“Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.’ But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” Job 2:9-10
In the amazing story of Job, there was a man, “upright and blameless,” from whom God allowed everything to be taken: his ten children, his livestock, his houses, and eventually his health. And yet, Job refused to blame God.
The backstory to Job is pretty crazy. Satan appears before God, from “roaming up and down the earth.” It appears that Satan is looking for a new soul to torture, and God responds like this: “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
Satan, in response, whines that Job is only upright and blameless because of all the material blessings God has bestowed on him. God gives him permission to take these material blessings away, without harming Job. First the oxen and donkeys are struck down with the swords of the Sabeans. Then fire fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and servants. Then the Chaldeans formed a raid and stole the camels and servants. Then, when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon them, and they died.
In response to all this, the Bible says that Job fell on his face and worshiped God. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
I see several noteworthy things about God in this story:
God does not ordain suffering, but He does allow it. In Job 1:8 God said, “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?”
God, even when He does allow suffering, is also merciful. He told Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” Job 1:12
God is not blind to our suffering. He sees and hears us. In Job 2:3 God said to Satan, “He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”
In the New Testament, Hebrews 4:14-15 puts it like this:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Today, let us remember that God in His Sovereignty allows suffering in our lives, and yet we have the privilige of approaching His Throne of Grace for our every need.