Overcoming Friendly Advice
I’m a New Testament guy. Go ahead…check the archives for all the past devotionals…not a lot of Old Testament stuff. I love the New Testament, but I’ve got to say, “That Job…what a guy.”
For
one thing Job seemed to have a personal relationship with God, something very
unusual for Old Testament people. He
even called God his “Redeemer,” with no knowledge of Jesus Christ.
It was almost like he knew the very nature of God…he knew God!
No wonder God said to Satan, “Have you considered my man, Job!”
Something
else about Job…he had some kind of friends.
Over and over again they come to him and try to change what he knows,
what he believes. Certainly Job was
bringing his misfortune on himself through some kind of sin they would say.
“What have you done to bring about this kind of punishment?”
I don’t hear a lot of unconditional love here and we can probably all
learn some lessons from these so-called friends on how not to be a friend.
With
all he has lost…his possession, his family…his health, I am amazed Job
didn’t follow this friendly advice and just lay down and die, but he sticks to
what he believes. And while he is
certainly confused and does not understand what is going on, Job never loses
sight of the presence of God and his believe that God will not leave Him.
Hear
the reaction of a man who has lost everything and whose very friends tell him to
give up his beliefs:
“For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been
thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another……..But he knows the way that I
take; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold.
My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not
turned aside.”
When
everything is lost and the world sees no hope….there is God!
Hallelujah!