Job prays for friends
You know the story of how Job was the most blessed and most faithful man on earth and then it was all taken away in one day as a spiritual test.
Scripture doesn’t say how long this season of devilish torment was allowed by God, but it clearly was months at a minimum.
Going from having Bill Gates’ wealth down to not even affording a scrap of cardboard for a begger’s sign was unbelievably tough, I’m sure.
I can’t even imagine going through such, and I’ve faced some hard times of my own.
God was greatly pleased by Job’s character and faith before the onslaught of affliction by Satan.
Though Job 1-2 give indicators of the faithful integrity that so pleased God and so antagonized Satan, I was most impressed by a tiny snippet of words Job shared when God broke His silence and later Job’s season of suffering.
Hmmmm…..
Please pay close attention because this is really important.
And understand that what you’ll read below is incredibly significant because it represents the first words that Job spoke to God after all that he had been through.
What were those first words?
“I am unworthy” (Job 40:4).
Job had been more faithful than any human on earth, even in the cauldron of Satan’s worst torments and the emotional abandonment by his “friends.”
Yet, there was no prideful claim to deservedness of deliverance.
There was no claim to blessing.
There was only humility.
There was only theological accuracy.
Compared to God, Job was unworthy.
Confronted with the presence of God, Job — the faithful Job — immediately recognized how far he fell short of God’s glory.
Simply put, Job knew his place.
He knew that he had no meritorious standing with God.
That’s why he fell on his face, I’m sure.
Two chapters later, Job said essentially the same thing.
“My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).
If you’re read the One-Year-Bible installment for today, you saw how God responded to Job’s humility.
He loved it. And He launched a multi-faceted plan for restoration of Job AND his unfaithful friends.
The backstabbing friends were told were told by God to apologize to Job.
Job graciously forgave them and prayed for God to forgive their critical spirits.
And then the Lord gave Job seven new sons and three new incredibly beautiful daughters and twice as much wealth as he had before, including 14,000 sheep.
Wow.
Listen, my friend.
There is great power in humility.
Not our power, but God’s.
You can be sure that restoration and abundance would not have come to Job had he refused to speak the words, “I am unworthy.”
Because God knew Job was humble, God also knew that Job would be grateful for blessings.
Be humble, my friend. Recognize your unworthiness before God. Confess it to Him. Forgive those who hurt you.
There’s no guarantee of material blessings by your doing so, yet you’ll clearly show God that you have a heart ripe for heaven’s blessings.
And I’d choose eternal life over 14,000 sheep any day.
As always, I love you
Martin
