You can listen to the full message here:-
http://www.nec.org.au/listen-to-a-sermon-series/faith-when-i-suffer/
Message
Job 1:1-3:26
“The Ultimate Challenge”
Who is Job?
Read Job 1:1-3
Job had buckets of money and was very well known. Not just because of his money, but also because of the type of person he was.
Read Job 29:11-17
Wealthy, but not stingy. The cream of society, but down to earth. Famous, but approachable. An entrepreneur who had a social conscience. Understanding of how the world works, but firstly a man of God. That was Job. And his world was about to turn upside-down. This particular day started like any other day – he would think about his family first.
Read Job 1:4-5
Job never put his job before his family – he knew what was important. He understood what it was like to be young and did all he could to protect the hearts that could sometimes waver. He was a Dad who took his spiritual responsibilities seriously.
Once the sacrifices were over it is time for business. It was just an ordinary day ... until the terrified messengers started to arrive.
The oxen (500) were plowing and the donkeys (500) were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you! (Job 1:14-15)
The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep (7000) and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you! (Job 1:16)
The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels (3000) and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you! (Job 1:17)
Your sons (7) and daughters (3) were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you! (Job 1:18-19)
What would you do? How would you deal with these situations? It might not be exactly what Job is going through, but difficulties wear many masks don’t they.
Lost jobs. Not enough money. Identity issues. Dissolved marriages. Lower social standing. Loneliness Rebellious children. Disease, Pain, Death.
In fact difficulties can take all sorts of guises can’t they? So when we think about the question, “How do we respond to difficulties” there is another issue we first need to grab hold of. You see if each of us were to write a list of events that cause us to suffer – all of our lists would look different.
I found this blog on the internet. It is by a person who has recently become a paraplegic.
“I despise being paraplegic and other people’s views on it could not possibly be of less concern to me. I am who I am, I love what I love, and given what I need from life, existence is no longer tenable for me. Being alive is not necessarily better than being dead. I can’t do much. How meaningless and devoid of value can you possibly get?”
Jonnie Erickson Tada is also a quadriplegic, she has been since she was a teenager. She dove into a pond and broke her neck. She was once asked, “What are you going to say to God when you see him?” She said, “I’m going to fold up my wheelchair, hand it to Jesus and say, ‘Thanks, I needed that’.”
Events don’t cause suffering.
It is our response to those events which causes suffering.
A few year back I was standing in a lift at the Mater Children’s Hospital. I mother was talking about how difficult it had been for her son who had broken his finger. She complained about coming to the hospital to visit. She complained about the time it took for doctors to see him. It was all so difficult.
I got out of the lift and walked to a room where my little girl was laying. She couldn’t roll over without help. They were putting medication straight into her spine because of the pain of the surgery. She could barely eat or drink. She didn’t complain.
Events don’t cause suffering.
It is our response to those events which causes suffering.
Why God? Why me? What did I do so wrong to deserve this?
Then, to make matters worse … we don’t hear any answers. God seems to be silent.
All the things that we thought we knew about life ... and God ...and faith ... it all seems to become a little bit irrelevant. And as the dust settles the questions start to flood in and the doubts start to surface.
That is how it can go can’t it. But not with Job. Look at how he responds:-
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 1:20-22
That is how Job ends the day. He might have even gotten to the end of the day and thought – it can’t get worse. But it does get worse.
Job was afflicted with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. (Job 1:7-8)
Other sections of the book tell us more about the physical difficulties.
My body is clothed with worms and scabs, my skin is broken and festering. (Job 7:5)
My breath is offensive to my wife; I am loathsome to my own brothers. I am nothing but skin and bones; I have escaped with only the skin of my teeth. (Job 19:17, 20)
I go about blackened, but not by the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry for help. My skin grows black and peels; my body burns with fever. (Job 30:28, 30)
Job’s wife sees all this and she says in Job 2:9 “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” It’s been another bad day … his body is falling to pieces, his wife is falling to pieces … but listen to what Job says.
“You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Job 2:10
Two days. Two terrible days. But they both have the same outcome. Job … did … not …sin.
But what has all this got to do with us? Often the application for this passage goes something like this:-
When life falls apart around our ears look to the way Job acted and get strength from that. His trials and difficulties make our difficulties seem meaningless. Don’t give up, but hold onto God – that is all you need to do.
That’s how it often goes doesn’t it. But is that really what this passage is all about?
