163-Why Does God Allow Job's Suffering#
163-Why Does God Allow Job's Suffering
(Compiled by Sister Ren Wei)
The topic we are sharing today is: Why Does God Allow Job's Suffering?
Let's look at today's scripture:
Job 42:1-5
Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Hear, and I will speak; I will question You, and You make it known to me. I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.”
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise You for Your grace, for Your love has once again gathered us before You. We are here to seek Jesus, You Yourself, and today through Your Word, renew us once again. We desire to know You more in truth. When I believe correctly, my life will become correct. Holy Spirit, personally help each person's heart, guide our hearts. Thank You and praise You, in Jesus' name we pray, Amen!
Many people have read the Book of Job, and we who have believed in the Lord for some time have heard explanations about Job's suffering. Many believe that suffering, accidents, and death are sent by God. Of course, some people, after receiving grace, finally understand that suffering, accidents, and diseases do not come from God. However, a new question arises: Where do Job's calamities come from?
Some say they come from the devil. But it seems that God allowed it! Why would God allow such things to happen to Job? Is God using the devil to discipline Job? This statement is also incorrect.
We believers believe that suffering and accidents come from the devil. But what do those who do not believe think? The world also encounters suffering and bad things. When they encounter these, what do they say? "So unlucky!" They have no hope. Therefore, some people encounter many accidents in their lives and draw a wrong conclusion: "Life is too hard!" Unfortunately, some Christians still use this way of thinking in their lives.
Starting this week, I want to train everyone on how to live using Christ's words in life. One of the first things is that you must have a correct understanding of God. The correct understanding I want to talk about today is: Suffering does not come from God. It is not given to you by God!
Many Christians mistakenly believe that God gives disasters to believers to make them pure gold, so they can receive more blessings. Others believe that believers are too attached to the world, so God wants to take these away. These do not conform to the Bible.
Many Christians, after encountering sudden changes, will relate themselves to Job and say: "Look at Job, the suffering he endured is so great! He still praises God with his mouth. So I cannot sin; I must learn like Job." Therefore, many people in life quote many contents from the Book of Job to declare. It is time to update these wrong ideas.
Many people use Job's initially wrong faith declaration, treating suffering as a mystery, which truly leaves people confused. But this is not a mystery at all. If Adam had not fallen, would there be diseases? Would there be suffering? Would there be death? These are not given by God at all. God hopes that we will always be young, healthy, and without death. So let us first remember one conclusion: Suffering, disease, and death do not come from God.
Now we address the second question: Why does God allow such things?
Since it does not come from God, why would God allow it?
Job's suffering indeed came from the devil accusing him before God. God said, "Go ahead! He is in your hand; all that he has is in your hand."
Job 1:12 The Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only do not stretch out your hand against him." So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
As a result, the devil recklessly left Job without a moment's respite to gather himself. We indeed read that this was allowed by God.
The question is, why allow it?
Today I want to ask everyone a question: If your child is disobedient, would you allow a criminal to teach your child? Or would you let a very evil person teach your child some skills? You would not.
Since we would not, the Heavenly Father would not either.
Why would God allow the devil to destroy everything Job has?
Actually, this question itself is wrong. We should not seek problems but seek God to solve the problems within the problems, Amen! Last time we mentioned that not all diseases come from the devil; sometimes they come from our ignorance. We clearly know that in the dead of winter, we should wear warm clothes, yet we insist on wearing short sleeves and shorts outside, and in the end, we catch a cold. Can you say that this is the devil's doing, or that this is allowed by God?
There are many causes of disease and suffering. One of them comes from the devil's attack, but not all come from the devil. As children of God, if a problem has already occurred, we should ask God for a way to solve the problem, not look for reasons, Amen! Many times, it is very difficult to find the reason. We just need results. If nothing has happened, we should avoid things happening to us.
The content of Job 1:4-5:
His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
This is the first point we share: Job felt that his children had sinned and self-condemned, which gave the devil an opportunity to attack.
