The Trial of Job

“Many set out trusting Jesus in a measure, but looking to themselves for continuance and perseverance in the heavenward way. If we trust in ourselves for our holding on, we will not hold on.”
Charles Spurgeon

The Trial of Job:

Job was both a pious and prosperous man. His devotion to God resulted in the Lord’s blessing in his life and his family. Although it is difficult, it is possible for a wealthy man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

23Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Matthew 19: 23-24 NIV

By God’s grace the varied temptations of a wealthy man can be overcome. The Word’s documents that Job’s wealth and piousness, proceeded his afflictions, demonstrating that neither can secure any believer from tribulation.

12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
13but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
1 Peter 12-13 NASB

Job was all too aware of the nature of the human heart, as evidenced by his concerns for his own children’s spiritual well being. He urged his children to be sanctified frequently, and he even provided the sacrifices necessary, reminding them of their need to confess and repent from sin so that God would forgive them.

1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.
2Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.
3His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually.
Job 1:1-5 NASB

Job’s afflictions began in the malice of Satan’s heart. Satan’s aim is always to kill steal and destroy.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…
John 10:10a NASB

He is the enemy of righteousness and is continually seeking to lead us astray or destroy those who love God and are called to His purposes.

God had such confidence in the integrity of Job, because he knew Job’s heart. So he asked Satan if he had considered the holiness of Job. Satan’s response was to claim that Jobs devotion was only due to the fact that God had blessed him.

6Now there was a day when the sons of God
came to present themselves before the LORD,
and Satan also came among them.
7The LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?"
Then Satan answered the LORD and said,
"From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."
8The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job?
For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man,
fearing God and turning away from evil."
9Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing?
10"Have You not made a hedge about him and his house
and all that he has, on every side?
You have blessed the work of his hands,
and his possessions have increased in the land.
11"But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has;
he will surely curse You to Your face."
12Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power,
only do not put forth your hand on him."
So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.
Job 1:6-12 NASB (my emphasis red)

How extensive Satan’s influence on us is, difficult to assess, but certainly some of the difficulties we experience in our walk with Christ can be attributed to him. While we are sojourners on this earth we are certainly targets for Satan and his fallen hordes. It is therefore in our best interest that we are conscious of his efforts and vigilant to stand against his works.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert
Your adversary, the devil,
prowls around like a roaring lion,
seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8 NASB

The devil falsely slanders Job calling him a hypocrite without having any evidence that this was the case. He is the accuser of the brethren, and he continually brings allegations against us.

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Revelation 12:10 NASB (my emphasis bold)

We must strive to live our lives in Spirit and Truth, that we are not able to be called hypocrites. Having said that we should never fear being falsely accused, but stand in the face of the enemy’s false assertions, confident in our position in Christ Jesus.

11"Blessed are you when people insult you
and persecute you,
and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great;
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:11-12 NASB

God allowed Job to be tested as he allowed Peter to be sifted...

31"Simon, Simon, behold,
Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;
32but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail;
and you, when once you have turned again,
strengthen your brothers."
Luke 22:31-32 NASB

God never allows Satan to tempt us without having a plan of how he will make it work together for our good and His glory.

And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:29 NASB

Indeed, Satan has no power to lead men and women to sin… that progression always comes from our own poor choices. Likewise the enemy has no power to afflict us unless the Lord grants him permission. To our comfort, God has the devil on a short chain.
The account of Job shows the goodness of God’s command in all the affairs of men.

All we possess is a gift from God. All that is ours should technically (under the Law) be forfeited by our sinful nature. So if we suffer any loss, we ought not complain.
Ultimately all God allows, which may seem in the moment loss, is designed for our becoming mature in our reliance and faith in God. If we are discontent with circumstance or impatient for outcomes, what does that say about our level of faith? It proclaims that we believe we know better than God!

8"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," declares 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.
10"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:8-11 NASB

Notice that Job guarded against making any accusation against God.

If anyone does not stumble in what he says,
he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
James 3:2b NASB

Job knew he dare not accuse God for his suffering.
Instead he humbled himself falling to the ground to worship God, saying:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
And naked I shall return there
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD."
Job 1:21 NASB

Job suffered and refused to place any blame on the LORD.

22Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
Job 1: 22 NASB

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and to deliver us from sin, sickness, death and the bondages of dark influences of evil.

8 the one who practices sin is of the devil;
for the devil has sinned from the beginning
The Son of God appeared for this purpose,
to destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8 NASB

Job suffered, and yes we suffer… but no one suffered more than the LORD Himself.

2For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
3He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
6All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.
7He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.
8By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
And as for His generation, who considered
That He was cut off out of the land of the living
For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?
9His grave was assigned with wicked men,
Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
10But the LORD was pleased
To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
11As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
12Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out Himself to death,
And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:2-12 NASB

I will several times a year watch the movie The Passion of the Christ. I know many Christians who say they can’t bear to watch this account of what Christ suffered for our redemption. I watch it so I may put into perspective the slight sufferings of my life and call in Christ.
Indeed as graphic as the movie is, I believe it falls far short of the actual suffering Christ bore for our sin. Consider what it says in Psalm 22…

6But I am a worm and not a man,
A reproach of men and despised by the people.
7All who see me sneer at me;
They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,
8"Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him."
12Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13They open wide their mouth at me,
As a ravening and a roaring lion.
14I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within me.
15My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me in the dust of death.
16For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.
17I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
18They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.
Psalm 22:6-8; 12-18. NASB

We can be certain that whatever we are asked to suffer in this life the outcome will be worth it.

9 and may be found in Him,
not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law,
but that which is through faith in Christ,
the righteousness which comes from God
on the basis of faith,
10that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection
and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to His death;
11in order that I may attain to
the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:9-11 NASB (my emphasis bold)

As we mature in Christ we can come to understand that our sufferings are an integral part of our walk with Christ. As the above scripture denotes, they allow us to be partakers of Christ’s suffering. These experiences allow us to better understand the extent and significance of Christ’s sacrifice for our sin. They also become a benchmark for our developing Christ-like compassion to those we meet who are walking through a suffering experience. They serve to demonstrate to us the faithfulness of the Lord, to carry us through suffering times, allowing our faith to stretch under the hand of the Author and Finisher of our faith. These events become character building episodes in our lives that result in our being better able to minister to others… to see as Christ did:
11 As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
Isaiah 53:11 NASB

When these things transpire in our lives we are then able to echo the words
“Count it all joy’…

2Consider it all joy, my brethren,
when you encounter various trials,
3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4And let endurance have its perfect result,
so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4 NASB

Notice again what Jesus said to Simon Peter…

31"Simon, Simon, behold,
Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;
32but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail;
and you, when once you have turned again,
strengthen your brothers."
Luke 22:31-32 NASB

Jesus walks with us through our trials that our faith may be strengthened and that we will not fail. When we come out the other side of suffering we will be able to strengthen our brothers and sisters.

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