"Waiting for the Tide"
Job 42:12-13
Job 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
Introduction: One of the greatest stories in the Bible is the life of Job. His life is a perfect example of what I hope to speak about today. All of my life I've heard folks talk about how the tide goes out and if you are patient it will come back in. We know this to be the case for just a little basic science lets us know that the gravitational pull of the moon is responsible for the changes in the tide. We hear about high tide and low tide and the tide going in and the tide going out but the thing that I want to emphasis is that even though the tide does go out it will always come back in and in this fact there is a truth that has a spiritual application for you and me! Let's look at Job's life as "the tide goes out!"
I. JOB'S ADVERSITY
The important thing for you and I to remember here is that every man, woman and child will face adversity in life. It is an inescapable fact that God will allow us to face adversity. It will take three forms:
a. We all face Satan's torments
There can be no doubt that as you read the first two chapters of Job you can't help but notice that Satan had a part to play in the adversity that Job experienced. He is not the friend of the human race. We know that he is devious, deceptive and dangerous and he has one thing on his mind, to destroy what God created. We know that the Apostle Peter describes him as a "...roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour..." One of the contradictions of Job's situation is that:
"It wasn't Job's wealth that brought Satan against him. It wasn't his possessions that drew him into sin and then into great trials. It was Job's faithfulness. Satan only used all of the things that Job had as tools to try to bring him down. It's not what you possess that determines your real value and your real character, it's not what you have that defines your life, and it's what is in your heart that really matters!
I also must say that it was not Job's neglect of his family, or a self-centered lifestyle that brought on his trials."
James May from a sermon "The Faithfulness of God."
Satan is your enemy and don't ever forget that!
b. We all face sin's temptations
Temptation is an experience that every member of the human race has in common and the source of temptation is the "lust" of our own flesh.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
"But let me say this, in answer to those among us like many foolish preachers, and foolish Christian brothers and sisters, who will blame every adversity that comes against other people as being the result of sin in the life of the one who is suffering. How many times have I heard people ask, "What did I do, or what did you do, to bring this sickness, this pain and this heartache upon yourself?" What a foolish question! It's as though that brother or sister in the Lord, who is facing hardship, has already been charged, judged and sentenced for some sin that they didn't even commit. We always claim that our own suffering is due to God testing our faithfulness, but we seldom give that credit to anyone else. They just had to do something wrong to be going through what they are going through right now."
James May from a sermon "The Faithfulness of God."
Job was tempted to sin during his ordeal but he didn't:
Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
c. We all face the Sovereign's testing
Make no mistake, God will allow (send) trials into our lives. The Scriptures are filled with examples of God allowing His servants to be tested, sometimes severely tested, even unto death. Let's read a few verses from Hebrews 11:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
The difference is Satan wants to destroy us but God wants to develop us!
II. JOB'S ATTITUDE
a. His attitude was characterized by patience
Patience is the legacy that Job has left for the world to admire and emulate.
James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Patience:
1. Is the ability to sit back and wait for an expected outcome without experiencing anxiety, tension, or frustration.
2. Is the ability let go of your need for immediate gratification and be willing to wait.
3. Patience is the trait that displays tolerance, compassion, understanding, and acceptance toward those who are slower than you in developing maturity, emotional freedom, and coping abilities.
4. Patience is the ability to remain calm in the midst of turmoil because you know God is in control.
b. His attitude was characterized by perseverance
In steady succession Job lost his wealth, his family, his health, the support of his wife and his friends. The tide just kept going out farther and farther and it didn't look like there was going to be any end to it.
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
c. His attitude was characterized by praise
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
With the right attitude we can praise God for anything!
Bible commentator Matthew Henry, after being robbed, wrote this in his diary:
Let me be thankful - first because I was never robbed before. Second, because although they took my wallet they did not take my life. Third, because although they took my all, it was not much. Fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.
In her book, THE HIDING PLACE, Corrie Ten Boom relates an incident that taught her to be thankful for things we normally would not be thankful for. She and her sister, Betsy, prisoners of the Nazis, had just been transferred to the worst prison camp they had seen yet, Ravensbruck. Upon entering the barracks, they found them extremely overcrowded and infested with fleas. Their Scripture reading from their smuggled Bible that morning in 1 Thessalonians had reminded them to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances. Betsy told Corrie to stop and thank the Lord for every detail of their new living quarters. Corrie at first flatly refused to give thanks for the fleas, but Betsy persisted. Corrie finally agreed to somehow thank God for even the fleas. During the months spent at that camp, they were surprised to find how openly they could hold Bible study and prayer meetings in their barrack without guard interference. Several months later they learned that the guards would not enter the barracks because of the fleas.
III. JOB'S APPROVAL
One thing that I have learned from the Word of God and from my own experience in life is that eventually, inevitably the tide will come back in! If it ebb's it will also flow! This was certainly true in Job's life.
a. His communion was enhanced
Notice what Job says in chapter 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. At the end of adversity is a deeper walk with God!
Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
b. His confession was endorsed
Job 42:7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
c. His compensation was enlarged
Notice in our key verse that God blessed the "...latter end..." of Job's life in a more abundant way that ever before. If God closes one door He always opens something better. If the tide goes out it will always come back!
David cried: "...He restoreth my soul..." and the Bible declares that "..weeping may endure for a season but joy cometh in the morning..."
Edward Steichen, who eventually became one of the world's most renowned photographers, almost gave up on the day he shot his first pictures. At 16, young Steichen bought a camera and took 50 photos. Only one turned out -- a portrait of his sister at the piano. Edward's father thought that was a poor showing. But his mother insisted that the photograph of his sister was so beautiful that it more than compensated for 49 failures. Her encouragement convinced the youngster to stick with his new hobby. He stayed with it for the rest of his life, but it had been a close call. What tipped the scales? The vision to spot excellence in the midst of a lot of failure. (Bits & Pieces, February 4, 1993, pp. 4-5.)
