Sermon # 21 - There Is Hope Series

We read in Job 1:1, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. And that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and turned aside from evil.” (AFV)

The testimony about Job

The bible when describing about this man called Job, introduces him as one who was blameless, upright, one who feared God, and shunned evil. Job was blameless because he feared God, and he was an upright man because he turned aside from evil.

These are four qualities that should be evident in the lives of everyone who is a child of God. If God were to give an introduction about us, what are the qualities that He would observe, and speak about? This is something that we should take time to think about.

God was so pleased with Job because He consciously decided to turn away from evil. Before we look at some other examples of those who shunned evil, let me highlight a verse for you.

Renounce every form of evil

Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:22, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”(KJV)

Here the word of God is explicit that we should not just stay away from evil, but from all appearance of evil. Let me explain it to you from something that a majority of us are familiar with. Today most of us possess a smart phone, and we all know that there are numerous things that are beneficial to us, and also much that can distract us. Have you observed how when we are not watchful, we can get so engrossed in these unnecessary things, and later regret that we spent a lot of time on worthless stuff. It is good to take a check to see how much of what we watch is actually profitable, worthwhile, motivates us to draw closer to God, so we can live a life that is pleasing to God. No wonder then that the word of God admonishes us to refrain from anything that even has an appearance of evil.

There may be those who don’t really have a smart phone, but you can still misuse it if you are spending endless hours on unprofitable chatter, and gossip with others. In earlier times making phone calls was an expensive affair, but nowadays it is not so. The bible reminds us in Proverbs 10:19, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,” (NKJV) Just imagine two people who are engaged in a telephonic conversation. As the conversation proceeds for a length of time, it will eventually lead to unnecessary things being shared. Just think about it, irrespective of who that conversation is with, could be a family member or a friend, in any lengthy conversation, there is a high probability that we would end up sinning with our words. We must therefore ask God to help us control our tongues, so that we do not sin with our words, and displease Him in any way. We must have wisdom therefore, not only to keep away from evil, but also to renounce every form of evil.

The tragedy that struck Job

Job had ten children, was an extremely wealthy man, with numerous livestock, and one of great standing among his people. It was in the midst of this serene life of joy and contentment that a severe storm struck Job’s life. A man who had outstanding qualities that God approved of, was suddenly met with unimaginable loss and grief.

The four messages Job received in one day

We read about this in Job 1:14-19, a messenger came running to Job. "We were plowing the fields with the oxen," he said, "and the donkeys were in a nearby pasture. Suddenly the Sabeans attacked and stole them all. They killed every one of your servants except me. I am the only one who escaped to tell you." Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, "Lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and killed them all. I am the only one who escaped to tell you." Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, "Three bands of Chaldean raiders attacked us, took away the camels, and killed all your servants except me. I am the only one who escaped to tell you. "Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, "Your children were having a feast at the home of your oldest son, when a storm swept in from the desert. It blew the house down and killed them all. I am the only one who escaped to tell you." (GNB)

The first bad news was that the Sabeans had attacked, and stolen all of Job’s oxen and donkeys, killed all of his servants except one. Another servant brought the second shocking news that lightning had struck and killed all of Job’s sheep and shepherds, sparing only him. The third servant came with the dreadful news that the Chaldean raiders had attacked and killed the servants of Job, and taken away all of his camels. However, the worst news was that a furious storm had killed all of Job’s children, without sparing even one of them. One cannot imagine what Job must have gone through as he heard these outrageous reports one after the other. In one day Job lost all of his possessions in livestock, and to add to this sorrow, he lost what must have been most precious to him as a father, all of his children in one day.