One Year Anniversary
Mountain Church Women’s
Retreat: Contentment in Suffering
Exactly 1 year ago tomorrow, April 30th,
will be the anniversary of the scariest and saddest day of my life thus far. Levi, had seizure at our house on
his 1 month birthday. We rushed him to SCH where we found out a blood vessel in
his brain had burst and he was having a hemorrhagic stroke. We spent 10 days in
the NICU stabilizing him and then 2 more weeks at the hospital in a floor room
waiting and watching. After a good MRI we were sent home with instructions of
signs to look for that would require us bringing him back. Even though we still
don't know the cause of his brain bleed and he has more MRIs and appointments
in his future, he is now 13 months old and doing well at home. But I am forever
changed for the better by the truths God revealed during his time in the
hospital and beyond. How God showed himself as a Loving and Merciful Father and
how active and alive He is in His people. God brought my husband and me to a complete
place of surrender. We put ourselves in the Lord’s care and focused our
prayers. Ironically, or not so
ironically because God was probably preparing me, I had just finishing studying
the book of Job. The week prior to Levi’s brain bleed I continued to the next
book after Job, Psalm. Last Fall I was able to share at my church’s woman’s
gathering about the power of prayer and praying scripture through the book of Psalm.
Now I am privileged to get to share with you all about contentment in suffering
though the Book of Job. Isn’t it wonderful how our Lord works? How He prepares
us with His word? This was the hardest time in my life and I definitely
struggled but because of the Lord’s preparation I was guarded or protected by
His word. I want to share with you all Job’s story in hopes that it will help
you now or you will recall it when suffering strikes.
Suffering
is guaranteed for all of us. John tells us this in John 16:33 “in this world you will
have tribulation” Maybe you are in the midst of suffering right now
or maybe now. We can’t predict when it will occur as Ecc 9:12 tells us “man doesn’t know his
time” but we can prepare for when suffering occurs or combat with
God’s truths. Jesus
himself, especially in his human nature, heavily used Scripture to walk by
faith and to stay true to his course. He quotes the Bible constantly, especially
when he is under stress. If he
needed the
Scripture in order to face the difficulties of life, how much more do we need
it? We are going to look at one of the oldest
books in the bible. It is a long book but all 42 chapters are important, not
just the first two which are commonly studied. I am so thankful God included this in His Word
so we can understand where suffering comes from, what contentment in suffering
looks like and suffering’s purpose. Twenty-five times in the Book of Job the
question “why” is asked. We can’t begin to ask why, but we can look at
something only attainable with God, contentment during suffering. We will see
how the “why” question changes toward the end of the book to a different one…
If
we break down Job into four sections, first we see God’s sovereignty during
suffering in Job 1-2. Job 3-31 highlights God’s sufficiency during times of
suffering. Job 32-37 give’s the purpose of God in suffering. And lastly
chapters 38-42 allow us to celebrate suffering.
Open
with me to Job 1 and let’s read. Read Job1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name
was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned
away from evil. First line and intro, God calls Job “not guilty”. God doesn't say without sin
but rather mature in character and blameless before Him. Job 1:7 Read Job 1:7-12 The
Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and
said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
8 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?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no
reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he
has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions
have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will
curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your
hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from
the presence of the Lord.
Satan implies Job fears
God because of how Job is blessed with wealth. Satan’s aim
is to destroy our joy in God. God says “then take it
away”. So Satan takes Job’s
property. God lets
Satan tempt Job. Satan can’t do anything without God’s permission. God grants
to Satan limited power to cause pain God wants to silence the blasphemies and
accusations of Satan and prove that a man would still honor Him even if that man
loses everything. The demonstration of the worth of God in the faith and reverence of his
people is the most important matter in the world God aims to
magnify his worth in the lives of his people and thus . Satan’s
work is ultimately the work of God.
Continuing on in the story, Read Job1:18-19 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons
and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19 and behold, a great
wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and
it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to
tell you.” Now Job has lost his children in
addition to his property. How will he respond? Read Job 1:20-22 20 “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the
ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “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.”22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.” After this great, unimaginable
sorrow and pain, we get an appropriate response from Job. We see Job cry out.
