He Knows The Way I Take

HE KNOWS THE WAY I TAKE

Job 23:8-10

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: When It Looks Bad

1. Teacher: "John, what's the matter? Why are you looking so upset?" John: "My dad is in police station and my mom is in hospital!" Teacher: "Oh you poor kid! Please go home!"

2. The principal happened to see John leave. He asks the teacher, "Where's John heading to?" Teacher: "I permitted him to go home because his dad is in police station and mom is in hospital."

3. Principal: "His dad is a cop and his mom is a nurse... where else they would be?"

B. TEXT

“Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: on the left hand, where He works, but I cannot behold Him: He hides Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him: but He knows the way that I take: when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:8-10.

C. SITUATION

1. Job was at that time in very deep distress. Some of you here tonight may be experiencing terrible trials. Remember that Job was a true servant of the God, yet experienced family deaths, loss of his wealth, property, and then was afflicted with painful skin disease.

2. The path of sorrow has been traveled on by thousands of God’s people —you aren’t the first and you won’t be the last. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.”

3. One trial of Job was brought about by his three choice friends, men who were wise and distinguished, first-class men.

4. No doubt, when Job saw them coming, he was moved with relief, expecting they would at least sympathize with him and give him comfort. But he was utterly disappointed.

5. They believed he must be guilty of some terrible secret sin. They’d never seen wrong in him but thought his circumstances were proof enough. They cross-examined him like prosecuting attorneys, making his torment even worse than before.

D. THESIS

1. We notice 3 things in Job 23:8-10: Job’s desire to get to his God; secondly, Job’s Consolation; “He knows the way that I take; and Job’s second consolation, “and when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

2. The title of this message is “He knows the Way I Take.”

I. JOB’S DESIRE – TO GET TO HIS GOD

A. HE WANTED HIS GOD

1. Vss. 8-9 describe how Job looks everywhere for God but couldn’t find Him. For the child of God who is dependent on God for his/her inner peace and life, this is the worst trial imaginable.

2. This is what happened to Hezekiah in 2 Chron. 32:31, where it says, “God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.”

3. Indeed, this is what happened to our Lord Jesus Himself on the cross, where, after His becoming sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21), the Father withdrew from Him!

4. An ungodly person, who pretends to have fellowship with God in his days of prosperity, usually forsakes Him as soon as adversity comes. But the true child of God clings to his Father however roughly He may deal with him.

5. Job said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (13:15). Let Him do what He will with me, I will still seek to get near to Him; my heart’s desire remains – “Oh that I knew where I might find Him!”

6. For the Child of God, there is no other source of life or comfort beside communion with God Himself. David looked throughout the world for a drink of spiritual water and found none (Ps. 63:1).

7. When all but the 12 forsook Jesus, He asked them, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life.” John 6:67-68.

B. WHAT WE’LL GAIN BY COMING BEFORE GOD

Job had other reasons for wanting to get to God.

1. For one, if he could get to God, he knew he could get JUSTICE. People could slander him all they wanted – but God knew the truth! God knew his heart and God would vindicate his innocence.

2. Secondly, if Job could get to God, he knew he would get an AUDIENCE with God. The God he knew was full of love and cared about him deeply. God had always welcomed him in fellowship. He had come to trust completely in the goodness of God. So he knew that same loving God would grant him an audience, if he could only get to Him.

3. Thirdly, Job knew, that if he could only get to God, God would impart STRENGTH to Him. He knew from experience what Isaiah had discovered, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (40:31). Like the sun warming the flowers looking up to it, every child of God who gets in His presence receives strength! Grace is imparted.