MISSION WOODS CHURCH
Worship, Sunday, November 24, 2024
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  • We Gather Together
  • Count Your Blessings
  • Now Thank We All Our God
  • Let All Things Now Living

      • Job 42.1-4ESV

      • Job 42.5-7ESV

      • Job 42.8ESV

      • Job 42.9-10ESV

      • Job 42.11ESV

      • Job 42.12-14ESV

      • Job 42.15-17ESV

  • We’ve come to the end of the book of Job. He’s experienced horrific tragedy. After that the unsolicited advice of his comforter turned accuser friends. And just prior to our reading today a very personal encounter with the creator God himself. Here at the end of our book we find, what I believe to be one of the great statements of faith in the entire Bible.
    It is one of the big takeaways from the entire book, it can be a prayer when we’re facing those overwhelming times of tragedy, crises, pressure…
    In order to put this into context we need to remember the story of Job. Here is a man who is described by God himself:
    Job 1:8 ESV
    And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
    and in the next chapter, after the loss of all of his wealth, his income, his status, and his family, he is again described by God, Job 2:3
    Job 2:3 ESV
    And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”
    What is it? It’s right there at the opening of our chapter:
    Job 42:2 ESV
    “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
    When we’re faced with an overwhelming challenge God has put in our path we can say to God: “i know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”
    When we are faced with a crisis, we can pray, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”
    When a loved one is faced with a critical diagnosis, we can say, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”
    This is a profound, grounded faith that came out of an incredible journey in this story of Job. You may remember his initial reaction to all that had happened was to worship, but then came the anger and he cursed the day of his birth. After that was the enduring of friends accusations to which his response was always to turn back to God.
    As we have read through Job you’ve no doubt noticed Job was not shy about his complaints to God. There’s a lesson there as well.

    When you are upset complain to God!

    So often we’re quick to tell everyone we know about how upset we are, but slow to tell the one who can do anything about it.
    There’s this mindset that we aren’t to say anything negative to God. We’re not to take our complaints to God. Not ever voicing our anger or complaining to God is not a sign of a strong faith, but a sign of limited faith.
    Have you read Job? Have you read the Psalms?
    Not taking your complaints to God says a whole lot more about you and your faith than it does of God.
    Shouldn’t we approach God with reverence? Yes.
    Shouldn’t we know God is in control? Yes.
    Isn’t God worthy of our worship? Yes.
    This statement of faith from Job comes after wrestling with God throughout the book and learning more about who God really is. I think it is safe to say within this story that Job has a much greater understanding of who God is at the end of this book than he did at the beginning.
    In fact he says, Job 42:5-6
    Job 42:5–6 ESV
    I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
    I knew about you before, but now I know you and I know who I am in relation to you.
    Does he understand “why” he had to endure all of this? No.
    Is he happier having gone through all of this? No, there’s nothing said of that.
    Can 10 more children make up for the loss of his 10 children? No, Job and his wife will forever remember that tragic loss.
    The second section of our reading has to do with Job’s friends. Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar are commanded to take seven bulls and seven rams and go to Job and offer up a burnt offering for themselves to atone for their error. What’s extraordinary is the high price they are asked to pay.
    Seven bulls and seven rams - the same offering as for the entire people of Israel during Passover each day throughout.

    Job as Priest

    In this ironic twist Job is called upon to act as priest not only over the sacrifice but then as intercessor for the friends. Job is the priestly figure offering the sacrifice and interceding on behalf of his friends before God for their forgiveness.
    Though it is the three friends that bring the sacrifice to Job, it is Job who makes the offering. It is Job who prays for their forgiveness. This is much like he was doing in Job 1 for his own family. Job 1:5
    Job 1:5 ESV
    And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
    After all of this we’re told Job’s fortunes are restored when he had prayed for his friends.
    Job 42:10 ESV
    And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

    Restoration?