Job tore his robe and shaved his head. You may say “oh Casey to be content you
want me to tear my clothes and go bald?” No I am just pointing out that crying
is okay. In Job 2:12 we will see Job’s friends cry with him. In the NT, Jesus
wept (shortest verse in bible). Scripture does not say to cover up grief but
rather honor God with honest expressions. I definitely wept. I work as a
pharmacist at Seattle Children’s so even one my coworkers came by the NICU when
we got admitted and saw my face and said “do you need anything? Anything for
your face?” J it was evident I had been crying. Wes and I felt the
spectrum of human emotions such as fear, grief, worry, and even thanks. Contentment
in Suffering Grieves.
And what else do we see in this same verse in Job 1:20? “He fell on the ground
and worshipped.” Job worshipped God after devastating news. He was
able to worship because of the sovereignty of God. Job’s worship acknowledges that God gave him his wealth
and kids so it was always God’s and is to do with as he pleases for His glory. God’s
sovereignty assures us that God is in control and for us. It reminds us Satan
has been conquered and one day our suffering will subside. In Job chapter 3
will see Job curse the day of his birth and his suffering will continue for
months but then in Job chapter 42 he will praise God again. The most important
thing in the world is the response of faith to God by His people when they
suffer. Worshipping God is a practical response. So Contentment in Suffering also worships. Today
for us, when we look at the cross, the ultimate sacrifice and suffering in
human history, we see God’s mercy and love that leads us to worship. As J.I.
Packer said “Christian joy is greatest when the cross is meaningful” So whether
we are currently suffering or not, being focused on the gospel leads to
worship. Did I fall to my knees in the NICU and begin worshipping last April 30th?
No I was grieving for a while. I was processing but I was also praying. I was
praying praises and asking the Lord to comfort and guide me as only he can. I
thanked him for Levi and asked him to keep holding Levi. Worshipping may not
look like singing (or it may) in these circumstances but it is praising His
name.
In Job 1:21, Job says “The Lord gave and The Lord has taken away; blessed be the
name of the Lord.” I want to pause here and note some very important
truths about who Job gives credit to and how he is able to be biblically
content after just losing his wealth and kids. So we know Satan aims to destroy
us with pain (i.e. what is happening to Job now) or pleasure (i.e. health,
family, possessions, or any idol replacing God as our treasure) Job prospered
for a long time with earthly wealth, health and happiness and still put God #1.
We learn later that Job had
used his wealth for others (Job 4:12-17). Satan couldn't take him down
with pleasure so Satan hurts him now with pain, but Job continues to seek the
Lord. We will not have the answers when suffering strikes. Job doesn't. But Contentment
in suffering continues to seek the Lord. We will see this as Job continues to
pursue God in the chapters to come. But right now in Job1:21 we see Job giving
credit to God for his suffering. He doesn't say “the Lord gives and Satan takes
away”. It would be sinful to give Satan credit and imply God is out of control.
No, the Lord has Satan on a leash according to God’s sovereignty. God doesn't
just allow suffering. That makes it
seem like the Lord doesn't care and is “hands-off.” God has a sovereign design
for our lives and it includes
suffering. It is way more than just allowing
suffering. God wills suffering as we see with Jesus in Luke 22:42 “not my will but yours.” Jesus says this when asking for the cup to be taken
from him. Did God just allow Jesus to
go to the cross or did He design it? It was not an accident. He designed it.
God willed His Son to die for us. Do you see? God sovereignly designs suffering for
His Glory. We see this magnified on the cross. Isaiah 53:10 “it was
the will of the Lord to crush him.” Satan
attempted to attack the Son of God with mocking, physical pain, spitting, and
rejoiced when Jesus died. Three days later Jesus rises from the grave and now what?
As a result of this we are redeemed because Jesus conquered death. The
sufferings of Christ show us how God can include evil and suffering in a plan
that eventually brings about redemption, salvation, and joy. In the story of
the cross, we see how God had controlled events for centuries leading up to
Jesus’ death. We can see why nearly every detail of his end had to be as it
was. We see the enormous wisdom of the cross, how it perfectly fulfilled both
the holiness and love of God. In
Acts, Peter says (Acts 2:22-23) “Men of Israel, hear
these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works
and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves
know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge
of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” God is sovereign over Christ’s death but
man is responsible for the murder of Christ. Both are true. The glory of the cross is proof suffering is
not the end. God is the end. And Job knows that all the credit for his earthly
blessings and suffering circumstances goes to God. Job 1:20 “blessed be the name of the Lord” Nothing to Satan. Important
to note James 1:13-15: “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God
is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and
enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when
it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” God is sovereign over evil but never in scripture
does it say he does evil. I was obviously distraught, confused, and emotional
when Levi’s event happened. Thankfully studying Job just prior and probably
friends/family praying allowed me to not be tempted to blame God for Levi’s
bleed.