Self-condemnation gives the devil an opportunity to attack people. When you invite the devil into your heart, what can he bring you? How did Job become deeply entrenched in this suffering? Up to this point, Job had lost his rest; he was in worry. The Bible tells us that every day he would get up and do the same thing, offering burnt offerings, and after offering the burnt offerings, he would worry. Do you know how serious this consequence is? After offering the burnt offerings, he still does not believe in the effect of the burnt offerings.
What was he worried about? Because he said, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts."
Moreover, Job did not think this just once; he often thought this way and often offered sacrifices, yet he did not believe in God's protection.
What he wanted to express was that his children had offended God. This would open the door for the devil. Therefore, Job could not attain rest. Now many of us do not understand this principle and say, "I took communion today!" After receiving it, they still doubt. They often pray, and after praying, they still worry! They also learn to declare like others, and after declaring, their hearts still lack certainty!
This is quite similar to Job's situation.
Job was worried about his children; you are only worried about yourself. This kind of worry will negate everything you have done before. Many times, you will find that things will indeed develop in the direction you are worried about. There is a saying in the world: "What you fear will come upon you." Fear itself does not come from God, and as a result, this thing happens, and you will say: "Look, I predicted this would happen long ago; I had this premonition."
Brothers and sisters, this is the worst kind of declaration. Do you think you are a prophet? Can't you predict something good? The reason Job was afraid was that he was uncertain about what the burnt offerings he offered brought him. Some people come to meetings out of fear of God; their purpose in praying is out of fear of God; they read the Bible because they fear God, fear that God will be angry, fear that God will discipline them. If you want to do this, you might as well do it more comprehensively.
Many people, after praying for a long time, find that praying for an hour today does not work; things still happen. Starting tomorrow, they pray for two hours. Then, as things escalate, the problems continue to arise, just like Job. Since you have offered burnt offerings, why worry? Job was always worried about his children sinning against God.
So, brothers and sisters, today when you come to church, do not think this way. You are not exchanging your rest through prayer, meetings, or reading the Bible; you are being with God and enjoying His rest.
Let's read Job 3:25-26 together:
For the thing I feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.
Has the thing already happened? Job has finally become a prophet: "See, what I feared has finally come upon me; what I dreaded has finally met me. Therefore, I have no peace, nor rest." What he often thought has finally become a reality.
Is he now without rest? He had already lost his rest before this happened. So we must first know, was his worry correct in God's eyes? What kind of person was Job in God's eyes?
Job 1:1: There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.
This is how Job appeared in God's eyes. Job did not know all this, so he was always worried about his children, and as a result, his children were eventually struck down. Many times we do not understand and say, "Look, I gave my child the best food, I took care of him meticulously, yet he still got sick." If you encounter such a situation, you might think: "Did I do something wrong? Did I not do well enough? Did I offend God for this to happen to my child?" Having such thoughts is similar to Job's. This kind of thinking itself is wrong because when you worry, you trap them in difficulties.
Job was very sensitive to sin; he often felt that his children had offended God and sinned. However, the Bible does not record that his children sinned, nor does it record that Job sinned. He was constantly overthinking. While he thought this way every day, he was actually saying to Satan: "When will you tempt my children to sin?"
Sometimes we might say, "How ridiculous Job is! A blameless, upright man who fears God and shuns evil—why does he think this way?" We can look at Job this way, but what about ourselves? Is there anyone among you who has had such problems? When sending your child to school in the morning, do you say: "Be careful! There are so many cars on the road; you never know what kind of person is driving! Be careful when crossing the street, did you hear?"
If you yell at your child like this every day, what do you think your child will think when crossing the street? "Crossing the street is really scary; will something happen today?"
If this thing really happens, you will say, "I told you so, didn't I?" A brother who used to come to our church gave me such a testimony: After watching a health seminar on television, his wife suspected she had breast cancer. She worried every day, doubted every day, and then went to the hospital for a check-up, and there was nothing wrong. At this point, she should have been relieved, right? But she was still worried every day that she had breast cancer, telling everyone, "I suspect I have breast cancer; the experts said I meet several criteria."
