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Refreshment in Refuge
by Gina Burgess
Did God allow Job to be harmed past endurance? Did God share with Job that Satan was the one playing havoc in his life? Were any of us around when God laid the foundations of the world and when He hung the stars in place?
Well, if you answered "yes" to any of those questions, please email me, we need to talk.
No, God did not allow harm to Job beyond Job's endurance. Anyone else might have committed suicide. God knew the exactness of Job's strength, faith, will and mental health. God did not allow him to be pushed past a point of no return. God will do no less for us today. He is the same past, present and future... we can depend on that.
Do you ever get a sore soul? I mean a soreness like a sore tooth in your spirit. The feeling just washes through, leaving a feeling of dread or bleakness. I usually get this feeling when something bad is going to happen. This feeling is not from God. It is something that comes from Satan, and I know this through experience.
Some scholars say that we cannot depend on experience, but must depend on and lean on exactly what the Bible says, forgetting feelings... rejecting feelings. But look at the "set up" in Job 1: Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, his name was Job. And this man was perfect and upright, and fearing God, and turning away from evil.... Job 1:9
And Satan answered Jehovah and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? Job 1:10 Have You not made a hedge for him, and for his house, and for all that is his all around? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land. Job 1:11 But put out Your hand now, and touch against all that is his, and see if he will not then curse You to Your face.
First, Satan has no power except that which God allows. There is also another factor--that which we give. Knowing this, we are forewarned and forearmed against an evil foe. However, just like Job we have to endure. The point with Job was not at all to teach Job, but to prove a point to Satan. I am convinced that Job had that soreness in his soul. This is such a huge lesson that I just sit back and marvel. I had always thought all our trials and tribulations were forms of education, tests and basic school work that prepares us for our eternal purpose.
That is true in part, but God's good purposes may not be for the person that undergoes the trial, but for the education of an observer... or for later ministry to someone who will go through the same thing... or to prove to Satan some Truth. Those kinds of trials are extremely hard (the things that happened to Job are tremendous stress triggers as well as huge grief causers). What an amazing thing. The witness to Job's wife who said, "Curse God and die." She had 10 more children. The witness to Job's friends who had advice that produced such contempt from God. Job 42:7 And it happened, after Jehovah spoke these words to Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My anger glows against you and your two friends. For You have not spoken the right about Me, as My servant Job. Job 42:8 And now take for you seven young bulls and seven rams and go to My servant Job, and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. And My servant Job will pray for you. Surely I will lift up his face so as not to do with you according to your folly, in that you have not spoken the right about Me, as My servant Job.
But, look! How sweet the thought... "I will lift up his face..." Job 42:9
And Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as Jehovah spoke to them. And Jehovah lifted the face of Job. Can't you just feel the soft and tender fingers of God under your chin? Can't you see His tender smile and gentle laughter? How glorious that would be, to have my face cupped by His hands... just to lean into Him and let Him lift not only my face, but my whole self. Yea, Lord, I shout Your praises and Your glory. I am enthralled with Your beauty. After all that, Job had 7 more sons and 3 more daughters and he gave them all inheritance. That's probably about 10 years. The timing seems so LONG, yet to God, it is a mere 'blink, blink... blink'. Remain calm. Be still and know that God is God. Our face will be lifted. We must make our decisions based on our knowledge of God because He always keeps His promises.
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Gina Burgess has taught Sunday School and Discipleship Training for almost three decades. (Don't tell her that makes her old.) She earned her Master's in Communication in 2013.
She is the author of several books including: When Christians Hurt Christians, The Crowns of the Believers and others available in online bookstores. She authors several columns, using her God-given talent to shine a light in a dark world. You can browse her blog at Refreshment In Refuge.
If you'd like to take a look at some Christian fiction and Christian non-fiction book reviews check out Gina's book reviews at Upon
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