Turn with me to Job 2. Satan
will now challenge Job’s authenticity. Satan knows Job can start another family
or get another business so he attacks Job’s health so bad his friends don't
recognize him. Read
Job 2:1-8 Again there was a day
when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also
came among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And the Lord said to
Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From
going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 3 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.” 4 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a
man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he
will curse you to your face.” 6 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare
his life.”7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with
loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a piece of
broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes. Satan has
attacked Job’s health and then he then tries to work through someone very close
to Job, his wife. Read Job 2:9-10 “Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity?
Curse God and die.” 10 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.”
During difficult, stressful times we are susceptible to thoughts and
attacks by the enemy. His wife did just lose all of her kids in one day. It’s
unimaginable. But she did still curse God. It can also be tempting for us to
join in when people we love speak against God during these times. Unlike Job’s
wife and Job we get to see Job’s story from a bird’s eye view. Our pain on
earth can only be understood from the sovereign perspective of heaven. Job and
his wife see the death of their kids, loss of wealth, and boils. If we too look
at the circumstances, we will wonder where God is and search for contentment in
other things. We like to say “God would not have willed my baby to get sick or
that tornado to destroy my house” but that again is saying “God is out of
control”. He is not. Read Deuteronomy 32:39: “See
now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring
to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my
hand.” Here again
after Job’s health is attack, he knows that if the Lord wills, we will live and
if he doesn’t he won’t. Our lives are in God’s hands. I remember acknowledging
the Lord to hold Levi as soon as he was born not knowing about the brain bleed
that would happen in a month. The Lord had placed on my heart immediately with
Levi unlike my girls, thought the same applies, that Levi was His not mine. I
was given the joyful task of being His mom but the Lord was the giver of life. Job
asks “shall
we receive good from God and shall we not receive evil? In all this Job did not
sin with his lips.” If we again look at the cross we get a bird’s
eye view. The cross gives meaning to suffering. It allows us to see how
suffering leads to glorifying God and circumstances come and go but the Lord
remains. I heard our pastor once say “unbelief is when we project the present
into the future but faith is when we project the future into the present”
Revelation 21:4 says “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death
shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain
anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Contentment in Suffering has a heavenly
perspective.
Chapter 2 ends with three of Job’s
friends traveling a long way to sit with him. Read Job 2: 11-13 11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come
upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the
Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come
to show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him.
And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled
dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and
no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.” When we are
experiencing suffering or others close to us are, the best way to help is just
to be with them; not trying to explain things but just let them know you care. Later
we will see his friends did the opposite. They weren’t silent but rather voiced
their opinions. But we end chapter 2
with Job’s friends mourning with him for 7 days. Oh how thankful I was to have friends and
family grieving with us in the hospital. It was beautiful to see God work
through people around us and for one of the first time my pride was down and I
allowed people to help with care for my daughters, food for my parents or us,
and pleaded for prayer. When suffering strikes community is vital. Contentment suffering allows for community to be
present. It
is okay to lean on others as God is working through them for His glory. It is a
powerful testimony to watch God’s people love people well.