She went for a check-up every year at her workplace, and after checking, she even took a chest X-ray. For two years, nothing was found. Shouldn't she have let it go? Yet she was still worried. In the third year, she was finally diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer, and this person quickly died. We do not understand how, as children of God, someone could die so quickly. Two years ago, everything was fine; how could they suddenly die? When this wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, her first words were: "I told you long ago that I had breast cancer; none of you believed me."
Isn't this similar to Job? "What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has met me!" Rather than making such a wrong declaration, it is better to declare in Jesus' name that I am healthy. Even if you are sick, you can declare this. Why focus on what the devil has done? Why declare the fearful things?
Just like your child, if they insist on playing with people of bad character, what can you do? Can you watch them 24 hours a day? If you are not careful, they will go play with them, and one day something will happen. They cannot blame you for allowing such things to happen! That was their voluntary choice.
As children of God, you can choose to live in fear every day, overthinking. This kind of faith will guide your life, of course. You can also choose to declare every day using Christ's words. Believe in His words and live.
What are we like in God's eyes today? Hebrews 10:12:
But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
So today, no matter where you hear the sermon, after hearing it, you should not feel guilty anymore. If you feel more guilty after hearing it, if you feel too corrupt, then this message may not be suitable for you. The Book of Hebrews is a transitional book. In the past, under the law, no matter how you offered sacrifices, you could not be made perfect; you would always feel guilty. Through Jesus Christ, He completed the work of redemption, offering Himself as a sacrifice, so that the worshippers' conscience is cleansed and they no longer feel guilty.
Job constantly condemned his children! From a spiritual perspective, he already felt that his children had sinned, and judgment was just a matter of time.
Simply put, I translate it into today's words: Job always felt that his children were sinning, and something bad was bound to happen. When his children were crushed to death, Job did not complain at all. This kind of self-condemnation and condemning others can indeed bring disastrous consequences to you and your family; this is how people open a door for the devil! When the devil comes before God, you will find that the dialogue between the devil and God is very interesting.
Let's look at Job 1:7-8:
And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? There is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil.”
Job was completely unaware of these spiritual matters. Let's look at the next scripture:
Satan answered the Lord, Job 1:9-10
“Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.”
Do you see? This is also a fact! Did Job know this? No. Job was always worried that his children would sin against God. So he often offered sacrifices, but he did not know that by offering sacrifices, God had already accepted him! Job did not know that God had made a hedge around him and his household, blessing all that he had.
You are the same today. When you accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior, God is already pleased with you. He no longer remembers your sins, and God has made a hedge around you and your household. He also blesses the work of your hands, making all that you do blessed.
If you do not know this and focus every day on sin, on negative news, and often meditate on the devil's attacks, thinking this way is equivalent to opening a way for the devil. When Job often thought about sin, Satan came before God. Satan meant that Job was eagerly waiting for me to come and deal with him, right?
God is just and holy. But if people invite the devil and live in obedience to sin, God cannot force us to listen to Him. Today, God has accomplished salvation through Jesus on the cross, and all who believe can receive it. But what if people refuse? He cannot force salvation upon people because people have the right to choose freely. Our God respects our choices.
Job often feared and often thought about sin, which was equivalent to choosing to let the devil attack him and his family. At this point, what could God say? Just like Adam and Eve believed the serpent's words and insisted on eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, could God step in to stop them? Of course not. That was their freedom.
Job 1:12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Even if we make wrong choices and fail, our lives are still in God's hands. The devil can take everything from a person due to their wrong beliefs, but for those who believe in the Lord, their lives are still in God's hands. If this person turns back and correctly recognizes God, God can once again bestow blessings and compensate for what the person has lost in the past.
In the Old Testament, when Jesus Christ had not yet become the mediator for man, the problem of sin had not yet been resolved, and Satan could directly accuse them, so the devil could walk back and forth before God. Today, you do not have to worry about this happening to you. Because Jesus has taken everything for you, the devil can no longer accuse you. So do not be deceived by the devil; do not focus on sin but on the righteousness of Christ.
