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“JOB: FROM DESPAIR TO TRUST” BOOK OF JOB MARK JONES My wife and I spent a week in a condo on Panama City Beach several years ago. The condo is on the 14th floor, so the view from the balcony is spectacular. One morning Gail came out of the bathroom and said, “Well, I got a little surprise this morning: There’s a green tree frog in the bathroom sink!” We immediately wondered, “How the heck did he get up here? Did he climb the wall outside? Did he ride up on the luggage cart? Take the elevator?” I went into the bathroom and caught him, and then I took him out onto the balcony. I’ve seen those little guys crawling up and down walls and windows, I figured he could scale the wall and make his way back down to the ground just fine. Well, I sat him down on the balcony, and the split second his little legs touched the ground, he launched himself away to safety….Only he went over the rail, and I watched him fall 14 floors to the concrete patio below. He missed the pool by just a few feet! I thought about going over the rail after him—try to convince him he had so much to live for—but I stopped myself just in time! … Seriously, it was a long way down! Once he hit—splat—I could still see a tiny green speck from up there, so I got the binoculars to check how bad he was….He sat there about 30 seconds, and then he actually hopped away…Slowly! – I don’t know how he survived that fall. There are several lessons we could learn from that frog. -- Look before you leap; -- No matter how hard you land, keep on hopping; -- The pool is never as close to the building as it looks from the balcony! But here’s what I want you to do: Think about life from that frog’s perspective. One minute, he’s sitting in a cool sink, plenty of water around, life looks pretty good….Then, out of nowhere, this giant hand reaches in and closes around him—darkness—life suddenly seems pretty bleak….Just when he thinks he’s about to be squished, the hand releases him out into the sunshine….Relief! – Exuberant joy! … Not wanting to take any chances on being caught again, he lunges for freedom…only, it’s not freedom, it’s a free-fall…for about 140 feet. Isn’t it amazing how quickly life can turn around: One minute, everything’s going great…the next minute, things are spiraling out of control…you’re in a free-fall that doesn’t have a happy ending….Life can get messy…pretty quickly. Back in 1945, Charles Templeton & Billy Graham spoke at a Youth for Christ Rally and immediately sensed a spiritual connection….The two began an extensive tour of Europe, alternating in the pulpit for rally after rally….Upon their return to the states, Templeton planted a church that soon overflowed its 1200-seat sanctuary. A pioneer in mass evangelism, some predicted that Charles Templeton would eclipse Billy Graham as the pre-eminent world-wide evangelist. And yet, during the next several years, Charles Templeton experienced tremendous doubts that ultimately undermined his faith in God. By 1949, he was scoffing at Billy Graham's insistence that the Bible is the true and inspired Word of God….He became so cynical that the last book he wrote before he died was entitled, "Farewell to God: My Reasons for Rejecting the Christian Faith." … Do you know the primary reason Templeton abandoned his faith? The problem of suffering….Using Alzheimer's Disease as an example in his book, he described the excruciating process which that disease puts people through, stripping them of their memory, their dignity, their very identity. He concluded that a disease like that could not exist if there were a loving God. In the late 1990's, author Lee Strobel interviewed Charles Templeton. When Strobel arrived at Templeton's penthouse apartment in Toronto, more pieces of the puzzle fell into place….He discovered that Charles Templeton had Alzheimer's Disease: He had actually written his book from the despair of one who had just-recently been diagnosed….In the course of their conversation, Lee asked him if there was one particular thing that caused him to lose his faith in God. Templeton said, "Yes, a photograph in LIFE Magazine years ago. It was a picture of a woman in northern Africa whose country was facing a devastating drought.She was holding her dead baby in her arms and looking up to heaven with the most forlorn & hopeless expression. It struck me at that moment: How could a loving God do this to that woman? All she needed was rain! I immediately knew it was not possible for there to be a loving God and for this to happen. That was the climactic moment for me." Let me ask you something: Have you ever found yourself wrestling with those kinds of doubts? … If God is all-loving and all-powerful, how could so much pain and heartache exist in the world? And maybe you’re not asking that question from a philosophical perspective. Maybe, like Charles Templeton, you're living through a devastating crisis of your own, and you can't imagine how the Lord could let all this happen to you. Maybe the pain in your life has killed the dreams in your life, and you're wondering if you’ll ever make sense of the mess. I want to show you a man today who experienced life from both sides of pain and turmoil….Adversity struck in his life when he least expected, and once he came through it, he found life afterward to be more rich & full & satisfying than he ever imagined possible….His name is Job, and his familiar story is found in the OT. Let's look at his life to see how God operates in our lives. The story begins with JOB'S TRAGEDY See, the book of Job describes two different levels of activity. First, that of Job himself: The book begins, "In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil." … Immediately we're introduced to Job, a good and godly man. But we also learn in chapter one that there's an entirely different level of activity that's taking place in the heavens….Look at Verse 