It is no longer news that the Lord is one of the most difficult persons to follow or walk with. To understand God, one must study Him with undivided attention or the person will lose track of Him, His personality, and His purposes altogether. In simple terms, God is both very simple and yet very difficult to understand.
This is the reason why in describing the Christian journey, many times in the scriptures we are asked to leave all and follow Him. This is not an exaggerated request. This is because God is a hard God.
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man…
KJV (Matthew 25:24c)
He specializes in doing only hard things. He loves stretching Himself to the fullest revealing How mighty and entire He is. In other to relate with Him, we need to give Him our undivided attention, or else, we will end up turning back and running away from Him in fear, heartbreak, or intense agony.
Then Jesus said to all the people: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross every day and follow me.
Contemporary English Version (Luke 9:23)
But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
NKJV (Luke 9:62)
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33, KJV:
It is therefore no wonder why Jesus and His apostles often emphasize the need to abandon all pursuit and seek him thoroughly with undivided attention, without being cumbered by the burden of other things. That is, without being attached to any other thing.
In looking out for us, Jesus promises as stated above in Matthew 6:33 that Heaven will take care of our earthly needs as long as we are preoccupied with the eternal things of the Spirit.
Just like a child sent to school to learn and his parents decided to take care of all his expenses and other needs as long as he continues schooling.
The deal will obviously be broken the moment such a child graduates from college and stops schooling. By this time, the child is expected to take care of his own needs by himself.
The dealings of God towards man is most clearly seen in the story of Job. Job typifies the journey of man in this world called life.
Job was a man of principles and dignity. The Bible testifies to the fact that Job was blameless
There 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.
King James Bible (Job 1:1)
The scriptures even went ahead to call Job perfect! One would think that this will make Job live a kind of heaven-on-earth lifestyle because of his uprightness, and indeed, he was; he was a great man of many belongings and children.
Then all of a sudden, calamity struck [even though the bible clearly makes us to understand that he did not deserve it].
Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”
New International Version(Job 2:3)
Take note of that last line – a statement made by God Himself, meaning even God confessed that Job was afflicted without a reason! This would mean that Job was punished for something he did not do.
Many times we go through challenges and trials even when we cannot explain why. We cannot seem to relate any crime we have committed to the suffering we are allowed to bear. ‘But God, I did nothing wrong to deserve this agony?’ we seem to cry.
This was the case with Joseph, two times he was punished for something he did not do. The first time he was nearly killed, stripped, and sold out to strangers as a slave all because he spoke about a dream he dreamt! The second time he was thrown into the dungeon all because he had refused to have sex with his master’s wife out of his integrity.
Similarly, David was hunted and attacked by the king of his land and all his forces all because he was very obedient and was a great man
Now let us examine the suffering of Job:
Is God Unjust?
And 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.
And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
King James Bible (Job 1:4-5)
Job carefully offered prayers for each of his children continually in other to intercede for their wrongdoings. He even offered burnt offerings for every one of them, and the scriptures make us understand that he does this continually. One would think that the Lord will definitely hear his prayers and preserve the souls of his children. But ironically, all his children died in one day! Remember I told you God is a hard person to follow?
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.”
Job 1:18-19 (GNT)
The question now is, does it mean the Lord ignored the perpetual fervent prayer of Job?
You can imagine the pain Job will be feeling right now. Does it mean the Lord is no longer just? The Lord allowed all Job was working and praying day in and day out against to come upon him! Job in many sorrows cried in agony:
For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
Job 3:25 (KJV)
As if all this calamity was not enough, Job was stripped of all his great accumulated riches, and to aggravate his tribulation, he was smitten with a grievous disease. Job was suffering like a chronic sinner. It is no wonder not one of his friends could believe that Job was innocent! Even the youngest of them all accused Job of hidden sin.
You could imagine the confusion Job had;
If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;
Job 10:15 (KJV)
Of a truth, Job was full of confusion and pain.
The Lord allows us to live all our lives for a cause, for a purpose, and in avoidance of a kind of calamity in every possible way for many years, and then He allows all the calamity and trouble we were all our lives afraid of to come upon us. He takes away everything we so tenaciously hold unto often times when we do not even deserve to lose it. When we simply did nothing wrong to be punished in such a ‘cruel manner’. God does it because He is God, and he does hard things: things that are difficult to understand: things that will require more than just a brief study to understand. He allows us to experience the deepest agony possible because then, we have truly lived life – His life.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Revelations 4:11 (King James Bible)
Maybe you have spent your entire life training that boy child, only to lose him in a fatal accident and you say, ‘God, why me?’
Maybe you have spent most of your time training for a position in a company, you finally get the job, and you spend more time trying to secure the job all to be sacked for no reasonable reason by the company and you say, ‘God, why me?’
Maybe you have spent all your life admiring your dad all to realize that he is a pedophile and you say, ‘God, why me?’