Psalm 32:1-2 (A Psalm of David.) Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
David envies us greatly. He says, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." We are all forgiven people; our sins have been borne by Jesus. Therefore, we are blessed people. God does not count us as guilty. But in the Old Testament, before Jesus went to the cross, it was not like this.
Old Testament David sinned. He took another man's wife and plotted to kill the man's husband. The Lord sent Nathan to see David. Nathan came to David and said, "There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor... The poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. And a traveler came to the rich man, who was unwilling to take from his own flock or herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him." David's anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity."
2 Samuel 12:7-9
Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more. Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.’
David committed adultery, and at that time, he swore that the man who did this evil deed should die and repay fourfold. The devil said, "Great! I was waiting for you to say that." Then, when Nathan said that man is you, David immediately realized: "I have condemned myself with my own mouth." Brothers and sisters, this is why Jesus teaches us not to condemn one another. When a person condemns others, if they themselves do not do it, they are using their own mouth to condemn themselves.
Job was self-condemning, and David condemned others; in the end, both returned to themselves. They gave the enemy an excuse to attack them.
2 Samuel 12:13-14
David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." And Nathan said to David, "The Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die."
But both David and Job were people under the Old Testament. Today, Jesus has become your mediator, and this cannot happen to you, Hallelujah! But do not live with a mindset of the law, lest you be deceived by the devil.
So do not treat your family and children with that kind of fear under the Old Testament law, saying, "Be careful on the road! There are so many cars; I have seen many accidents..." Do not speak like that anymore. Instead, say, "The Lord is my protector," and often meditate on Psalm 91: "A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you."
Think about the right things; correct faith can produce a correct life. Similarly, wrong faith brings about wrong living!
This is our second point: Wrong faith brings wrong results.
After Job opened the door to the devil, the devil was eager to take everything from Job. In one day, Job lost all his sons, daughters, and possessions. In such a situation, what did Job say? What did Job declare about what he believed?
Job 1:21 And Job said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
What does "the Lord gave" mean? It means it was given as a gift; once given, it will not be taken back. The Lord gave is correct. But the taking away is not the Lord's doing; what God gives will not be taken back.
God gave the world to Adam and them. But the two of them believed the devil's lies and handed the world over to the devil, falling into Satan's hands. After God gives you a gift, you have the right to handle it autonomously.
Even though Job had lost everything, he still self-condemned, so he left room for the devil again. "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away." The devil found another opportunity.
It was because of Job's wrong faith that he believed everything he had was given by God and that God would take it away. Although he lost his wealth, his body was still healthy, so he began to doubt and opened the door for the devil again.
Job 2:4-5 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
God did not stop him; it seemed He allowed it again. God said, "He is in your hand, but spare his life."
Brothers and sisters, please pay attention. This is your wrong belief. If you think God wants to give you diseases, then you will get sick. Do not have such thoughts. Even if the flu comes fiercely from outside, declare in Jesus' name that I am healthy! Do not overly focus on negative things.
Satan began to deal with Job again. Brothers and sisters, remember, as long as you do not seek death, God will absolutely not take your life away early. No matter how the devil treats you, our lives are in God's hands. As long as you do not seek death, God will not take your life away early.
To solve another problem, many people always ask: Why did that person die so young?
I can only say that everyone's faith is different.
Many people in pain, I am talking about Christians, will ask one thing: "Lord! I am in so much pain; please take me away!" But their relatives will say: "Lord! Please do not let him go! Let him live, let him be healthy..." An old man said: "I do not want to be healthy. Even though I have four sons, not one of them takes care of me. I have become a burden to my sons; God, please take me away!"
The son prays: "Do not let him die! Do not let him die!" If you say do not let him die, who will take care of him? As a result, this old man died, and his children lost their faith. This is a true story; this person has already left our church. His mother prayed like this, and although she had several children, not one was there to take care of her.
In the end, this old man prayed: "Lord! No matter what method You use, I hope my children stay by my side for a month; even a month is enough." As a result, the old man fell seriously ill, and all the children came back. For that month, the old man was very happy. In the end, the old man said to the Lord: "This month, my wish has been fulfilled; Lord, please take me away. I do not want to be a burden to my children. I know it is hard for them."