6, One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. [7] The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord, "From roaming through the earth & going back and forth in it." [8] Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." [9] "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. [10] "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. [11] But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." [12] The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. You need to know that Job was a wealthy man: He owned 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 donkeys; he also had a large number of servants….And yet, in one day's time, he lost all his wealth: Attacking armies and raging fire totally wiped out his resources. Then, just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, the most horrible news of all came: His ten children were having supper together at the oldest brother's house when a tornado came through and destroyed the place--All ten children were killed! … In one moment of time, Job’s family was completely wiped out. How can you begin to describe pain like that? They died suddenly: No opportunity to say goodbye….They died violently: crushed in the wreckage of a falling building….Did they die instantly? Did they suffer? Were they trapped for a time, fighting to free themselves? So many unanswered questions….So much unbelievable pain! And yet, look what happens next… Job 2:3-7 (NIV) The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." [4] "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. [5] But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face." [6] The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life." [7] So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Saying that Job had some boils may be the biggest understatement of the year. Listen to these phrases from the book that describe his affliction: He used dirt clods to cover his running sores….He couldn't sleep, but tossed and turned until dawn….The itching never ceased….He was flushed and red from weeping….His body was shriveled and wrinkled….He was exhausted and alone. His flesh turned black and rotted before his very eyes. He was constantly burning with fever….The pain never ceased. Don Baker wrote in his book Pain's Hidden Purpose, "Job's condition was so desperate, his appearance so contemptible, his pain so continual, his shame so complete, that his wife finally suggested that he [curse God and] kill himself." In his own words, Job said: "I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil." [3:26] … "When I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness. The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me." [30:26-27] … "Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?" – That translates, "I wish I had never been born!" [3:11] And then: "My eyes will never see happiness again." [7:7] In an incredibly short period of time, Job lost his wealth, his children, and his health….The mess his life had become was as overwhelming and complete as anyone could ever imagine….And yet, into that horror stepped three friends who had the opportunity to really make an impact on Job's life. JOB'S FRIENDS Helping people who are suffering is not always an easy thing to do…but these guys were determined to try….Take a look at Job 2:11-13 When Job's 3 friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. [12] When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, & they tore their robes & sprinkled dust on their heads. [13] Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was. Immediately, these three friends did exactly what they needed to do. They went to be with Job, sharing comfort and sympathy. They wept with him, sharing his sorrow….And they had the wisdom to keep their mouths shut and just let their presence offer some encouragement. It’s like the woman whose next-door-neighbor lost her husband. She wanted to offer comfort & encouragement to the widow, but she didn't know what to say, so she didn’t do anything….One day, her little girl asked if she could visit next door….She came home and announced very matter-of-factly, "I've been helping Mrs. Brown feel better." … Her mom said, "Honey, what did you say to her?" … "I didn't say anything. I just sat on her lap and we cried together." That's how Job's friends started out. If only they had kept their mouths shut, things would have been fine. But like most men, they felt compelled to explain Job's suffering, and to fix the problem, and that's where they got into trouble. See, they assumed God was punishing Job. Because Job was suffering, he must have done something really, really bad. "Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless?" [22:5] "God brings upon man what his conduct deserves." [34:11] "Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sins." [11:6] And then, the most crushing blow of all: "When your children sinned against God, He gave them over to the penalty of their sin." [8:4] With friends like these guys, who needs enemies! … Job was blown away by their accusations: "Miserable comforters are you all! Will your long-winded speeches never end?" [16:2-3] … "You smear me with lies…all of you! [5] If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom." [13:4-5] Job knew that he had been faithful to God….Not perfect, but faithful. He also had the sense to look around and see wicked people who were prospering by the world's standards, and righteous people who were suffering. He knew that his friends' arguments didn't make sense. Friends, listen to me: Physical affliction is not a sign of God's punishment! Our circumstances are not an accurate barometer of our spiritual condition. The entire book of Job was written to show us that sometimes the righteous suffer….God allows suffering, yes….In fact, Satan had to have God's permissionbefore he could lay a hand on Job….God allowed it, but He didn't cause it. We live in a broken world; sometimes