The next 29 chapters, Job 3-31
go through 3 cycles of Job’s friends speaking and Job responding. Job 3 begins
with Job cursing the blessings of God and wondering why he was even born if he
was going to experience so much misery…why? why? why? Job never said he was
going to end his own life but he did seem to forget the blessings he and his
family enjoyed for many years. Read Job
3:1….11-12 “After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day
of his birth. 11 “Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?12 Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should
nurse?” Then Job’s friends begin to offer their advice. The first up
is Eliphaz who is older than Job and had rigid theology with little room for
grace. Read
4:5-11 “But now
it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed.6 Is not your fear of
God[a] your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?7
“Remember:
who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap
the same.9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they
are consumed.10 The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the
young lions are broken.11 The strong lion perishes for lack of prey and the cubs of the
lioness are scattered.” Eliphaz says prosperity comes to the righteous and
suffering is because of sinning. He accuses Job of not practicing what he
preached. Eliphaz says if Job were living a godly life he would have nothing to
fear as God always blesses the righteous. Then Job’s other friend, Bildad,
chimes in. Read
8:4-6 “If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them
into the hand of their transgression.5 If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy,6 if you are pure and
upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful
habitation.” Blidad says
because you and your kids sinned you are suffering. Blidad says if you would
just repent then you would be earthly blessed again. Job rebukes them in
chapter nine. Read
9:22 22 “It is all one;
therefore I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked” Job
implies it is too simple to say things go better for the righteous. Then
Zophar, Job’s 3rd friend, rebukes Job’s innocence too Read 11:3-5 Will your idle talk reduce others to silence? Will no one rebuke you when you mock? You
say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless and I am pure in your sight.5 Oh, how I wish that
God would speak, that he would open his lips against you. There are
2 more cycles of this and nothing new is really brought to the table. It is
just Job’s friends getting more bitter as they say suffering follows wickedness
and calling for Job to repent. He also maintains his own integrity knowing his
faith is in God. Good theology, like repenting for your sins, can sound good at
first but be badly applied like in the case of Job’s friends counsel. Note we
do see in scripture that sin causes consequences but in Job’s case good theology
is applied incorrectly and in an insensitive tone. Though we often run to
friends at first in a time of darkness, we need to run to God and his truths. In
Job we see Contentment
in Suffering clinging to the truths of God. The truth is suffering
and prosperity are not distributed base on good and evil you do in the world. Read Job 21:7-16 “Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?8 Their offspring are
established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes.9 Their houses are safe
from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not
miscarry.11 They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children
dance.12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the
sound of the pipe.13 They spend their days in prosperity ,and in
peace they go down to Sheol.14 They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.15 What is the Almighty,
that we should serve him. And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’16 Behold, is not their
prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me.” Suffering is
not punishment because Christ bore the punishment for sin
already. If it was true that suffering was the punishment for our sins, then grace
doesn’t exist. The gift of Christ crucified and resurrected would be
meaningless. Thankfully this is false and the gospel is truth. Therefore, let
us not judge one another when suffering strikes a friend as Job’s friends do but
let us too repent and turn to the cross. I have been forgiven. You have been
forgiven. Cancer, death of a loved one, loss of a job, or that house fire is
not punishment for your sins.
Also in this section, Job 3-31,
we see Job want an explanation. We always want an explanation, don’t we? If not
my sins then why is this happening? It is not wrong to ask why to God but more
than an explanation we need God’s presence. When we ask why, we can think we
know best and hope an answer will make us feel better. But God knows best. God
gives us the best, His presence. Because
of Job’s friends’ poor council, he feels alone and attacked. It can be hard to
hold on when you don't feel held. I remember praying for the Lord to hold Levi
when I couldn't in the hospital or during MRIs. And I prayed for him to hold me
too. Contentment
in suffering acknowledges the presence of God. He is always
holding us and all things together. Read
Hebrews 4:14-16 “14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the
heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 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. 16 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.” God is not distant giving intellectual or theological
reasoning. He is with us as He has been with us. Jesus is a King and Savior that
understands suffering firsthand. We can see the cross as also
teaching us how to suffer well. God wants us to find him sufficient in the
midst of trials rather than just demanding that He deliver us from it. Read 2 Cor 4:17 “17 For this light
momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all
comparison.” Suffering is a means to a more
treasurable God because if our treasure is taken from us (job, esteem, house,
health, friendships, loved one) even through the pain, it removes one less
treasure that distracts us from God “to live is Christ
and to die is gain” This
is hard to hear. We see Job getting to this place of contentment, though not
there yet. But throughout these months
of suffering Job still finds hope. Read Job 13:15. “Though he slay me, I
will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.” Then later Read Job 19:25 “For I know that my
Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” Job says His
Redeemer will one day vindicate him and Job will witness it (refers to Kingsman
redeemer (Deut 19:6-12, Lev 25:23-24,) Job has confidence to know God is our
redeemer even though his friends have said God is angry at him. God always does
what is best even though we do not know His Ways. And Jobs says… Read Job 28:20-28
“From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is
the place of understanding?21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the
birds of the air.22 Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’23 “God understands the
way to it,and he knows its place.24 For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the
heavens.25 When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the
waters by measure,26 when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder,27 then he saw it and
declared it; he established it, and searched it out.28 And he said to man, ‘Behold,
the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” We don't have complete
knowledge or perfect wisdom of God so we can’t specifically assume His purpose.
