If you are familiar with the book of Job, then you know that God restores everything he lost, including his health, wealth, and his family. As a kid, I always thought that was the most significant part of Job's story: God restored everything Job lost. In fact, He multiplied it. I have since learned that the restoration of all that was lost was not the pivotal moment in Job's journey. There is something even more pivotal, and that is found in his response to God's questions to Him throughout chapters 38-41.
After God spoke to Job showing His power and divinity in contrast to Job’s humanity, the man shifted his focus on God and His power. He said to God, "I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you." (verses 1-2). He continued, saying, "I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me." (verse 3). He concluded his response, saying, "I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes" (verse 5). This, my friends, is the pivotal moment in Job's story. In the middle of his pain and his suffering, Job felt that he had finally seen God with his own eyes. Now, I do not think that Job saw God like the way we see the people around us. I think Job was talking about a deeper knowledge of God than He had ever seen before because God had walked with him through his suffering and proved Himself faithful.
You can probably relate to Job's statement as well. Isn't it true that when we walk through suffering we get to know God, who walks with us through it all, on a deeper level? It is during these times that we truly "see" God and grow in our relationship with Him. How have you seen God use your hardest moments to reveal Himself to you on an even deeper level?
Sometimes in the middle of our hardship and pain, we need a reminder to look at the bigger picture and remember to praise God. In the middle of whatever you are facing, take a few moments to worship God. Plan to join us for worship this weekend either in person or online so that you, like Job, can take your focus off yourself and put it on our God.
Then Job replied to the Lord:
“I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.
You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!
I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.’
I had only heard about you before,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
I take back everything I said,
and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”
After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the Lord commanded them, and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.
When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring.
So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.
Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life.
