The Darkest Day
One day when Job's sons and daughters were dining at the oldest brother's house, a messenger arrived at Job's home with this news: "Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."
While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: "The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."
While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: "Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."
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While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: "Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother's home. Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the desert and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."
Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground before God. He said,
"I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be stripped of everything when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!"
In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. (Job 1:13-22 NLT)
Job was not having a nice day.
His losses in those horrific few hours are almost incomprehensible. Think about it. In one day, Job, one of the wealthiest men in the land, lost everything—all his assets, so wisely and carefully built up through the years. His trusted servants—what we might call loyal, longtime employees—had all perished in a string of (what we know to be) supernatural disasters.
Those things would have been difficult enough to endure. But it got much, much worse. The worst news of all on this day was to hear that his children—his pride and joy—had all been killed. Seven sons and three daughters. Wiped out in a moment.
Having walked with parents through the death of a child, I can tell you that this is the worst thing that can happen to a mother or a father. No parent ever wants to outlive his or her children. We spend our lives caring for them, nurturing them, loving them, and investing our hopes and dreams in them. For most loving fathers and mothers, to lose a child is a fate literally worse than death.
Satan had challenged God, saying, "You just let me take away the things he holds dear and then see how loyal and faithful Job will be. He'll curse You to Your face!"
The Lord granted Satan permission to turn Job's world upside down—within limits. The evil one would not be allowed to lay a finger on Job himself.
And how did Job fare in that attack? Did he curse God as Satan suggested? No. He praised God. "The Lord gave me everything I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!"
No wonder the Lord was bragging on Job! You can almost hear the pride in the Lord's voice as He says to Satan,
"Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you persuaded me to harm him without cause."
But Satan wasn't through yet (is he ever?), issuing one final challenge.
Satan replied to the Lord, "Skin for skin—he blesses you only because you bless him. A man will give up everything he has to save his life. But take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!"
"All right, do with him as you please," the Lord said to Satan. "But spare his life." So Satan left the Lord's presence, and he struck Job with a terrible case of boils from head to foot."
Then Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. (Job 2:3-8 NLT)
In times like these, you would like to think you could turn to your spouse for support. But it didn't work that way for Job.
His wife said to him, "Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die."
But Job replied, "You talk like a godless woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?" (vv. 9-10).
We have much to learn from this story of Job. In his letter to the church, the apostle James wrote, "As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy" (James 5:11).
Persevere.
That's the key word here. The book of Job teaches us how to persevere—hang in there—when we go through heartaches and hard times. Because it's not a matter of if some kind of calamity, trial, sickness, or difficulty will strike you or someone you love. It's a matter of when.
Today's devotion is excerpted from the first chapter of Greg Laurie's book, Why, God? (Dana Point, Calif.: Kerygma Publishing, 2007). To order a copy of Why, God? while supplies last, click here to visit the Harvest Store.
Used with Permission