But we do know God uses suffering to refine our faith. God may bring things
into our lives not just so we turn from sin but to prevent or preserve us. We
can have assurance that God’s purpose is good. Read James 1:2-4 “Count it
all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the
testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness
have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
and Romans 5:3-5 “Not only that, but we
rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces
character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been
poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
I was praying for people to come know Jesus through Levi’s brain bleed. I was
praying to be refined. I can testify that sanctification happened. It helped me
with my own struggle of anxiety as now I will always be able to recall God’s
faithfulness when I fear a panic attack. Many friends will remind me that God
holds me just like He holds Levi. This always makes me think of “the Lion, the
Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis. Lucy ask if Aslan (metaphorical figure
of God) is safe. Her friend replies “Safe? Who said anything about safe?
‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” Contentment in suffering knows God’s purpose is good. We don’t have a whole book to
explain our life-sorrows the way we have a book that explains Jesus’ life
sorrows. But the cross is proof that God has a good plan for us, even if we
can’t see most of us. On the cross, God says (as it were): “The cross shows how
much I love you and how much I hate your suffering! I’m willing to come and be
part of it, in order to save you. This is proof I care for you, and that if I
have not stopped evil and suffering, I
must have a good reason. I am not telling you what that reason is, but the
cross proves I must have one.”
Okay as we get to the end of these 29
chapters, let us remember what we said earlier. Job is blameless but he is not
perfect. How will Job’s human nature respond as suffering continues? Job tries
to declare his innocence Read Job 31:35 “Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had
the indictment written by my adversary!” Job asked God to send him
some serious judgement in chapter 31 if he is guilty of any sins. He wants God
to either vindicate him or pass sentence on him. Job calls God to court and
starts to question the things he knows to be true about God’s character. Beware
of distrusting God’s justice. This is the opposite of how we said contentment
in suffering clings to God’s truths. Job starts looking for a way out instead
of looking to God. When Jesus was crucified, two criminals were hung on either
side of him. Sometimes when suffering strikes are we like one of the criminals that
was next to Jesus that day. He said
“save me, save us, if you are God get us down!” Jesus doesn't even respond to
him as the criminal is saying “ill believe in you if you get me out of this
suffering.” He was looking at Jesus as a means to an end. Maybe like the
criminal, when suffering or evil strike in the world, we begin to question who
is God? Is God really powerful? Why can’t he prevent suffering or evil? This was brought to public light in the
bestselling book by Rabbi Kushner “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” He
had lost his son and he came to believe that God simply didn’t have power to
prevent his son’s death. He wrote “I can worship a God who hates suffering but cannot eliminate it, more
easily than I can worship a God who chooses to make children suffer and die.” Many will believe that
God hates evil but is limited in the face of it. Or maybe we believe God does have power to
stop evil, then why doesn’t he do it? Is God not good? In an effort to explain
to ourselves and others why suffering is happening we can come to unbiblical
conclusions. But contentment in suffering avoids extremes. By studying scripture and seeing evidence of
grace in our life we know he is sovereign and powerful. And like we read in
Romans and James earlier we know God is good as we see the benefits of
suffering. If you are sitting there trying to think of an example in your own
life and coming up short remember always look at the cross. Look at this
mystery! I heard a pastor say once before “the very people who are crucifying
Christ (in their sin) are providing their own salvation or the means to their
deliverance” What goodness presents amongst such suffering! God is the
mastermind behind them all. Imagine the people who lost their faith at the
cross, leaving in disgust, saying, “there is no way God could bring any good
out of this!” Yet they were looking at the greatest act of love and wisdom that
we know of. This is our challenge. We must not mistrust God because he doesn’t
fit into our understanding of how things should go.
Okay now a new younger guy
comes onto the scene. Elihu who has been waiting patiently to speak . Elihu says
God is speaking through him. Let us see what he has to say and how his council
is different than the other three friends. Read Job 32:1-5.
“o these three men
ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of
Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with
anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger
also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had
declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than
he. 5 And when Elihu saw that
there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.” Elihu gives a
speech over the next 6 chapters, Jobs 32-37. He presents suffering as refinement,
an example of God’s love, and not proof of sin. Just like it is good for us to
hear biblical teachers/preachers this is stage 1 of God’s teaching to Job
before God speaks directly. Elihu is kind of tough on Job but gives good
theology rightly applied. Read Job 33: 8-13 “Surely
you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words.9 You say, ‘I am pure,
without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.10 Behold, he finds
occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy,11 he puts my feet in the
stocks and watches all my
paths.’12 “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than
man.13 Why do you contend
against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man's[a] words’?” and 34:5-6 “For Job has said, ‘I am
in the right,and God has taken away my right;6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable,
though I am without transgression.’ Elihu’s concept is also different
than Job’s other friends as Elihu says righteousness doesn't mean sinless.
