Job Is Restored - Job Chapter Fourty Two Series

Jesus said:

"Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” Matthew 5:23-24 (NASV)

The response of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar was simple – they did what God instructed them to do – they were obedient.

10And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold. 12Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. 15In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. 17So Job died, old and full of days. Job 42:10-17 (NKJV)

JOB IS RESTORED

In verse ten we find that Job too obeyed what God had instructed in verse eight. Job had been instructed to pray for his friends – and he did. A good man will not just pray for himself but will also pray for others – even if he is at odds with them. The prayer for others often is profitable for the one who is praying. When we pray for a change in our enemies we are often changed ourselves. Jesus said:

“I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 (NASV)

The remainder of the chapter tells us how Job is restored and in the end blessed. But let me say – our adversities in life affect us. We can become bitter or we can become better. Job could have turned his back on God. Job could have cursed God and died – yet he didn’t. Throughout all of his trials and testing he never turned his back on God. Did he get angry – frustrated – depressed? Yes! But he endured. He set an example for all of us to follow.

This is a story that ends with the thoughts – “And they lived happily ever after.” Let me end this study with the words of Matthew Henry.

“In the beginning of this book we had Job’s patience under his troubles, for an example; here, for our encouragement to follow that example, we have his happy end. His troubles began in Satan’s malice, which God restrained; his restoration began in God’s mercy, which Satan could not oppose. Mercy did not return when Job was disputing with his friends, but when he was praying for them. God is served and pleased with our warm devotions, not with our warm disputes. God doubled Job’s possessions. We may lose much for the Lord, but we shall not lose anything by him. Whether the Lord gives us health and temporal blessings or not, if we patiently suffer according to his will, in the end we shall be happy. Job’s estate increased. The blessing of the Lord makes rich; it is he that gives us power to get wealth, and gives success in honest endeavors. The last days of a good man sometimes prove his best, his last works his best works, his last comforts his best comforts; for his path, like that of the morning light, shines more and more unto the perfect day.”