So in the end, this old man passed away, but the children began to complain: "Why didn't God heal? Why is God so cruel to put this illness on my mother?" In fact, later on, when they personally saw what their mother had written, they understood. Life is in God's hands, Amen!
Elijah prayed for death like this. Elijah felt that Jezebel was too terrifying, and he had to run! As he ran, he became more and more sad and said: "Lord! Take me away!" God said: "Okay! Since you want to go home, go ahead! But you must pass on this ministry; find a successor!" Elijah really did this. After finding Elisha, God took him away.
Even if Job was covered in boils, that was not given to him by God.
The Bible has a very interesting thing: every time it talks about disease, it is from the feet to the head; every time it talks about healing, it is from the head to the feet. Do you know why it is written this way? Because disease comes from below. Healing must come down from above. Hallelujah! Therefore, to be healed from disease, you must look up. Do not look below; the more you look below, the more discouraged you become.
Job 2:9-10:
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Let us talk about not sinning with the lips. Financially, children, and possessions are all gone, and Job said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away." Immediately, from head to toe, he became ill. Job once again declared a wrong belief, which proved that from the beginning, he believed this way; he just declared what he believed: "Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?"
Up to now, Job still believes that these sufferings are given to him by God. This kind of wrong belief is very bad. Have we ever thought about why the devil did not take away his wife? Because this wife knows Job too well. The closest person will break through your last line of defense when you are most discouraged. Seeing Job in such pain, she said: "Do you still believe in your God? Don't believe it; just die! Living is too painful."
Neither of this couple had the correct faith. Job comforted his wife with the law: "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?"
Sisters, your role as wives is very important, especially if your husband is not yet a believer. Do not say, "Why are you so rebellious? Why don't you believe in God? Be careful, or God will deal with you." Job's wife was like this. After his wife said these words to Job, Job did not want to live anymore and began to curse his birthday. He had just said he did not sin with his lips, but after this blow from his wife, he certainly did not just say this one sentence. His wife saw Job sitting in ashes, covered in boils.
The role of a wife is so significant! In the end, he began to curse himself. Originally, he did not sin with his lips, but from this chapter onward, Job began to sin with his lips continuously, complaining about God. He believed that all the calamities were given to him by God.
Having such a wife is already very unfortunate, but Job's suffering was not over; one could say it was just beginning. Three friends came to sincerely comfort him. The words of these three friends were indeed very many. From chapter four to chapter thirty-one, these three friends analyzed and repeatedly argued from different angles, ultimately making Job feel hopeless and despairing.
They initially came to comfort Job, seeing how miserable he was. For seven days and nights, they accompanied him in fasting. Without love, they could not do this; they sincerely wanted to help Job out of this suffering. However, they were legalists, using their own perspectives to comfort Job. Originally, Job had not despaired, but as a result of their comfort, Job became completely hopeless.
Job 16:2 Let’s first look at this result. Job 16:2: “I have heard many such things; you are all miserable comforters.”
Let’s first look at how the first friend, Eliphaz, comforted Job.
Job 4:7 “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?”
Eliphaz was taking his own experience as truth, his own understanding as truth, and his own testimony as truth. Today, many people are like this. "You do not know! When I believed in the Lord, that night I dreamed of Jesus, and a white light came down, and I believed." This is taking testimony as truth. "So you are not saved today because you have not seen the white light!" You should not believe in this way; this is the characteristic of Eliphaz.
Eliphaz said, "Do not say you are innocent; can God strike the innocent? You must have sinned." Later, Eliphaz also said, “For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.” (Job 22:6)
Job was not convinced! As a result, after three rounds, Job did not want to live anymore.
Then the second friend, Bildad, said:
Job 8:3 “Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?”
This is the second way of condemnation. Bildad takes tradition as truth. How many people believe like this today: "Our pastor said this, and we have always believed this." You tell him that God will not put diseases on you, and he says, "We have always believed that God uses diseases to make us pure gold." This is tradition.
