Job 1

In this scripture, we see how Job reacts to the worst news in his life. Every thing had been going good for Job. His whole life was one big blessing. Then in an instant, everything he had was gone. First, all 500 of his oxen and all 500 of his donkeys were stolen from him. Now that would be enough for most of us to get pretty upset. How would he get any work done without the donkeys and oxen? But before Job even had time to think about it, he discovers that his entire flock of 7,000 sheep died in a devilish storm. Those sheep were probably his greatest source of income. He had just gone from being very wealthy to in need of assistance. Why did this have to happen now, with his work animals already taken from him? I bet the next thought on his mind was on his camels. He had three thousand. Maybe he could trade a few for a new flock of sheep and work animals. The camels, after all, were all he had left. Maybe he thought that, but more than likely, the thought was never completed. Perhaps his mind went something like this, “What am I going to do? Well, I still have camels…” Because just then, another servant of his storms into the room. His camels had just been stolen as well, and remarkably, by a group of people that had no relationship with the men who took his oxen. Not only had he just lost all of his livestock, but in each of these instances, all his servants who were with his livestock died defending them. Job was instantly poor. The only servants he had left working for him were the three standing in the room…well, those and the few that were with his children, who were spending the day at their brother’s house. Enter the final blow. He discovers that every single one of his children are dead, crushed under the house which collapsed by hurrican like winds.

I highly doubt that there is anything that anyone reading this has ever gone through that compares to what Job must be feeling. We have all been through our share of hell, but can we really compare to this? Think back on a time when you felt like you were being attacked on all sides. Maybe you were failing in your classes, feeling unappreciated by your boss, and getting chewed out by your parents all at once. Most of us can handle ourselves when we only have one thing to worry about at a time. Here Job just lost his entire workforce, his entire income, his entire everything and to top it off, the children whom he loved and prayed routinely prayed and made offerings for were all buried in a pile of rubble. How would you react in this situation? I know that at the very least I would scream and cry and beg God for some kind of mercy. I know that because that is how I have reacted in the past to difficulties far less in comparison. That is why it absolutely amazes me how Job reacts.

²⁰ Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, ²¹ And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. ²² In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Now understand that this word “worship” does not imply dancing and singing and praise as we tend to associate it today. According to Strong’s Concordance, the hebrew word used here is ”shachah,” which means to bow down or prostrate one’s self. This same word is used all through the Old Testament to refer to the way some one would bow before an angel or pay homage to a king. Job knew that all of this could not have occurred to him by chance. He knew that the Lord was ultimately responsible. Notice here that he doesn’t even blame the devil for it. (Something which I need to taken a lesson from.) He knows that God is responsible and yet he shows no anger or blame. In this scripture, Job teaches us something that we hear quoted all through churches in America: the idea that “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.” I personally find more inspiration though in the beginning half of that verse: “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither.”

Job had the mindset that nothing that he possessed did he actually have any possession over. He understood that when he came into the world he had nothing and that when he would die, he could take nothing with him. He knew that no one of it was ever his, and he thanked God for allowing him to share in God’s gifts as long as he was able. It wasn’t his, so what right did he have to be angry over losing it?

I envy that type of mindset. It is truly inspirational.

Thank you Lord for everything that you have blessed me with and allowed me to share with you. Help me to never forget that I have no stake or ownership over any of it, and that you have every right to take anything at any time. Blessed be your holy name.