Next week we’ll start a new series on the Letters to Timothy. Today, let us finish the Book of Job; Please open your Bibles to Job 42…
Last week we noted how God restored relationships with Job, Job’s friends, and his family! The Book of Job closes with blessings from the Lord! Read along with me Job 42:12-17…..
Let us note again that before all these blessings from God, Job’s godly relationship with God was already restored through repentance, humility, obedience, sacrifice, worship, and prayer!
In other words, Job’s life could have ended right after the godly relationship was restored before Job 42:12 and Job would have been overjoyed with God forever and ever!
Let’s quckcly note here that when you and I became Believers of Christ, God could have just taken us straight to heaven and we would have been overjoyed!
We also noted that the godly relationship restored was God’s love-offer to Job but required actions from Job! But God decided to let us know the blessings Job received on earth, which required no actions from Job, after the godly relationship was restored!
What is a blessing? If we look up the original Hebrew word to bless, it actually means to kneel! When God blessed Job, it was a love gift to Job, all done by God!
Let us note the blessings to Job from God:
V12a: given more than the first half of his life
Job in the beginning already had many sheep, camels, oxen and donkeys! Why those animals? What were those animals good for in Job’s days? All the animals mentioned indicate wealth because all the animals provide for the necessities in life!
V12b: Job was already prosperous earlier in his life with half of the animals mentioned. God made Job doubly prosperous!
And in the beginning, Job had 7 sons and 3 daughters, but they all died.
V13: God blessed Job again with 7 sons and 3 daughters! Isn’t that interesting? Why didn’t God give Job 7 daughters and 3 sons? Why not 20 kids? Apparently, those number of kids were enough to have! And of course, at that time, boys were called to work the field! 😊 Also, we don’t read Job’s wife dieing or a second wife; and so apparently one wife was a blessing enough, eventhough the wife told Job to curse God and die! 😊
Anyway, what we note is, a family is a blessing from God!
V14-15: There were more boys than girls but we note the special beauty and inheritance for the daughters!
V16-17: Job was blessed with a good, joyful, and full life with great, great grandchildren!
Now, when God allowed the devil to attack Job, we could have asked “God, what do you think you’re doing?” Of course God knew what He was doing! God knew, by allowing Satan attack Job, lessons would be learned and Job would be blessed even more!
How quickly do we question or complain to God, when all God desires to do is to bless?
We noted for a number of weeks the many lessons learned by Job, Job’s friends, and us applying the biblical principles from this Book. And we just noted how blessed Job was in the last half of his life!
What is the final lesson for us today from the Book of Job? I already stated it earlier. God knew, by allowing Satan attack Job, lessons would be learned and Job would be blessed even more!
What truths must we always remember?
1. God knows everything! Do we live our lives with this in mind? No one can hide from God!
2. The devil is allowed to be loose but God is in control and has His purposes and final judgment of Satan. On a daily basis, are we alert of the devil’s schemes and do we know how to handle the devil? Say no to the devil and he will flee away from you!
3. One of the lessons learned is God desires and offers godly relationships with Him and with others. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the final offer from God to have godly relationships! Believe, trust, repent, and obey the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
4. There are always lessons to be learned from God’s Word! Are we obeying the Lord Jesus Christ in daily feeding ourselves with God’s Word?
As we noted, God allows the devil loose for a while but God is in complete control of all demons! The devil and demons have no part in a Christian’s life! And again, our relationship with God is only restored with our belief and trust in Jesus Christ who died for our sins!
Let us note again, Job’s life could have ended right after the godly relationship was restored before Job 42:12 and Job would have been overjoyed with God forever and ever! And again, God could have just taken us straight to heaven when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Only Savior and Lord; but, you and I are still here on earth right now!
And so, the final lesson to always keep in mind is…
5. God loves to bless people more than they deserve, in spite of sins and the devil!
a. There is universal grace from God to every person born!
b. Every person is blessed with God’s offer of salvation from judgment of sins!
c. Every spiritual blessing from heaven is given to Believers of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3)
d. God provides everything for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
God loves to bless people!
Let us finish with this thought and challenge. Job lived a full life; in other words, Job was completely content with the life he lived (in spite of troubles) and was ready to go to heaven!
What God desires from each one of us is contentment with Him! How content are we with God and our lives? God desires to bless and has given everything for every person, even though there will be times of troubles and sufferings! If we are not content with God and our lives, there is something we need to do, not what God needs to do! God has done everything He needs to do for us and He promises to do more! God loves to bless!
I personally am still learning contentment and I know I will deal with troubles and sufferings till I die. Many of you don’t know that there was a time in our lives, before being called to ministry, that Elsa and I had to borrow money from family and friends to survive. Both Elsa and I have gone through many surgeries. I almost died about 20 years ago. There were hard times with our own family. But through it all, God had been faithful to us!
A bible verse for us to remember is Philippians 4:13 (many of you know it, but many misinterpret it to be a superpower verse)…. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. This verse is really about contentment! People take this verse out of context without looking at the previous verse; Philippians 4:12-13 states… I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
We are to have the same attitude as the Apostle Paul!
And so, yes, let us always say I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me; but what we need to say is “Whatever comes my way in life whether hardships or blessings, I am content with Jesus Christ!”
God offers restoration through Jesus Christ and God loves to bless! Who knows, when you get home today you might just find 1000 donkeys in your backyard!
But seriously, compared to other countries in the world, if you live in America, you are well blessed!
We are to always be grateful to God. Give thanks to God always!
Take a moment now to quietly think about these things and pray to God….
Benediction: Ephesians 1:2-12…
