Is God Really There? (20)

It is a beautiful Sunday morning in west Michigan.  The sun is bright, the grass is green - and freshly manicured too - the flowers are vibrant, the high will be in the 80’s; all I can see is God’s awesome creation about me.  I especially love how the sun shines through the windows to welcome the dawn of a new and great day.  So why have I opened up my Bible to read Job?  I surely know the story and the calamities that met him, but today is a great, grand day.  Why in the world would I read about him again especially when the day is so bright, warm, and welcoming?

Nonetheless, I read and as I getting to part where God tells Satan “all he has is yours, but on the man himself do not lay a finger,” my wife walks in from her night-shift at the hospital.  She tells me that early this morning, a person went the wrong way on the expressway and ran head-on into other vehicle.  Three people were killed instantly and three others are in critical condition.  [deep breath]  Wow.  Unbelievable. 

I am reminded at how fragile life is and how many times death comes our way.  Just a month and a half ago, a dad and his baby died in a house fire, leaving a wife and two girls behind.  The dad was even a youth pastor.  Almost a week ago, tornados leveled Joplin in southwestern Missouri, leaving an enormous death toll.  Despite my faith in God and that he works in all things, is it wrong to ask, “Are you really here?”

Call it coincidence – I won’t – that I was reading Job.  It’s pretty plain and simple.  After Satan tells God where he has been, roaming throughout the earth, God offers him Job, a man upright and faithful to God.  Satan snatches up the offer and can’t wait to bring ruin to his life.  Most of all, Satan can’t wait to prove God wrong in Job, that Job will curse God when he is done with him.  Soon after, Job receives four messages, each right after the other.  The first three messengers tell him how all their family’s livestock (wealth) was either killed or snatched up from him.  However, the last messenger gives the gravest of news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” (v. 18b, 19)  Does this remind you of anything?

Job’s response is utterly human and yet not human.  Although he tears off his robe and shaves his head, he falls to the ground in worship.  Despite the horrible news, he knows God is not only in control and present in this disaster, but that this disaster will ultimately be for God’s glory.

Read Job 1 for yourself and ask yourself if you would respond in the same way.

¹³ One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, ¹⁵ and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

 ¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

 ¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

 ¹⁸ While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

 20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. 

Then he fell to the ground in worship ²¹ and said:

   “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, 

   and naked I will depart.

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; 

   may the name of the LORD be praised.”

 ²² In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 1:13-22

20 days!