You tell him where the biblical record is, and he says, "Do not talk to me about the Bible; I believe what my pastor says." Such people are like Bildad's faith. You should not debate with them; in the end, you will find despair.
Bildad said, Job 8:11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the reeds flourish without water?”
This means, in today's words, that flies do not land on an unbroken egg. In other words, "If you think you are innocent, will God strike you? Even if you did not sin, your children must have sinned. The sins of your children have led to your current situation." Many times, when we try to comfort others, we use this method to comfort others, leaving them speechless.
Job did not know that his children had sinned. Using this method to condemn others is indeed too clever, and it will leave you absolutely speechless. Then Bildad continued, “The hope of the godless shall perish.” (Job 8:13)
His meaning was, "You have forgotten God; God will strike you to make you turn back." Isn't this method quite despicable? The three friends attacked Job in this way.
The third friend, Zophar, was a biblical expert. He had a lot of knowledge. This person spoke whatever he wanted, acting according to what the ancient books said. He said, “If you prepare your heart and stretch out your hands toward Him; if iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, and would not let wickedness dwell in your tents.” (Job 11:13-14)
His meaning, in today's words, is: "Job, your faith is too poor; your heart is not right! I suspect that you believed in the beginning just for material gain, so this way made Job extremely angry. His meaning was that if you have any sin, hurry up and confess it; otherwise, how could God let you go? The three friends comforted Job in this way.
Some of the viewpoints of the three friends were correct, but they were applied to the wrong person. They used a correct viewpoint on an incorrect person, resulting in Job not wanting to live anymore. Originally, they wanted to comfort him and help him live, but in the end, they made Job not want to live anymore. This is the error.
Finally, the three friends reached a unified conclusion: Job was too proud and completely did not listen to us! We analyzed this problem from different angles and depths, yet he did not listen and even argued so much. They believed Job was self-righteous, so they no longer paid attention to him.
Finally, Elihu came out. We have limited time today, so we will not talk about Elihu. In the end, God personally came out to comfort Job until chapter 38: At that time, the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” (Job 38:1-3)
God now begins to personally comfort Job. In God's eyes, Job is a warrior. Even in this state, in God's eyes, he is still a warrior. Hallelujah!
Please remember, brothers and sisters, even if you have diseases in your body, in God's eyes, you are still a warrior.
God's meaning is: Who has spoken foolishly about how I treat my servant Job? Who has spoken foolish words? Was it his three friends? Therefore, brothers and sisters, we must learn God's way of comforting people; do not learn from his three friends. Their way of condemning will make people feel even more lost.
God's comfort is extremely wonderful. God continues to say: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?” (Job 38:4-5)
God is asking Job to think carefully about who created the universe and all things. The sparrow, the wild ox, the clouds in the sky, the rainbow...
What God said has nothing to do with Job's illness. Is our God off-topic? Job is sick; he has nothing left; all his children are dead. You cannot comfort Job by saying, "Job, it’s okay; just endure, and it will pass." We think this way is acceptable, but what you say has nothing to do with Job at all. You cannot comfort Job by saying, "Job, don’t worry; it will be fine."
Do you know how long a female goat is pregnant?
Do you know when a doe gives birth?
Do you know how low an ostrich's IQ is? You see, the ostrich just laid eggs, and as soon as it turns around, it steps on its own eggs. After stepping on them, it does not even know they are its own eggs. Why is its IQ so low? This is low enough, but it also mocks people who ride horses; it mocks horses...
You say, at this moment, what God says has anything to do with Job's illness?
You see, the horse does not fear swords. Who gives it this courage? Other animals hide when they hear the sound of swords, but this horse is different from others.
God says: "Job, how are so many animals? Are you not capable? Why don’t you tell me?"
Under such questions, Job does not understand. If he does not understand, that is fine, but Job once again self-condemns. Therefore, correct belief is very important.
Job 40:3-5:
Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”
Brothers and sisters, did God say: "Vile Job, answer Me how long it takes for an ostrich to lay eggs? When does a wild goat get pregnant?" God did not ask him this. God only asked him: "Do you know how these rivers, mountains, and animals are?" If you do not know, then you do not know; why do you have to say you are vile?
