23.090 | The Lord Gives, The Lord Takes Away | Job 1:13-22 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

 - Job 1:13-22 ESV

13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

 THE LORD GIVES, THE LORD TAKE

It was a day of infamy to Job. As if someone punching a blindfolded person, Job had no idea where the blows came from. Almost simultaneously, Job received four devastating news that all his animals and children died horribly. He lost everything due to the acts of evil men[ the Sabeans and Chaldeans] and nature[fire and wind]. In each incident, a servant has survived to tell him the tragedies, respectively. While one is not yet finished speaking to him, another one comes in to tell him another devastating news.

 

All of these horrible incidents happened because God allowed Satan to test Job. The Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” In other words, as Satan couldn’t touch Job, he can’t bother us also, His children, without God’s permission.

 

In all the tragedies that happened to Job, he had no control, absolutely. However, he has control over how he should respond. He could have allowed his emotion to take over. But, he did not. He was sad that he tore his robe and shaved his head as an act of mourning. And, he worshipped the Lord.

 

Rather than looking at everything from a human perspective, he looked at it from the divine perspective. He preached to himself, saying, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Before these tragedies happened, he has always maintained that everything belongs to God, including his life. And, God who is the owner reserves the right to do whatever He wants. Thus, he did not charge God for anything wrong. God, the Sovereign owner is always right. This resolve helped him maintain his integrity.

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