The Lessening of the Sting

"Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! 24 That they were engraved on a rock With an iron pen and lead, forever! 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another."
Job 19:23-27

Wow. It occurred to me tonight for the very first time: The incredible pain that was inflicted upon Job. I have taught through Job, and yet, perhaps due to a few thousand years of looking back on it from the ease of my air conditioned office and desk chair, I have taught that Job lost everything, without realising the actual pain the man must have gone through. I cannot believe how I must have missed that fact. I mean, yes he lost all of his cattle. But what is a few cattle, right? Especially in this day and age. Less cow pies to step in for us city slickers. Yes, he lost all of his sheep. But again, they're sheep, for crying out loud, and they stink. Yes, he lost all of his camels. But what are a few head of camel in this day of automobiles and flying machines? Besides, aren't they stubborn animals and don't they spit?

He lost all of his possessions. It is the equivalent of us today, losing all of our life savings, the kids college funds, that summer home in the Smokies, our second and third cars, and our six figure job, all on the same day. Or, all of our horse farms and horses, all of the potential income. All of the insurance money. All of the bank accounts and safety deposit boxes. All our employees. Gone. Just like that.

I was asked today, as the rug was being pulled out from under me in a particular situation, "Don't you see the hand of God in this?" As I was struggling to get my head wrapped around what was happening to me, I'm not sure why my mind kept reaching out to Job through the pages of my Bible. Maybe it was the words, "I don't really know why you see yourself as a victim here" coming out of his mouth. Or the condescending tone in his voice. I sure hope he doesn't see Job as a "victim." I sure don't. I see now how much it must have hurt Job to hear that everything he was working for, and hoping for, was suddenly snatched away from him, and then, the pain and agony of learning all your children are dead. Ten of them. Not one left to carry on his traditions and inheritance. No parent should have to go through that kind of agony burying their child. Oh the enormity of the emotional pain and grief.

As I was pondering this situation, it occurred to me, that I had been as Pharisaical as my "friend" was to me as he was pulling that proverbial rug. I have plans and vision for ministry now, that the Lord has renewed within me, that I didn't have even a few months ago. The Holy Spirit is really present on Sunday morning, the website is finally looking like I envisioned it could (http://www.calvarychapelocala.com/), and small groups are coming the first of the year. "Wow, God, things are really start to happen finally." And then there goes the rug. So, as we look back on Job, and think to ourselves smugly, "Poor Job," as I have been guilty of doing, and I'm sure some of you have too, I thought to myself, "Don't you see the hand of God in this?" In the general sense, that all things pass through the hands of God, just as they did with Job, then yes, I can see the hand of God in this. But frankly, I am too much blinded by the pain right now, thank you very much. Job was too for a couple of chapters in his book.

I was going to title this writing, "Hand of God or Fist of Satan." Yes, God allowed those things to happen to Job, just as He allows things to happen to you and me. But Satan was the one who did those things to Job, not God. So maybe this is also a test, from the hand of Satan, not the hand of God. But my "friend" was having too much fun being condescending for me to say that to him. Admittedly, I probably reacted poorly, as he was telling me that he understood my reaction. (What?) And then the question, finally, through the hit-in-the-gut-with-a-baseball-bat feeling, materialized in my mind: Does knowing that the hand of God is in this, lessen the sting of the pain at all? And in my mind, and I am certain in Job's mind, the answer was and is, no it does not. Knowing that God is allowing something to happen to us does NOT lessen the sting of pain and grief. But let me tell you something about this, and I hope, first of all, that I can articulate it clearly, and second, that you can follow my articulation. What DOES lessen the sting of pain and grief, is not the knowledge that God is allowing it. Those words should never be used as comfort. What lessens the sting, is what Job said in our verses above: my painful circumstances, whatever they may be, does not alter the fact that my Redeemer lives, and that He will stand upon this earth someday very soon, and that even if my body is destroyed...destroyed....did you get that...it means dead....that even if I am dead, He will resurrect me so that in my flesh, I shall see God. I will look upon Him with my glorified body. John, in the New Testament, puts it like this: "Beloved, now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). Job says you can write that on a rock!!! It will withstand the test of time, and the test of painful circumstances. Does knowing that God allows this, lessen the sting? No. But knowing that one day we are going to see Jesus, does lessen it, and, looking back, we will say, along with my college roommate, "It ain't nothin' but a can o' corn." Shalom.