Jen's Job; Part II The "Friends" Comment on his Status

I wonder if they had Facebook back in Job's time how his status would have read. Let me remind you what happens to Job all in chapter one of the tale. First, God directs Satan's attention to his blameless servant, Job. Next God removes a "hedge" of protection that allows Satan to attack him and his family.  As a result, in the course of just a few paragraphs, Job loses all his worldly belongings and all his children are killed.
Job's first status post is this: " The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."
The scripture goes on to say, " In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." (Job 1:22) This tells us that Job knew God's nature was good, and simply because something bad happens in the natural does not mean that God's supernatural nature has changed; he is same...the Alpha and Omega. Human love may fail, but God's does not. Therefore, when things don't go our way, don't respond by attacking God's character. I know that despite my current circumstances, my God is good and will work this out to my good as well. (Rom 8:28)

"When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;  but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed." James 1:13-14

When Job refused to falter in his faith, Satan again enters God's presence. God points out to Satan, " Have you considered my servant Job?...And he still maintains his integrity, though you have incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." Satan responds by telling God that if he is allowed to attack Job's body, striking his flesh and bones, he will surely curse God. Therefore, God allows Satan to afflict him with painful sores from soles of his feet to the top of his head.
His FB status probably would have read something like this: My enemy now is attacking the strength of my flesh, knowing that the "spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matt 26:41).
If it wasn't enough to have lost all that he valued and be emotionally grieving the deaths of all his children, now he has physical problems to boot. I can relate. Last week my enemy started attacking me physically and now on top of everything emotional and financial I am having to deal with at work, I am facing some health issues that are demanding my faith in God to persevere through. What next, one might say?

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body." 2nd Corinth 4:8-11

Job's wife is the first to comment on his status; she chastises him by saying, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" Job replies, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." Job 2:10

The remaining chapters of Job are a discussion between Job and his "friends" and then finally with God himself. It is interesting when you are going through something tough the comments that people will make. Some people say nothing because they don't know what to say or they really aren't interested in getting too close. I've found this to be true in my case as well; there are a lot of people I work with who know full well what it being done to me and have said nothing. We learn from scripture that Job was a very prominent man, yet only three people come to see him. When they arrive, they can see he is in such a state that initially they sit with him for seven days and nights saying nothing, "because they saw how great his suffering was. " Job2:13
When they finally do speak, three of Job's friends work hard to convince him that he must have done something wrong or committed some sin to deserve what God has allowed to happen. One tells him, "Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin." Ouch. Nothing like a friend to remind you of all your shortcomings. All the while, Job clings to his righteousness as a defense.  Interestingly enough, I've had the same thing happen to me in the last few weeks. It has been suggested that I brought this all upon myself. Surely, I know exactly what it is that I did that caused the attack.  I've been taught this occurs because our enemy wants us to take the attack personally when the reality is that it is not us who is being attacked, but the Christ in us. Therefore, the battle is not ours, it is the Lord's to fight. Job understood that because this is true, Christ intercedes in Heaven on our behalf.
"Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a (wo)man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend." Job 16:20-21


"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Heb 4:15-16


Finally, a man named Elihu speaks to Job. He basically tells him that neither our sins nor our righteousness really affect God's ultimate plans; he will accomplish them with or without us. The fact is, the attack comes because God is getting ready to do something big and the enemy doesn't want it to happen. Elihu tells him,
"But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you. Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside. Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer instead of affliction." I think he is telling Job, when we suffer we are very close to God and therefore are able to hear things from him we would otherwise not be able to. So, why do we try so hard to get out of these situations? Why are we always looking for a shortcut out?
"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,  for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." Psalm 23:4-6

The last to speak is the Lord himself. God tells Job, "Everything under heaven belongs to me." Job 41:11 He asks Job this question: "Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?" God basically tells Job that man is not capable of understanding all the mysteries and wonders available to God and that his plans never fail. It is in this that we should have faith, not in our own righteousness. Job's status after encountering God is this: "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Phil. 4:13
At this realization, Job repents. "After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before." The fact is, its not my goodness or badness that got me into this particular situation. It's God's will. He is using this entire situation to prepare me for something; I've had many godly friends tell me exactly that. I think learning that our righteousness as Christians is not something to take pride in is a very important lesson for any type of ministry, especially as it relates to our relationships....or "friends."
I was told at the beginning of the year that this was "A Year of Favor" from the Lord; at first glance you might question that. In the natural, things are pretty dismal.  But don't put down the book before reading the last chapter. Isaiah 61 tells that the year of Lord's favor ends like this...
"Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice at their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs...and all who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed." May it be to me (and my 'Job' situation) Lord as your word has spoken.