You, even when life’s challenges seem insurmountable. May we trust in Your wisdom and justice, knowing that, just as Job emerged from his trials stronger, we too can find strength in all situations. Teach us to have unwavering faith, to pray for others even in our adversity, and to believe in Your omnipotence, for we know that You can do all things. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”

Activity

1. Find a Quiet Moment: Whenever you have a brief moment of quiet, take the opportunity to reflect on your faith and resilience.
2. Close Your Eyes: Close your eyes to create a moment of inner focus.
3. Recall a Challenge: Think about a recent challenge or difficulty you’ve faced or are currently facing in your life and pray about it.
4. Think of other people’s challenges: Think of the various challenges your friends or people you know are facing and pray about them.
5. Draw Inspiration from Job: In this short reflection, remind yourself of Job’s story. Think about how he remained steadfast in his faith and resilience despite immense adversity.
6. Repeat an Affirmation: Say a short affirmation or prayer inspired by Job’s example. For example, “I trust in God’s plan. I trust that He has given me ability to endure challenges.”
7. Open Your Eyes: When you’re done, open your eyes and continue with your day, carrying the inspiration and faith you’ve drawn from Job’s story.

Author: Mark Alex   

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