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.
4. And finally, if we get to God, we’re sure to find JOY. David said, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore” Ps. 16:11. A soul that is right with God always finds joy in God’s presence. Heaven is a place of supreme happiness. Every face in heaven is radiant with celestial joy!
II. FIRST CONSOLATION: HE KNOWS THE WAY I TAKE
A. GOD’S INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF YOU
1. HE KNOWS YOUR THOUGHTS
a. “the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought” 1 Chron. 28:9.
b. The average human has about 10,000 thoughts a day. We can’t keep track of them, but God, in His omniscience, knows the details of each one!
2. HE KNOWS ALL YOUR WAYS, PURPOSES, DIFFICULTIES
a. “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” Ps. 139:1-6
b. If we’re in trouble, and our family doesn’t know about it, this adds weight to our grief. But “HE knows the way I take;” He knows what You’re going through. Although You can’t perceive Him, He is concerned and shares your suffering.
c. He is the God who “daily bears our burdens” Ps. 68:19. He weeps with us when we weep, and rejoices with us when we rejoice.
3. HE KNOWS THE NUMBER OF HAIRS ON YOUR HEAD
a. Jesus told His disciples, “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” Matt. 10:30.
b. How many hairs are on your head? If you tried to count them, some would fall out in the process. So it’s impossible for us to know how many hairs we have; yet God knows. He knows how many cells we have in our bodies.
B. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? IT SHOWS HOW MUCH YOU’RE WORTH TO GOD!
1. You keep close track of the things that are precious to you. The fact that God makes note of the details of your life shows that He considers you worth His effort, time and attention.
2. Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care….So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” Mt. 10:29,31.
3. ILLUSTRATION: THE FIFTH SPARROW (Luke 12:6)
a. A little Spanish boy in Vigo became a devout Christian and was asked by an Englishman what had influenced him to trust God for his salvation.
b. “It was all because of the odd sparrow.” The Englishman said, “The odd sparrow? I don’t understand what you mean.”
c. “Well, Senor, in the N.T. I was given, Jesus told a story of how two sparrows were sold for one farthing. And it says in Luke, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings…” (12:6)
d. “I said to myself, ‘Christ knew well our customs of selling birds. We trap the birds and get one chico for two, but for two chicos we throw in an extra sparrow. That extra sparrow is just a bonus and it’s of no account at all.”
e. “Senor, thinking of that extra sparrow, I thought of myself, how insignificant I am, so poor, and so small that no one would think of counting me!”
f. “I’m like the fifth sparrow. And yet, marvel of marvels, Jesus went on to say, ‘Not one of them is forgotten by God!’ I have never heard of anything like it, Senor! No one but He could ever have thought of not forgetting me!” [Knights Master Book of New Illus., p. 51] NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL, GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU!
C. GOD KNOWS THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU!
1. Spurgeon notes, “I find that the Hebrew has this meaning, ‘He knows the way that is in me.’
2. God knows whether I am His child or not—whether I am sincere or not. While others are judging me harshly, He judges me truly—He knows what I really am.”
3. So it doesn’t matter what other people think about you; it only matters what God thinks about you. That should be a comfort!
III. 2ND CONSOLATION: AFTER TRYING, I WILL BE SHOWN TO BE GOLD
A. SOURCE OF THE TRIAL
Job says, “When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
1. First, Job says that it’s ultimately GOD who is allowing Him to be tried. Since God is managing this trial, and God loves Job, “God is working all things together for Job’s GOOD!”
2. God says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jer. 29:11. God clearly states His good intentions.
B. THE TEST
1. The Hebrew word translated “tried” is bachan (baw-khan) and means “to test,” “to investigate.” It’s also translated as “examine, prove.”
2. “Test” is defined as “a procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something.” God had bragged on Job’s faithfulness and now he was being tested to prove, as Ford says, “the quality goes in before the name goes on!”
3. Job was confident of his success in the trial. This can only be because he had knowledge that God would limit the trial to not be more than he could take – see 1 Cor. 10:13: limits it and makes a way of escape!
C. OUTCOME: “I WILL COME FORTH AS GOLD”
1. A person who’s like solid gold is not afraid to be tested. Real gold is not afraid of the fire—why should it be? What has it to lose?
2. This declaration is evidence of Job’s total reliance on the Lord to sustain him and of his belief the Lord wasn’t intending his fall, but his victory.
3. Job believed the trial would “bring him forth as gold,” complete what was lacking in the purification process of his life.
4. The gold would come out of the furnace and be clearly seen for what it was by all. Job’s character would be vindicated before his friends. It happened. Later, when God was angry with them, they could not be restored to God’s favor until Job had prayed for them.
5. Some may think ill of you for Christ’s sake, but someday those who now persecute you and look down upon you will look up to you!
6. So don’t be afraid of trials! No gold is ever injured in the fire. Stoke the furnace as much as you like and thrust the gold into the very center of the flames; then pile on more fuel. But not one particle of the gold will be burned up.
7. Stir up your courage; keep advancing for Jesus! You don’t need to wonder where God is: He is still with His people, as He said, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
8. God says, “Fear not…I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you.” Isa. 43:2. Praise God!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Rob Chaffert writes, “I had attended classes at the seminary in France in the morning and had just spent my afternoon working at the Calvin Center in Geneva. For some reason, I left the Centre a little late, and I knew I wouldn't make it back to the seminary in time for dinner. I would have to stop somewhere in Geneva to get something to eat.
2. As I set out to find a restaurant, however, it dawned on me I had spent my last Swiss francs just that morning on gas! I reluctantly turned my car down the road that led to the French/Swiss border. I would simply have to go hungry tonight! But for some reason, when I passed Migros, a popular chain of grocery stores in Switzerland, I turned into the parking lot.
3. I didn't understand my actions. After all, there was no way they would sell me food without any money, but some force stronger than me seemed to be dictating that I be there. I quietly bowed my head: "Lord, I don't know what to do. I don't have any money. Please help me! Thanks for providing for me. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen."
4. A force compelled me to get out of my car and go into the grocery store. It was torture; the food made my mouth water! I could only stand it for a few minutes, then I turned and bolted back to my car. As I neared my parking spot, however, I noticed something laying on the pavement. To my amazement, it was a bill for 5 Swiss Francs!
5. I picked it up, looking around to see who it might belong to, but the parking lot was empty. Immediately, I heard a peaceful inner voice: "This is my gift for you." Those 5 Swiss Francs were just enough for a nice meal, and I was able to return to my dorm room completely satisfied.” God is watching over us!
B. ALTAR CALL
1. How many of you are going through trials right now? Lift up your hands. We want to pray for you.
2. Are you here tonight and you don’t have the assurance that you’re right with God? We’re going to pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” and if that’s you, then pray this prayer in your heart.
[This message incorporates parts of Charles Spurgeon’s message “Believers Tested by Trials”]