    in closing the book, we read that the Lord restored the fortunes of Job - fortunes being plural. You then see a list of them: 14,000 sheep,6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1000 female donkeys. And seven sons and three daughters - this is the same as before.
    Clearly this doesn’t make up for the loss of his previous seven sons and three daughters. I’ve had more than one woman respond, “Please don’t say that Job’s wife have those 10 more children!” I think this reminds us once again this is an allegory and not an actual happening. It is like a parable that Jesus would tell.
    What have we learned?
    Crisis does not equal punishment from God.
    Your loss of job, health diagnosis, economic situation, etc. does not mean that God is punishing you for some unknown sin. God is still on the throne; God remains in control.
    Friends can mean well, and may be wrong.
    You and I were not meant to be alone. We were created for community. Even in the best of communities where the best of intentions are always at the forefront, does not mean that those same friends will deliver wise counsel.
    I wonder how the friends realization that they were wrong played out in their relationship with Job? I wonder how, other than the sacrifice, they voiced their contrition and sorrow for their words and accusations.
    Stay engaged.
    Job did not like what his friends were saying. Throughout this story he responds to them that he is innocent and being tried for no reason. He not only stays engaged with his friends but also with God. He laments to God what is going on in his life and the accusation of his friends. He stays engaged with both.
    Faith is not easy. Be honest!
    Perhaps the greatest lesson in Job is regarding our faith and relationship with our Creator God. There are times when in prayer I feel like I’m simply talking to the ceiling? There are times we’re going to wonder, “Why?” Why is this happening? Why me? Why suffering? Why tragedy? Why? Why? Why?
    Our emotional reaction will not always be joy, happiness, and contentment. That’s okay. Recognize that God loves you deeply. God sent his only son so that you and I might know that love in a very personal way. The psalmist writes, “What is man that you are mindful of him?”
    Think about that for a moment, God is mindful of you. God loves you. These are profound statements. Especially when we consider who and what God is. The creator of the entire universe loves and is mindful of little ol’ you and me!
    What a silly thought to consider that our pitiful anger might in some way be injurious to the Creator of all things. Finally,…
    Take the long view.
    Perhaps the most difficult lesson of Job is the idea of taking the long view. We all have a very shortened view of what God is doing. At the very least it is limited by the length of our days. In our western culture we seem to increasingly lack the discipline of delayed gratification. Everything is immediate.
    I can now watch almost any show I want on the television simply by searching and hitting play. I can have a hot meal in a matter of minutes simply by popping it into the microwave. I can find the answer to virtually any question by simply asking - I don’t even have to type it in!
    In Job, we see how the long view is brought in, not only in the delay for his restoration, but also in the restoration. Remember he’d lost seven sons and three daughters, which is equal to the number that are returned to him in later days. No child ever replaces the loss of another child for a parent. And note the statement “the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before,” in vs. 10.
    As we conclude our journey through Job I want to close with this idea as application.

    Application

    Job emphasizes that by turning toward God rather than from Him in the midst of our pain, crises, and tragedies, opens doors for real healing transformation in our spiritual lives.
    Turning to God in the midst of our pain does not minimize the reality of that pain. Believing that God can not only handle our anger, sadness, grief but also the cause of that anger, sadness or grief is faith. My hope in this season of thanksgiving is that all of us can take a deep breath, take a moment to reflect on not just the easy times of this past year, but the difficult times as well and be thankful. Be thankful for the way God has been with you throughout it all and is with you even now.
    To God be the glory! Amen!
    ​
    How can Job's declaration, 'I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted,' inspire you in your current life challenges?
    What does it mean to 'take your complaints to God' instead of others, and how can that change your relationship with Him?
    In what ways can you demonstrate a humble response like Job did when faced with trials in your own life?
    How can you apply the lessons learned from Job's friends to your relationships, especially in comforting others during tough times?
    Reflecting on Job's journey, what steps can you take to cultivate a deeper understanding of God in your personal hardships?

      • Job 1:8ESV

      • Job 2:3ESV

      • Job 42:2ESV

      • Job 42:5–6ESV

      • Job 1:5ESV

      • Job 42:10ESV

  • Thank You, Lord
  • Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
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MISSION WOODS CHURCH
info@missionwoodschurch.org
(253) 922-5555
http://www.missionwoodschurch.org
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