There is such a thing as a righteous sinner. Even the most righteous are not
perfect. We see Job sin when suffering hits and he sins in word. Read 34:35-37 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.’36 Would that Job were tried to the end, because he
answers like wicked men.37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his
words against God.” Elihu
assess Job’s problem accurately. Job was
not the sinner his 3 friends said he was but his attitude was wrong. Job was
moving toward a defiant self-righteous attitude, or a know-it-all. Read Romans 11:33-36 33 Oh, the depth of the
riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and
how inscrutable his ways!34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his
counselor?”35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be
glory forever. Amen.” Paul quotes Elihu from Job 36:22-23 and Job 35:7. Theology
is just our attempt to know the unknowable J No, Job you don't know
the way of the Lord. No Casey, you don't know the ways of the Lord. I had no
idea why Levi was bleeding. We are dependent on the Lord for everything. Suffering
is a humbling reminder that the only reason we have health, food, roof over our
head, or even a mind to make decisions at the moment is because of God. Contentment
in suffering remains dependent on God. Elihu closes in
Job 37 proclaiming God’s majesty. “Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God. Do you
know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud
to shine? Do you know the balancing of the clouds, the wondrous works of him
who is perfect in knowledge” This is how Elihu ends. Our reward in
suffering is not that everything gets to the point where it is okay or all the
pain suddenly goes away. I knew even when we left the hospital we had a long,
unknown road ahead. I knew it would be months or years before I would know the
full effect of the brain bleed on Levi. I tried to get an answer on how this
would effect his personality, development, motor skills etc while we were in
the hospital. I tried. I really did. I asked questions all the time trying to
get answers and guess what, the doctors who are “practicing medicine” didn’t
know. If I turned Levi’s health into my reward I would be uncertain and thus
disappointed. Our reward in suffering is God. The goal of suffering is not
contentment with the things of this world… health, wealth, vacations, houses,
etc. The goal of suffering is not an answer to why?I It is contentment in God. Contentment in suffering knows
suffering is not the end but God is the end. If suffering is a means by which
we can know God more then we embrace it as a means to our reward. Usually we
walk through suffering wanting everything to be okay but when God is the goal,
not the things of God, we are content with suffering. Suffering makes sense
because it is losing all these things to find deeper treasure in God. It drives
us to stop asking “why” and starting seeing “who” God is. God becomes the
treasure. If this is not our goal, then we find ourselves in an empty and
endless pursuit of pleasure or answers. Contentment in suffering delights in God as the reward. Remember the criminals we spoke of
earlier that hung next to Jesus during the crucifixtion? Well the other
criminal crucified next to Jesus on the cross was the opposite of the first that
spoke. He was rebuking the first one who
questioned who Jesus was if he couldn't rescue them from the cross. The 2nd
criminal says fear God, he asks for mercy, he acknowledges his depravity, and
ask Jesus to remember him when the suffering is over. This criminal, in
contrast, looks to Jesus as the end or reward, not the means. Jesus responds to
him on the cross and says “today you will be with me in paradise”
We have now heard from 4 friends and Job.
We are at the climax as now God speaks. In the last five chapters of Job we
will see God and be able to celebrate suffering. We see God display His
greatness. In Job 38 as God confronts Job. Again when we walk through suffering
we want an explanation. Just like Job, Job wanted to know why. Why is this happening?
Job’s friends tried to answer it over 29 chapters. Man cannot explain the ways
of God perfectly or completely. And now we are at the end of the book and no
explanation from God. We want an explanation from God but what we get is a
revelation! The question dominating the book is not why, it is really WHO is the God behind this, allowing this,
ordaining these things to happen! Job 38-41 answer that question. We just
decided that we don't need an explanation for suffering because our goal in
life is not stuff or circumstances but satisfaction in God. Suffering teaches
us we don't need an answer but a person. What is revealed about God to Job?
