The Hope Of A Tree

The Hope of a Tree

Job 14:7-9 (King James Version) pastor Ken Crow

7For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

8Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;

9Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant

Yes this morning I am going to say it one more time. I wonder how many times in our life that we have faced something and sure enough here comes some wise old Bible talker around to say the famous words “consider Job”.

I remember the first time someone said that to me and quite frankly I did not know what they were talking about because I was not really that familiar with the story of Job. I was a teenager. I had just experienced my real first broken heart. Thought my whole world had come to an end. I remember going home that evening and getting the Bible that lay there on the family coffee table and looking for this man named Job. As I began to read about him I realized why this person told me to “consider Job”.

In our opening scripture this morning the Word of God mentions the tree.

At the beginning of the story of Job he is the tree.

Job was on top of the world.

Job 1

1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

2And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

3His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

4And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

Job had all a man could ever ask for or want. He was in perfect standing with God. He had a wonderful wife and loving children who honored him.

He owned enormous herds of livestock.

His relationship with God was so strong that daily he communed with God in personal prayer.

Yes Job was living large! He was the very picture of success for his day.

Job was the tree!

Have you ever been there? Have you ever been the Tree?

A sweet roll in life where everything just seemed to be going perfect seems everything just automatically fell into place. Everything in the family is right, everything in the job is right. There is plenty of money to go around even to get out and do something extra. The wife is going around the house calling you honey and giving you winks and the kids are minding and just seem like perfect little angels.

And oh yes plenty of food in the house. Plenty of Pepsi and Coke .

The car is new and the pickup is hot and the boat is ready to put on the lake.

You never felt better in your life health wise. Everything is just Wow!

You are living large! You are the tree!

Job never dreamed that on one fateful morning in his life that everything would change!

He got up just like every other morning. Ate his breakfast and sent his children out for the day and went to prayer just like the day before. There was no big ominous cloud in the sky. There was no ere feeling of impending tragedy. It felt like just another tree day in the life of Job!

13And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

14And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

15And 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.

16While 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.

17While 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.

18While 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: