J Hudson Taylor , a great missionary, was talking to a young missionary about to start work in China. “Look at this” , he said, as he brought his fist down hard on the table,knocking over the tea cups, spilling tea all over the table. As he gazed at the startled young man, Taylor said “When you begin your work, you will be knocked in numerous ways, Trails will be like blows, Remember, those blows will only bring out what is in you”.
We will study Job today, who is going to receive a few heavy blows.
Let’s see what came out of him, and learn from that.
Isaiah 21:4 the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
Satan Choose the day when Job’s children were having their feast to strike….
Let’s go through Job verse by verse:
Job 1:13-22
And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
[14] And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
[15] And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
·Satan is using people here to inflict damage on Job.
·The Sabean was known to be a band of robbers.
·Truly say that Job’s stock market is crashing! – Job’s having a September 11
[16] While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
·The Fire of God?
·Here we have the account of a servant. Telling what
he saw. Making same mistake that people still make
today.
·If there’s natural disaster say it’s act of God!
It is not!
·This must have been lighting.
·This not act of God, but Satan who has limited power
over natural forces.
·Remember he is the prince of air!
o Ephes. 2:1-3 And you hath he quickened, who were
dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time
past you walked according to the course of this
world, according to the prince of the power of
the air, the spirit that now worketh in the
children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we
all had our conversation in times past in the
lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the
flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the
children of wrath, even as others.
o He struck the sheep, which Job used to offer as if
to say that God don’t accept his offerings.
[17] While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
·Another band of Robbers raided you.
·Job’s bad day has just become worse.
·Nothing could prepare him for the following news.
[18] While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
[19] And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
·Job is financially destroyed.
·He lost his children
He lost everything.
·One moment he was the “greatest of all the people of
the East” the next he’s nothing.
·We would say a shadow of the man he was!
·This is true about us here today you can loose all
you have in one day.
Note:
oAll this happened in quick succession. One
immediately after the other.
oThis happens to us as well. All trouble at once.
oThat’s Satan trying to break your hedge (trust in
God) down.
The question is:
How will you react if this happens to you?
How did you reacted in past times.
Can you stay calm or are you loosing it when
troubles come!
Let’s see how Job reacted and learn vakueable lessons from that.
[20] Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
[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.
[22] In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Job’s reaction:
1.Job arose, he did not stay down.
oRemember failing is not final, Quitting is final.
2.and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell
down upon the ground.
o He realized that the best way to rise up again
is to go down in humbleness before the Lord.
o He went into mourning, tore clothes and shaved
his head.
o Let us learn not to fight, he could have jumped
on his horse and chased the Sabeans and
Chaldeans, but he choose to humble himself and
pray to God..
3. and worshipped,
o What a man!
o He just went through what a lot of people are
going through and still had energy to worship
God.
o He’s not asking where was God when this
happened, He’s praising God.
o Just like James instructs us:
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when
ye fall into divers temptations;
o Worship means to stoop down, touch the ground
with your nose.
4. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God
foolishly
He did not curse God!
He did not shout: “God why did you do this?”
Job made one mistake and you will find in the next chapters that he talks out of frustration and not out of revelation.
What was his mistake here then?
V22 : the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away
Note: The Lord did indeed gave, but the Lord did not
take away. Satan did.
The Lord destroys the wicket not his children,
He will chasten them but not in this way.
James 1:13
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted
of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil,
neither tempteth he any man:
Amen
