This is the fourth and last in Peter Davey’s series on The Life of Job.
Job triumphant
The big picture
What a blessing to be able to read Job’s story from the start to the conclusion of his life! That is just how God views our life – he knows the end from the beginning! (Eph 1.4; 2Tim 1.9) From God’s perspective as He looked over Job’s life he saw beyond the periods of intense trouble to the glory beyond: He saw Job triumphant!
God speaks
The final chapters of Job contain some of the most wonderful discourses with many beautifully descriptive statements! (23-24; 26-31) I always find a blessing in reading them.
Who can fail to be awed when God speaks (38-41)? Elihu says his heart ‘pounds … it trembles within’ as he thinks of God speaking. (37:1-24)
How terrifying must the sound of God’s whirlwind have been as He answered Job by posing his own questions! (38:1 – 40:1)
Finally God asks: ‘Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic but do you have the answers?’ (40:1)
How easily we can identify with Job’s admission: ‘I am nothing – how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth … I have said too much … I have nothing more to say’ (42:4-5 NLT)
Finally Job confesses: ‘I had only heard about you before but now I have seen you with my own eyes….’ (42: 5 NLT) Job changed as he came into an intimate relationship with God.
Restored blessing
Since God ‘will not allow … temptation (testing) to be more than you can stand …’ (1Cor 10.13) it follows that God must have had confidence in Job’s steadfastness and integrity! As we have already seen Job repeatedly chose to maintain his integrity! (27:3-6)
Because of Job’s persistent integrity and confident hope I propose that the blessings of God could (and still can) not be overthrown by satan’s repeated malicious attacks – God’s blessings HAD to be restored to Job! This is confirmed by the statement: ‘God’s gifts and His call can never be withdrawn’ (Rom 11:28-29).
Job’s faithfulness generated for him restored fruitfulness. He had grasped something beyond his present that made it possible to go through his perplexities, difficulties, despairs and unspeakable confusions with hope and assurance. (19:25-27)
In a similar way Jesus our supreme example ‘for the joy awaiting Him … endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated at the place of honour beside God’s throne’.
The writer to Hebrews challenged his readers to run their personal race in such a way that ‘you’ will not ‘become weary and give up’. (Heb 12:1-2 NLT)
‘When Job prayed for his friends….’ (42:10 NLT) God forgave his friends because Job prayed for them. At the same time Job’s blessings were fully restored – double!
How often do we pray blessing for our friends?
Peter has used the New Living Translation (NLT) and The Message (MSG) and Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
Peter is married to Jill and together they have been in Christian ministry since the early days of their marriage. They have four grown up children and dozens of grandchildren and are a great addition to the Jubilee family in their example and wisdom of years.