Today, there are still people declaring: "Lord! I owe You! I am the chief of sinners! I am really unworthy to have You hear my prayers!" Isn’t this similar to Job?
Therefore, many people quote the Book of Job, but please remember that much of the content before chapter forty of the Book of Job is Job's wrong faith. Do not think that Job said this, but what Job said was wrong. However, God still said to him, “Prepare yourself like a man.” In God's eyes, Job is not vile; Job is a warrior, Amen!
You must live like a warrior; do not say you are vile. Immediately afterward, God began to ask Job if he knew about crocodiles? What about hippos? The original word for hippo refers to dinosaurs. Look at its skin, its teeth, its tail, its height; when the river floods, it is not afraid at all.
Do these have anything to do with Job's illness? Do they have anything to do with Job's children? They have nothing to do with it at all. This is how God comforts people. Please remember God's way of comforting people.
God says: "Job, have you ever caught a crocodile with a fishhook?
Have you ever kept it as a pet for your children to play with?
Do you know why its skin is so tough?"
Job knew nothing about these things, but through these questions, God finally opened Job's heart. He finally understood:
Job 42:1-5
Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Hear, and I will speak; I will question You, and You make it known to me. I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.”
This is God's way of comforting. God's meaning is to shift your focus. Think about the ostrich and the wild goat. Who takes care of them? It is God who takes care of them. Although you do not know when they are pregnant or when they give birth, you do not know why their IQ is so low, but God knows. Even if you have never caught a crocodile with a fishhook, God knows because He created it.
Even if you do not know astronomy and geography, God knows. God's meaning is: I take care of all these animals; I arrange when they are pregnant and where they give birth. How much more will I take care of you? Amen!
In fact, through these things, God lets Job know: I care about you; I know every single thing about you. Every blessing you have is given by Me. Do not believe that those disasters are given by Me. I can supply the animals; I can also supply you.
After this matter, Job knew, "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand; these things are too wonderful for me." So Job said, "I have spoken what I did not understand." Do not say Job spoke things he did not understand, okay?
"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away." Do not repeat this wrong belief. "From God's hand, we receive blessings and also receive calamities." Do not declare this wrong belief anymore, Amen!
Because it is clearly stated here: "I have uttered what I did not understand; these things are too wonderful." Let us look at what Job finally said: “I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” Amen.
This proves that what Job sees and believes now is different from before. This faith at this moment is the correct faith.
We need to adjust our thinking. Even if you previously thought that disease was given to you by God to refine you, from now on, adjust your faith! That rumor you heard is wrong. Do not base your beliefs on ancestral concepts or traditional ideas; base them on the Bible, on the words of Jesus Christ.
Then how did Job turn back from suffering?
Let us look at the last passage of scripture: After the Lord spoke to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” (Job 42:7)
Verse 10: And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Let us see what Job did. After Job recognized God, he did not continue to complain. After he recognized God, he made a correct declaration: Job prayed for his friends.
Do you think this prayer could be a curse? "You three guys dared to say that about me; now you know I did not sin, right? Now you know it was not my children who sinned, right?" Job did not retaliate like this. Instead, Job prayed a blessing for them.
So the way to turn back from illness is very simple. From this moment on, pray blessings for yourself, pray blessings for your friends, and pray blessings for those who persecute you. This is how Job turned back from suffering.
When Job kept blessing, the Lord gave him twice as much as he had before. Amen!
Starting today, let us boldly declare:
In Jesus Christ, I am completely healthy; disease has no authority over me. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I now command this disease to leave you, now!
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise You. You are my mediator; Your precious blood has cleansed all my sins. Today, I am righteous, holy, and pleasing to God in Your presence. Therefore, I refuse all negative things to enter my thoughts.
I will see Your health in my body; I will see Your blessings upon me. You will bless all that I do. My current difficulties are temporary. The blessings You give me are eternal. The reward is great! Please give me strength to be a blessing to those around me. All glory belongs to You! Hallelujah, in the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen!