Last week we discussed Matt and Beth Redman’s song, “Blessed Be Your Name”. The discussion ensued when I blogged about the Lord using the chorus of that song to remind me to give my children to His service. As a result, “Ron” and “Searching” asked some probing questions about God’s sovereign way of giving and taking away.
The theme of the Redman’s song is not original with Matt and Beth. As with many of their songs, the lyrics are Scriptural. For example, the chorus to “Blessed Be Your Name” is taken from Job’s confession of faith when he lost his children, his wealth and his health.
In order to appreciate Job’s confession of faith, we must participate in an online Bible study of sorts. Let’s look at what the Bible says about Job in the first chapter.
The Bible tells us that Job was a faithful man of God:
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 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. 5 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.
Job 1:1-15
Next, unknown to Job, God and Satan discussed Job’s faith.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
Job 1:6-8
In the discussion Satan accuses Job of being a hypocrite, “The only reason Job is obedient is because he is so rich; take away his wealth and he will curse you to your face”:
9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Job 1:6-12
The moment Satan received Divine permission, Satan attacked Job’s personal possessions, and in a brief time Job was left penniless, childless and grief-stricken with sickness:
“13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
Job 1:13-19
How would Job respond? Would he curse God, as Satan accused? Or, would he remain faithful?
Better yet, what you do? How would you respond?
Remember, Job knew WHAT happened, but he did not know WHY it happened; and this is the great juxtaposition of the matter.
“Why” is the unanswerable question, isn’t it? Many times we know “what”. We often know “how” or “when” or “where”. Rarely, at least on this side of eternity, do any of us know “why”.
There are many lessons we can learn from Job 1.
Today, I want us to remember one central lesson: GOD IS SOVEREIGN IN ALL THINGS.
God is seated on His throne in heaven, and He rules above all dominions, all authority, all names and all powers. The angels report to Him and do His will. And even Satan can do nothing to God’s people without His permission.
“The Almighty” is one of the key names for God in the book of Job. It is used 31 times. From Job chapter one we learn that no matter what happens in this world and in our lives, the “Almighty” is on His throne and everything is under His control.
God rules, we do not. God reigns, we cannot. God is God, and we are not. God decides, and we abide. God determines, and we oblige. God governs, and we obey.
Until you get to that point in your theology, until you settle the sovereign nature of God in your heart, you will not and you cannot accept the reality of the Lord giving and taking away.
Let’s work on the next command from 1 Thessalonians 5. Yesterday the command was to “rejoice always”. Today the Word of God instructs us to “pray without ceasing”.
The Word of God declares:
