All that he owns has been taken from him, even his children. Satan is still not happy. He wants to test him even more and God gives him permission to inflict Job's flesh - his health.
Job is miserable to say the least; yet, he continues to praise God. His wife tells him he ought to "Curse God and die." (vs. 9) Essentially she is telling him that it is better to get it over with - curse God because God deserves to be cursed because of the misery He has brought upon you. Curse God, so that he will take your life and put you out of your misery.
But, Job will not. Instead he says: "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?"
Shall we, indeed? Most of you have probably heard of the "prosperity gospel." That is a gospel that says if you do this or that or give this organization money or... or... God will bless you with everything you every wanted. Hog wash! You cannot earn God's blessings. God give and he takes away. God is God and He gets to do what He wants- He gets to give what He wants to give. You cannot manipulate God into doing what you want or giving you what you want. There will be times that you are tested and/or refined with fire. That's just the way it is. If it wasn't, would Jesus have had to face those temptations Satan brought before him? Would Jesus have had to suffer excruciating pain as he hung on a cross until he died?
I've been told from time to time, if your God allows these kinds of things then I don't want your God. Guess what! There is only one God! You either worship Him or not. If bad things happen you don't get to disown God. Well, I guess you can if you want. But, it doesn't make God less God.
The thing about God is that He is just that - God. And... He desires to be in relationship with you. Even in the most dire times, God is with you. It is His presence that helps you through those trying times, in peace.
God's Peace - Pr. J
P.S. Sorry I'm late and it was a little rushed today. Telephone repairman was out this morning - trying to speed up the internet and make it so I could hear on the phone.
Job is miserable to say the least; yet, he continues to praise God. His wife tells him he ought to "Curse God and die." (vs. 9) Essentially she is telling him that it is better to get it over with - curse God because God deserves to be cursed because of the misery He has brought upon you. Curse God, so that he will take your life and put you out of your misery.
But, Job will not. Instead he says: "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?"
Shall we, indeed? Most of you have probably heard of the "prosperity gospel." That is a gospel that says if you do this or that or give this organization money or... or... God will bless you with everything you every wanted. Hog wash! You cannot earn God's blessings. God give and he takes away. God is God and He gets to do what He wants- He gets to give what He wants to give. You cannot manipulate God into doing what you want or giving you what you want. There will be times that you are tested and/or refined with fire. That's just the way it is. If it wasn't, would Jesus have had to face those temptations Satan brought before him? Would Jesus have had to suffer excruciating pain as he hung on a cross until he died?
I've been told from time to time, if your God allows these kinds of things then I don't want your God. Guess what! There is only one God! You either worship Him or not. If bad things happen you don't get to disown God. Well, I guess you can if you want. But, it doesn't make God less God.
The thing about God is that He is just that - God. And... He desires to be in relationship with you. Even in the most dire times, God is with you. It is His presence that helps you through those trying times, in peace.
God's Peace - Pr. J
P.S. Sorry I'm late and it was a little rushed today. Telephone repairman was out this morning - trying to speed up the internet and make it so I could hear on the phone.
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