11/03/2008
Job 1:20 - 22 (HCSB) 20Then Job stood up, tore his robe and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, 21saying:
Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will leave this life.
The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away.
Praise the name of the LORD.
22Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.
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You may recognize the phrase “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away” from the passage above. This comes from the book of Job. The quote above comes after Job has learned that all his flocks have been stolen, his servants have been killed by marauders, and all his children have been killed by a storm.
Job was a righteous man, but this all happened because Satan stood before God and ascribed Job’s righteousness to God’s blessings on him. Satan said:
Job 1:9 - 11 (HCSB) 9Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10Haven’t You placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions are spread out in the land. 11But stretch out Your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”
God allowed Satan to test Job. Job lost everything of value and while he was distraught and mournful, he praised God. Do we have this stamina, to praise God in the very hour of our loss? I know, too many times we are quick to shake a fist at heaven and ask “Why!” Even I am guilty of this.
But we should be like Job, with the presence-of-mind to realize that no matter what happens, God is to be honored and praised. We entered this world with nothing. Everything we have has been temporarily entrusted to us by God and whether He entrusts us with more or less does not diminish His sovereignty.
Praise the name of the Lord.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2008 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
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