good people get hurt. But that doesn't mean God is punishing us! However, as Job's suffering continued; and as his friends kept accusing him of serious sinful behavior, Job began to make some accusations of his own. JOB'S ACCUSATIONS We often think about Job being sinless throughout this entire book; but in reality, he got pretty testy with God….I'm not saying his complaining wasn't understandable….I'm simply saying that Job, in his pain and heartache, began to talk about God like he was just any other man; in fact, a man who didn't know what He was doing! … Job's reasoning went something like this: 1. Maybe God does send pain and heartache as punishment for sin; 2. I've been faithful to God; 3. Therefore, God is picking on me without just cause. In short, Job decided that God was out of line….So, what did Job do? He questioned God’s justice. He accused God of being unmerciful and unfair. Listen to these phrases from the book: "As surely as God lives, [He] has denied me justice." [27:2] … "Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe God would give me a hearing. He would crush me…for no reason." [9:16] Especially notice the tone of his words in Chapter 23 [2] Even today my complaint is bitter; [the Lord's] hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. [3] If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! [4] I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. [5] I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say. Job is frustrated, and it's not hard to understand why….But in his frustration, he doesn't simply ask God WHY….No, he says, "If I just knew where to find God, I'd tell Him a thing or two. I would argue my case and make Him give me an answer." This is like one of those scenes in a cartoon where the little guy is saying what he'd do to the big guy if he could just get his hands on the big guy. Only, what he doesn’t know is that the big guy is standing right behind him; and as he talks, he's wondering why all his friends have this stricken look on their faces. Job accused God of being unjust. Then he went even further, he denied God’s compassion. "What have I done to you? Why have you made me your target?" [Job 7:20] "When a scourge brings sudden death, [the Lord] mocks the despair of the innocent." [9:23] "You turn on me ruthlessly; with the might of your hand you attack me." [30:21] "How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me." [29:2] -- That translates: "Remember the good-old-days, back when God cared!" Job was a good, and noble, and righteous man; but he wasn't perfect. His understanding of God--and of his own suffering--wasn't perfect either. Well, Job’s about to get His chance to hear from God. As he and his friends were having their argument about what God was doing and why He was doing it, a storm approached on the horizon: The thunder was rumbling, the lightning was flashing… Steven Spielberg would have a field-day with this scene. All of a sudden, God spoke out of the storm. And all arguments ceased when God made His appearance! GOD’S PRESENCE Amazingly, when God spoke, there was no reassurance, no explanation. Instead, God asked some questions of His own: 70 of them, in fact. "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like man; I will question you, and you will answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations? Tell me, if you understand." [38:2-4] "Have you ever given orders to the morning?" [38:12] "What is the way to the place where darkness is dispersed?" [38:24] "Can you bring forth the constellations?" [38:32] "Does the eagle soar at your command?" [39:27] "Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?" [40:8] … "Who is able to stand against me? Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me." [41:10-11] Essentially God said, “Job, who are you to question me? Where were you when I created the world? Don't forget who you're talking to here.” God never addressed Job's questions about WHY all the suffering occurred. He simply reminded Job that He (God) was in charge, and Job wasn’t. It doesn’t appear that God even told Job about Satan’s challenge. Now maybe you're thinking, "How could Job not have known the whole story? It's written in HIS book!" … Job didn't write the book that bears his name. It was likely written much later than Job actually lived….The whole story was revealed to the author through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, year's after Job's life was over….So, while the author learned from God about the spiritual battle that took place, Job likely never knew the whole story this side of eternity. Instead, he learned this: God is in the storm….He’s always there, even when the sky seems dark and the thunder is rumbling and the lightning is flashing. Don Baker concluded from this, "There are times when it's necessary for God to appear to be the 'loser' on earth in order to be the 'winner' of unseen battles taking place in the heavens." [p.56] … Job's defeat on earth was a victory in heaven, much like Jesus' defeat on the cross was a victory in the heavenly realms. Again, from Baker: "The book of Job is the story of God taking a good man, a man worthy of the highest commendation, and making him better….God is taking one of His chosen, and perfecting him." … Now, listen to Job's response in Chapter 42: "Surely I spoke of things I did not under-stand, things too wonderful for me to know….My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." Once God showed up on the scene, Job suddenly realized that he had been railing against the God of the universe….He realized that God was bigger than any problem in his life, and he affirmed God’s sovereignty. That didn’t diminish the problems….But it did help Job deal with them. You see, God didn't give Job answers; He gave Job Himself. And that's ultimately all that Job needed. So Job affirmed the fact that God was in control, that trials produce character, that God