Let’s see who has the worse suffering. The one who has the worse suffering is allowed to complain. For the rest – just put up and shut up, because you have it easier than someone else.
Now that is putting it pretty bluntly but if we go down this comparative pain approach well that is where you end up isn’t it.
That ignorant woman in the elevator I was telling you about. I felt like saying to her. Come with me for a moment. Let me show you what real suffering look likes. Woman get some perspective.
But the next day when I was having breakfast I ran into a lady who had been coming back to the hospital on and off for 8 months. Her new-born had a heart condition and was up to her third operation. Can I now say anything about my situation because her suffering and the suffering of her child is greater?
It just doesn’t work like that does it.
People who go through difficulties are going through real situations that cause hurt and pain and suffering. You can’t just then turn around and say, “Here, have a look at this situation, it is much worse than yours and these people are dealing with it. Get up and get on with it and stop feeling sorry for yourself”.
It just doesn’t work like that does it. Something else is going on here. Something that makes us see the bigger picture. Let’s go back to the book of Job and see what that “something” is.
Read Job 1:6-12
This visit of Satan to God doesn’t just happen once, but twice.
Read Job 2:3-6
These two visits teach us a very important lesson. Sometimes when we go through difficulties we can think, “What have I done to deserve this?”
Job was a good man. Wealthy, but not stingy. The cream of society, but down to earth. Famous, but approachable. An entrepreneur who had a social conscience. Understanding of how the world works, but firstly a man of God.
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.
That is what God says … twice. Job is not being punished for something that he has done to upset God. It isn’t like God is getting back at Job. That is not how God works.
He still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason
Even God admits He would not have normally taken and it was contrary to Job’s just deserts.
It isn’t an issue of who deserves what. Something else is going on here.
The big question being asked here is, “Why do we have faith in God?”
It’s easy to have faith in God who promises prosperity and riches and health isn’t it. Sometimes Christianity is promoted under that banner.
The more you give the more you get.
If you have enough faith you will be healed from all sorts of diseases.
God wants you to have the desires of your heart.
And it may happen. But it may not. When God doesn’t act as the Almighty heavenly Santa Claus – which is what happened to Job – what happens then? Does it change our view of God?
It’s easy to have faith in God who gives us security and peace. Where we can go through life feeling on top of the world and not having self esteem issues.
Our past is in the past.
We can take control and look forward with hope.
We don’t have to be dragged down feel hopeless.
And that may be our experience. But it may not. When there are times when we have doubts and questions, and feel alone – which is what happens to Job – what happens then? How does this affect our view of God?
What happens when Satan comes to God and says, “The only reason these people follow You is because of what You give them. You’re nothing but a glorified Santa Clause – take away the presents and you will just be a myth”.
Let’s make it more personal.
In response to the taunts of Satan what if God were to say, “Have you considered my servant … Allan … or Tony … or Terese … or Dave … or Kaye”.
Would you want your name to be the one?
Would you want your name mentioned in heaven?
This world is messed up.
The innocent suffer.
Abuse and neglect are daily occurrences.
Injustice and lack of equality touch every nation.
Pain, suffering, hurt, disease, death … we are familiar with them all.
This is not how God wanted it to be … but this is what it is. And at some point we are going to be impacted by it.
Will we trust God, or not.
You see Satan is not interested in what we have or what we don’t have.
He doesn’t care if we have a brand new car, or an old bomb.
He doesn’t care if we are health or sick.
He doesn’t care if we are poor or wealthy.
Satan only cares about one thing ... he doesn’t want anybody to be with God in heaven. Satan wants everyone to be with him in hell ... because Stan thinks he is the king.
So Satan is going to do everything he can to make us think that God does not care.
In this messed up world where the innocent suffer, where there is abuse and neglect and injustice and pain and suffering ... in this world what is it going to take for you to say God has given up on me? How much difficulties are going to be too much difficulties? How far does Satan have to push you before you say – I just curse God and want to die?
It doesn’t mean in the middle of difficulties that you can’t ask questions:-
Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb? (Job 3:11)
It doesn’t mean in the middle of difficulties that you will struggle with the circumstances:-
I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil. (Job 3:26)
It doesn’t mean that in the middle of difficulties you might even want to give up:-
What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient? (Job 6:11)
When we go through difficulties we can have a whole range of responses and emotions – exactly as Job did.
But at what point would we say, “Please God don’t bring my name in for consideration?”
Do we really trust God ... or not?
If we don’t what are we going to do about it?
Prayer