Maybe you have spent all your life idolizing and enjoying the companion, love, and warmth of your caring mother only to lose her at a very tender age and you say, ‘God, why me?’
These are what life dishes out to everyone, and everyone faces these calamities based on what they hold dear, and what they most tenaciously clung to. Just like Job, Joseph, etc.
Although God is good and just, however, Job could not see the goodness of God in all his current situations. This probably was because he had done nothing wrong to deserve what he was going through and this indeed is not a lie. So then is God unjust? Behold the agony of Job!
Many times we find ourselves in these situations where we cannot seem to see the goodness of God there, or we have been in such situations as growing Christians and we have had to ask ourselves questions such as, ‘is God unjust?’
Understand that Job believed in the existence of a God, so the question now was not if God exists or not, but if God exists as a wicked or good God.
I am not guilty, but I no longer care what happens to me.
What difference does it make? God destroys the innocent along with the guilty.
When a good person dies a sudden death, God sits back and laughs.
And who else but God blindfolds the judges, then lets the wicked take over the earth?
Job 9:22-24 (Contemporary English Version)
It is clear in the statement above that Job is confused about the true nature of God. This happens to us all. At some point in our lives, we do not know if God is truly good, loving, and kind, or unjust and wicked.
Job Suffering Was Specific
Job was severely tormented by his predicaments. Going through spiritual, emotional and physical pain all at the same time. He could just remember the good times he had with his children, and how he watched them grow up. He remembered the pet names he gave to them and that special son of his whom he loved so much. He could only imagine how they were killed and how they all died in one day, upon all the prayers he had prayed for God to protect them.
Job remembered how he was the wealthiest in that town, how people called him great names in times past, but now, he is the scorn of the town, people look at him and hiss. Job remembered how he lived a very godly and righteous life all so that he could avoid the punishment of God. But now, it would seem that the Lord was unjust and that he lived a godly life in vain. Now, people make fun of him and ridicule him. Some even spit on his face in disgust! Behold the agony of Job.
Maybe when Job heard of calamities befalling people he would say, “Thank God that I am faithful and I commit no sin. Thank God I always pray for all my children one by one, therefore nothing evil will indeed befall them”
But now, look at him. Suffering like a grievous sinner.
Young people now insult me, although their fathers would have been a disgrace to my sheep dogs.
Job 30:1 (Contemporary English Version)
They despise me and keep their distance from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.
Job 30:10 (Christian Standard Bible)
Job remembered how little children mocked him and spat at him, saying, ‘Old fool! Good for you. Look how miserable you are now.’
He feels so great a pain in his heart. All his friends accuse him of doing wrong whereas he is innocent. To make matters worse, his disease was painful.
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.
Job 2:7 (New International Version)
Job was going through physical pain, emotional pain, and spiritual pain all at the same time.
All Around Job was Calamity
Everywhere Job turned there was a problem:
- His wife wanted him dead
- His best friends kept on accusing him of secret sins
- His children were all dead
- His wealth was all gone
- Children now insult him and make fun of him
- He was going through pains from his disease
- Even when he tried to lie down and sleep, he will have nightmares!
I lie down and try to rest; I look for relief from my pain.
But you – you terrify me with dreams; you send me visions and nightmares
Job 7:13-14 (GoodNews Translation)
Many times we feel like everywhere we turn there is the problem. The problem seems to follow us everywhere like the sun or the moon or the sky. Wherever we look: in our phones, on the TV screen, on the road, in our school, in our workplace, everywhere! That problem causing pain seems to be there to scare us and pierce our hearts with pain. This was the case with Job.
Job Compares His Life with That of a Sinner
I am not guilty, but I no longer care what happens to me.
What difference does it make? God destroys the innocent along with the guilty.
When a good person dies a sudden death, God sits back and laughs.
And who else but God blindfolds the judges, then lets the wicked take over the earth?
Job 9:22-24 (Contemporary English Version)
At this point, Job begins to wonder what the point of being just is, ‘Of what use is serving God with all my heart if I still have to suffer like as if I am a sinner?’ This seems to be the statement of Job.
Just like what Asaph said,
But I almost stumbled and fell,
because it made me jealous to see proud and evil people and to watch them prosper.
They never have to suffer, they stay healthy,
and they don’t have troubles like everyone else.
Psalms 73: 2-5 (Contemporary English Version)
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
Psalms 73:13-14 (New International Version)
Asaph even made such a statement as, ’What is the point of me living righteously? It seems as if wicked people are even enjoying life and I am here suffering!’
When we go through the challenges of life, at times we ask the same question, ‘Of what use is serving the Lord if I have to suffer like as if I am a sinner?’
This was the predicament of Job.
This particular question will be answered at the end of this article. Keep on reading to get the full understanding of life and the journey we are called to embark upon.
Job had to Endure Pain
Job had to endure pain from past memories, pain from present circumstances, and pain from his diseases. The biggest challenge or pain Job faced was that he did not know what would become of him from the challenge he was facing. Would he end up dying a wretched man? Or would the Lord come to vindicate him and set him free or at least alleviate his present predicament?
