Sacrifice of Job
Blake, William, 1757-1827. Sacrifice of Job, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57729 [retrieved October 21, 2021]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blake_Job_18.jpg.
Exploring the Text: Seeing God for yourself
All Job’s life he had been a faithful servant of God. He did everything in his power to live an honest and upright lift. Yet, despite is faithfulness, or because of it, he fell into some of the most difficult circumstances that can ever be imagined. Job questioned why all of this had happened to him and he sought God for answers and vindication. Finally, God does appear to Job but in that appearing he didn’t answer Job’s questions, he instead revealed himself to Job in ways that Job had never known. In verses two through six of this chapter Job responds to what he has seen and heard. For me, verse five is critical. In this verse Job says that he had heard of God before, but now he has finally seen him with his own eyes.
Job’s prior faithfulness had been based on what he had heard from others. He had heard rumors about God. He had heard of second and third hand experiences, but he had never really experienced God for himself, at least not like this. This does not diminish Job’s faithfulness. Job responded to God with what he knew about him, which is all that we can do. But now Job had a deeper, personal experience with God. This was not something he heard from someone else, this was his own experience, his own encounter. This was something no one could ever take away from him.
Very often our faith is based primarily on what we have heard or read from someone else. Like Job, we respond to God on the basis of what we know, even if it comes second or third hand. There is greater value, however, in experiencing God for ourselves. In times of trial and struggle, look for a new revelation of God. Look for an experience of God that is yours alone. Look for him to step into your life and your circumstances and show himself to you personally. Ask God to come and speak with you as he spoke with Job and, when he does, like Job you will be able to say that now you have seen him with your own eyes and your life will never be the same.
All Job’s life he had been a faithful servant of God. He did everything in his power to live an honest and upright lift. Yet, despite is faithfulness, or because of it, he fell into some of the most difficult circumstances that can ever be imagined. Job questioned why all of this had happened to him and he sought God for answers and vindication. Finally, God does appear to Job but in that appearing he didn’t answer Job’s questions, he instead revealed himself to Job in ways that Job had never known. In verses two through six of this chapter Job responds to what he has seen and heard. For me, verse five is critical. In this verse Job says that he had heard of God before, but now he has finally seen him with his own eyes.
Job’s prior faithfulness had been based on what he had heard from others. He had heard rumors about God. He had heard of second and third hand experiences, but he had never really experienced God for himself, at least not like this. This does not diminish Job’s faithfulness. Job responded to God with what he knew about him, which is all that we can do. But now Job had a deeper, personal experience with God. This was not something he heard from someone else, this was his own experience, his own encounter. This was something no one could ever take away from him.
Very often our faith is based primarily on what we have heard or read from someone else. Like Job, we respond to God on the basis of what we know, even if it comes second or third hand. There is greater value, however, in experiencing God for ourselves. In times of trial and struggle, look for a new revelation of God. Look for an experience of God that is yours alone. Look for him to step into your life and your circumstances and show himself to you personally. Ask God to come and speak with you as he spoke with Job and, when he does, like Job you will be able to say that now you have seen him with your own eyes and your life will never be the same.
Exploring the Text: Your story isn’t over yet
In Job 3, Job wishes that he had never been born. He his so overwhelmed with his trials, struggles, and pain that he wishes he had never even come into the world. We sometimes come to a point where we feel that our story is over. We have come to the end of our rope and there is not hope, no possible restoration, there is nothing left for us. Job’s story wasn’t over yet though. There was still more to come. God still had plans and purposes for Job and, by the end of the book, he is healed, restored, and blessed once again.
We sometimes feel like our story is over. We see no way forward, no way out of our circumstances, not hope of restoration. Yet God is not done writing our story. Whether we see it or not, as long as there is God, there is hope. Regardless of what your circumstances may look like, remember that, like Job, your story isn’t over yet. We may not see how God is working, but we can be confident that he is and that his plan and purpose for our life will ultimately come to pass. Your story isn’t over yet.
In Job 3, Job wishes that he had never been born. He his so overwhelmed with his trials, struggles, and pain that he wishes he had never even come into the world. We sometimes come to a point where we feel that our story is over. We have come to the end of our rope and there is not hope, no possible restoration, there is nothing left for us. Job’s story wasn’t over yet though. There was still more to come. God still had plans and purposes for Job and, by the end of the book, he is healed, restored, and blessed once again.
We sometimes feel like our story is over. We see no way forward, no way out of our circumstances, not hope of restoration. Yet God is not done writing our story. Whether we see it or not, as long as there is God, there is hope. Regardless of what your circumstances may look like, remember that, like Job, your story isn’t over yet. We may not see how God is working, but we can be confident that he is and that his plan and purpose for our life will ultimately come to pass. Your story isn’t over yet.