Have You Considered My Servant Job?

How many of us have compared ourselves to Job, that Godly man from the Old Testament who is attacked by Satan and favored by God?  When calamity hits, we remember how God was pleased with Job and so He allowed Satan to try and sway his faith, but Job did not waver.  We tell ourselves that we too are being tested and that we too will stand strong.

Well, let me ask you something.  Those of you who have lost jobs, lost homes, lost loved ones, lost your own child, you do need to stand strong and not lose your faith; however, before comparing yourself to Job, think about his loss.  He lost ALL of his possessions, servants, and livelihood.  This was seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred donkeys.  We're not talking about a few acres and and some cattle.  His lost was more than devastating.  And before he could digest the news of this loss, he was told he had lost his children.  Not a child.  His seven sons and three daughters.  At one time.  Before he could completely mourn these great tragedies, his body was struck with boils.

Do you know what boils are?  They are sores under the skin that fester like blisters.  Have you ever had blisters?  They hurt.  Have you ever had them over every inch of your body so that you couldn't lay down, sit down, walk, or stand without being in severe pain?  That was Job.  Job was so desperate and suffering that he broke pottery and used the jagged pieces to scrape his blistered skin.  !!!  Wow!

Even in your greatest trials, have you had friends to comfort you?  Job didn't.  He had "friends" who didn't believe him.  They didn't comfort him or try to help.  They didn't bring food to his home and pray with/for him or put his name in the church bulletin to be recognized as one in need.  They didn't offer condolences or a listening ear.  They didn't offer to lend him their homes or their livelihoods.  They preached to/at him.  Even his wife was bitter and did not support him.

So, next time you are sad and going through devastation and someone says, "You're like Job," just thank God that you in fact are NOT like Job.  Your mourning during your loss is good and right and I am not intending to take away from your grief.  I am, however, trying to remind you that, even in our greatest suffering, we are still not experiencing loss the likes of which God's favored servant Job experienced.