allows suffering for a higher purpose, that God is present, even through the adversity—Once Job affirmed those facts, then God turned his life around. He actually gave Job twice as much of all that he lost: --He lost 7000 sheep; God gave him 14,000. --He lost 3000 camels; God gave him 6000. --He lost 500 yoke of oxen; God gave him 1000. --He lost 500 donkeys; God have him 1000. He lost ten children; God have him TEN more….Why didn't God give him 20? If He was doubling Job’s riches, why didn’t Job get 20 children? Listen, here’s the answer: Job didn't lose the first ten children. They weren’t gone forever, they were gone to be with God. Job did have 20 children: 10 on earth and 10 in heaven. Please don’t think I'm making light of his pain… I’m simply saying that the promise of heaven helps ease the suffering. God blessed Job, even after the adversity nearly killed him! That doesn't necessarily mean that if you lose 100 dollars today, God will give you 200 tomorrow….If your first husband divorces you, you will get remarried to one who is twice as nice….If you lost your job that paid $40k a year, there's an $80k-a-year-job just around the corner….God doesn't always give a double portion of blessing to those who have suffered a loss….But we are promised God's blessing in this life, and ultimately, the blessing of eternal life in heaven. Paul said in the NT that our current trouble will be far outweighed by heaven. Now, before we close, let me wrap things up with 3 quick bullet LESSONS… Then I’ll give you a Bottom Line: 1. ADVERSITY IS INEVITABLE: ANTICIPATE IT. Listen, there are people who will tell you that if you become a Christian, your life will be easy and everything will go your way….Just have enough faith, and you won’t have any problems….Let’s see, how can I say this: That’s dumb. It’s just dumb….They obviously don’t know much about Jesus, or Paul, or the other apostles! … Life is messy—even for Christians….Sometimes, especially for Christians….We need to expect hardship, knowing that the challenges and pressures of life will make us stronger and make us better. That doesn't mean we become pessimistic, always expecting the worst. But we do take a realistic view of life, and we aren't devastated every time the bottom falls out, or our plans are thrown off track….Now, secondly: 2. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL: MAKE THE MOST OF IT Maybe that sounds sappy or melodramatic to you…but it’s really true. No matter what’s going on in your life, there are things to value, and appreciate,and embrace….An Italian film came out 20 years ago called “Life Is Beautiful.” It was a fascinating story about a Jewish man and his little boy who were sent to a Nazi Concentration Camp during World War 2….The father didn’t want his son to be scared, so he convinced the boy the whole experience was a game, and the winner would get a tank….Every time horrible things happened, he convinced the boy it was only make-believe, and they were in the running to win the whole thing. The movie won all kinds of awards for a beautiful portrayal of a dad who would go to any lengths to convince his son the world wasn’t as horrible as it seemed. Life was still beautiful. Sometimes, when we're going through a hard time, the hope of next week, or next month, or next year, or even the hope of eternity, is the only thing that seems to get us through….I get that….But if we wish our lives away, constantly longing for what's around the next bend in the road, we're going to be miserable most of the time….Jim Elliot, martyred missionary in South America, once said, "Wherever you are, be all there." … There is beauty to life, right where you are…even when life is hard….Don’t miss it….Finally, number 3: 3. TRUST IS ESSENTIAL: CULTIVATE IT When Job had come to the end of himself, there was God, waiting for him. As Job renewed his trust in God, God restored his faith & joy & hope & peace. He couldn’t see God, waiting there in the wings…but he discovered that God could be trusted, even when He was silent. Now friends, I confess to you, I struggle with the book of Job: I struggle with the whole concept of starving people Africa, the wars in Ukraine and the middle East, tornadoes that ripped through London, Kentucky…I hate child abuse, and the Holocaust, and why so many of children die every year. The only answer I have is the answer Job received from God: Not an explanation, but a Person…not a reason for his suffering, but a relationship with our Heavenly Father….God didn’t give Job answers…He gave Job Himself. Job never understood his pain…but he did gain a better understanding of God. Now…we’re almost finished….But listen: The next few paragraphs are really important, so please focus with me… When life is a mess: You’re going through a hard time, you’ve experienced unimaginable loss, your heart is broken… Your pain often obscures God—it conceals God: You can’t see Him, You don’t feel Him, He seems far away…maybe you wonder if He even exists at all. You might think of it like this: When you’re going through a storm, sometimes all you see is the clouds, all you feel is the rain, all you hear is the thunder. The storm hides the sun, just like our pain often hides God. But friends, as we mature, our pain begins to magnify God. That’s what happened to Job….There were times when God seemed so far away, He accused God of being unjust, unfair, unloving, unkind. But as God became more real to him, his perspective shifted. Rather than hiding God, his pain magnified God. That’s our Bottom Line today: As we mature, our pain magnifies God. They say a picture paints a thousand words, so I want to close this morning with a picture….I did not take this picture, I have never seen this place in person. I saw it on Facebook, and I don’t know how it will speak to you, but it had a profound impact on me. Remember: As we mature, our pain magnifies God.
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