Read Job
38:4-11 “Where were you when I laid
the earth’s foundation? Tell
me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—7 while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels[a] shouted for joy8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,9 when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,10 when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place, 11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’?” Read Job 38:19-38 19 “What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside?20 Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings?21 Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail,23 which I reserve for times of trouble,
for days of war and battle?24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
and a path for the thunderstorm,26 to water a land where no one lives, an uninhabited desert,
27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland and make it sprout with grass?28 Does the rain have a father?
Who fathers the drops of dew?29 From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens30 when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen?31 “Can you bind the chains[a] of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt?32 Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons[b] or lead out the Bear[c] with its cubs?33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s[d] dominion over the earth?34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who gives the ibis wisdom[e] or gives the rooster understanding?[f]37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens38 when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?” First we see God is our creator. God takes Job through the mysteries of Earth. How humbling!
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—7 while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels[a] shouted for joy8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,9 when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,10 when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place, 11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’?” Read Job 38:19-38 19 “What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside?20 Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings?21 Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail,23 which I reserve for times of trouble,
for days of war and battle?24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
and a path for the thunderstorm,26 to water a land where no one lives, an uninhabited desert,
27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland and make it sprout with grass?28 Does the rain have a father?
Who fathers the drops of dew?29 From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens30 when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen?31 “Can you bind the chains[a] of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt?32 Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons[b] or lead out the Bear[c] with its cubs?33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s[d] dominion over the earth?34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who gives the ibis wisdom[e] or gives the rooster understanding?[f]37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens38 when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?” First we see God is our creator. God takes Job through the mysteries of Earth. How humbling!
Read Job
38:39-41“Do you hunt the prey for the lioness and satisfy the hunger of the lions40 when
they crouch in their dens or lie in
wait in a thicket?41 Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?, Read
39:9-17 “Will the wild ox consent to
serve you? Will it stay by your manger at night?10 Can
you hold it to the furrow with a harness? Will it till the valleys behind you?11 Will
you rely on it for its great strength? Will you leave your heavy work to it?12 Can
you trust it to haul in your grain and bring it to your threshing floor?13 “The
wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare with the wings and feathers of the stork.14 She
lays her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand,15 unmindful
that a foot may crush them, that some wild animal may trample them.16 She
treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers; she cares not that her labor was in vain,17 for
God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense. God is our
sustainer. He controls everything. God says “the ostrich doesn't
have sense because I didn't give it sense” I love that God has a sense of
humor! Read Job 40:9-14 Do you
have an arm like God’s, and
can your voice thunder like his?10 Then adorn yourself with
glory and splendor, and
clothe yourself in honor and majesty.11 Unleash the fury of
your wrath, look
at all who are proud and bring them low,12 look at all who are
proud and humble them, crush
the wicked where they stand.13 Bury them all in the dust
together;
shroud their faces in the grave.14 Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you. God askes Job if he has power to govern or save himself. No Job. No Casey I was utterly helpless as Levi laid in the hospital bed with a drain pulling blood from his tiny head into a bag beside me. I could save him or take Levi’s place. God is our savior. Is it cruel the way God is talking to Job? Unloving? No and we see Job doesn't find it cruel in how Job responds. Job calls God Lord which means the “goodness of God” (God refers to the “greatness of God”) Last time we saw the word Lord used was in Job 2. God is our friend. It is okay that I couldn’t save Levi because I knew I had a friend, God, that I wanted to do the sustaining and saving.
shroud their faces in the grave.14 Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you. God askes Job if he has power to govern or save himself. No Job. No Casey I was utterly helpless as Levi laid in the hospital bed with a drain pulling blood from his tiny head into a bag beside me. I could save him or take Levi’s place. God is our savior. Is it cruel the way God is talking to Job? Unloving? No and we see Job doesn't find it cruel in how Job responds. Job calls God Lord which means the “goodness of God” (God refers to the “greatness of God”) Last time we saw the word Lord used was in Job 2. God is our friend. It is okay that I couldn’t save Levi because I knew I had a friend, God, that I wanted to do the sustaining and saving.
And then 42:6 Job repents of questioning
God’s wisdom and goodness. All murmuring against God is sin. C. Spurgeon said “The
door of repentance opens into the hall of joy “Contentment in suffering repents and renounces
all sin in our lives. Repent and believe is not a one –time
command (Mark 1:15) to salvation but a way of life. I repented in the hospital
and I still do. I specifically repent of control issues. I ask the Lord to
forgive me for thinking I know what is best for Levi or that I can prevent and
control circumstances surrounding him. Mama bear instincts are good but not
always biblical if they try to play God.
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