[:en]SCRIPTURE: JOB 42
“I know you can do all things. No plan of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2)
“My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6)
Job had a new understanding of God’s power and purpose. He realized his mistakes and repented. His sufferings gave him a new vision of himself and God’s greatness.
EPILOQUE:
God was angry to Job’s friends who had said unkind words to Job. They had to confess their sins, repent and offer burnt offerings. God appointed Job as their intercessors to pray for them. Job prayed for his friends and God accepted Job’s prayers.
The Lord made Job prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. All his brothers and sisters came to comfort and console him. Job was blessed with 14k sheep, 6k camels and 1k yoke of oxen, and 1k donkeys. He had 7 sons and 3 beautiful daughters named – Meimah (dove), Kezziah (cinnamon) and Keren (Happuch – cosmetic box). The daughters were granted inheritance along with their brothers.
Job lived 140 years and was able to see his children to the 4th generation.
SUMMARY:
Job described his trials as follows:
- His wife discouraged him (Job 2:9)
- He was shot by the arrows of the Almighty (Job 6:4)
- His friends deserted him (Job 6:14)
- His body was clothed with worms and scabs, his skin was broken and festering (Job 7:5)
- He had become the laughing stock to his friends (Job 12:4)
- He was turned over to the evil men and into the clutches of the wicked (Job 16:11)
- His way was blocked with darkness (Job 19:8)
- He was teared down and his hope uprooted like a tree (Job 19:10)
- His brothers alienated from him and his acquaintances were completely estranged from him; his friends had forgotten him (Job 19:13-14)
- He was tested in the furnace (Job 23:10)
- He was being mocked and spit upon (Job 30:9-10)
- Terrors overwhelmed him and his dignity is driven away by the wind and his safety vanishes like a cloud (Job 30:15)
- He was thrown into the mud and reduced to dust and ashes (Job 30:19)
- He was snatched up and driven before the wind. He was being tossed in the storm (Job 30:22)
- He hoped for good, but evil came. He looked for light, but darkness came (Job 30:26)
- He had become a brother of jackals, a companion of owls (Job 30:29)
- His skin grew black and peels, and his body burns with fever (Job 30:30)
Despite of his sufferings, Job was able to maintain his faith in God. He ended experiencing God’s grace of forgiveness. He received His blessings of family, wealth and honor.
Job’s suffering was replaced with earthly glory. However, God does not guarantee happy ending to everybody’s life. But He promises to reward all who is true to him (Rev. 2:10). The believer’s suffering will be transformed into heavenly glory. Therefore, all our sufferings have God’s glorious purpose.
The greatest example of suffering is what Jesus had experienced. He is sinless, but he was willing to yield to the Father’s will and suffered a shameful death on the cross. He was sold by Judas, abandoned by His disciples, denied by Peter and forsaken by the Father. But through His endurance, He had conquered death with glory by his resurrection.[:]