Dr. Lawrence Butler, The Bridge Church, Pembroke.

We continue to consider the life and sufferings of Job, a wonderful man brought to our attention in the Bible, but with very little fanfare or background on him.

He just suddenly appears in the Word of God. He is mentioned two times by the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 14 of his book, and then one other time in the New Testament in James 5. Jesus nor Paul ever used his name or life experience as examples to help us. Despite his lack of notoriety, his story is so compelling that it simply had to be told. It provides encouragement to us even when we don’t understand the things that often happen to us.

We’ve spoken of the material possessions lost by this man.

We’ve addressed the loss of family (ten children were killed in a tragic windstorm), and then Job lost his health. His wife ultimately turned on him blaming Job and his God for the family misery. Next we find the arrival of three friends, along with a younger man travelling with them, who came to comfort Job.

Unfortunately, these three friends lacked the understanding needed to help in this situation.

So often we think we know what should be said or done, only to discover that God has something else in mind. These friends could only explain Job’s condition as being the result of sin against God. They continued to proclaim that God blessed the righteous and punished the wicked, so Job had to be guilty of some terrible sin. They thought there was no way God would ever do this to a good man.

Job was blasted by them because he maintained that he still loved and served God faithfully and had not sinned. The conflict between Job and these friends became quite strident – to the point that Job called them “miserable comforters” (Job 16:2) because they brought no comfort or help to him.

We have a perspective that these three men did not have. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (I Peter 4:12-13). We have learned that bad things do happen to good people, to God’s children, and we must trust the Lord with our lives, with our eternal destiny, with everything. Be a friend to hurting people, showing love, extending hope and comfort through Christ, and don’t be critical.