After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
He said:
“May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, `A boy is born!’
That day–may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine upon it.
Job 3:1-4 (NIV)
Indeed Job was full of pain, a pain so strong that he even regretted the day he was born! Although Job was in much agony, he still had hope. He did not allow despair into his heart, he somehow hoped for a better tomorrow and this was the reason he refused to take his own life. He chose to live as long as his life remained even though his wife advised him to kill himself because even his wife was disappointed by the seemingly ‘wickedness’ of the Lord, she had been the only person who sided with Job having known her husband all her life to be genuinely upright and righteous.
His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
Job 2:9(NIV)
However, Job still remained hopeful in the Lord, in His righteousness, or His integrity. Job kept hope alive.
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
Job 13: 15 (New International Version)
This should be the attitude of every one of us. No matter how gloomy your situation may seem or how impossible to get out of that terrible situation you may have found yourself in, NEVER lose hope; always keep hope alive. Do not even be tempted to take your life, just like Judas Iscariot who took his life instead of having hope in the mercy of God to save him from his misdoings.
Job did not take his life, he chose to have hope and believe that someday, something good might come out of his life.
Now hope does not disappoint
Romans 5:5a (New King James Version)
Of a truth, hope NEVER disappoints anyone.
God is Good Afterall!
Remember I told you that we will find out if God is good, just, or not? Well, this is the time we will know the true nature of the Lord of the Universe.
After a while, after Job had gone through a series of challenges, the Lord having seen that Job was a man of integrity and would not backslide even though he was inflicted with a torment he was innocent of, eventually healed Job from all his predicaments. Job was recompensed or compensated for his sufferings.
Look at how the Lord compensated Job for all his sufferings:
…the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Job 42:10c (King James Bible)
Take note of the scripture above; the Lord gave Job two times as many blessings as he had before! This means that
- if Job had two cars before, the Lord gave him four this time around.
- If Job had an iPhone 13 before, the Lord gave him two iPhone 13 this time around.
- If Job had 7 houses before, the Lord gave him 14 this time around.
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
Job 42:12 (King James Bible)
- Job ended up having the same amount of children: seven sons, and three daughters (Job 42:13). Because the scriptures make us understand that he was blessed twofold, this would possibly mean that the Lord having revealed to Job an afterlife where he will be reunited with his lost children again, gave him a better-behaved and more successful children than the ones he had lost. For what greater blessing can a father have than having beautiful and well-behaved children?
Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.
Job 42:15 (New International Version)
- The sufferings of Job did not shorten his lifespan
After this lived Job a hundred and forty years and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.
So Job died, being old and full of days.
Job 42:16-17 (King James Bible)
After all the cruel things Job went through, one would have thought that he would not have a long life,
I am skin and bones–just barely alive.
Job 19:20 (Contemporary English Version)
Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good,
Job 9:25 (American Standard Version)
Job thought that he would soon die
“If only you would hide me in the grave and conceal me till your anger has passed! If only you would set me a time and then remember me!
Job 14:13 (New International Version)
Although Job had thought that he would soon die, the Lord had planned on giving him long life in the end.
So Job died, being old and full of days.
Job 42:17
We see here that the suffering and pain that the Lord allows to befall the innocent cannot and will not hinder his promise to that righteous man from coming to pass.
No matter how much Job was tortured, he did not die of hypertension, or high blood pressure, and the painful disease certainly did not kill him.
Dear Sourjourner, hold fast to God’s promise for you, you might be suffering the suffering of the innocent now, but that suffering is inconsequential to the blessings the Lord has promised you no matter how far you seem away from the fulfillment of the promise.
- No matter how old Abraham and Sarah was, they still had the child
- No matter how locked up and forgotten Joseph was, he still became the ruler of Egypt
- No matter how painfully Jesus died, He still resurrected from the grave
- The prayers and petitions of Job was not a waste afterall
Remember that in the first part of this article I told you that it would seem that all the prayers of Job for himself and that of his children were in vain? Well, not quite.
God obviously answered the prayers of Job thoroughly: securing a better wealth for him and giving him better children. And to crown it all, the Lord made Job live long enough to see the prosperity of all his children up to the fourth generation.
The Lord indeed is powerful.
I hope you learned something from this article dear Christian. Indeed pain is real and you will go through agony in your walk with the Lord. Fixate your eyes on His sure promises for you (this will give you hope and fill you with joy) because just like Job, you now know that the Lord will definitely bring to pass His promise. Even though it seems that the Lord is doing the opposite of what you prayed for – NO, He will eventually give you what you prayed for with an extra dose of blessings.
The Lord is a God that answers prayers and answers prayers thoroughly.
Pain without hope is death, but pain with hope is endurance.
The pain of the ungodly leads to death, but the pain of the righteous leads to a better glory.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18 (King James Bible).
