We are currently studying The Book of Job in our Sunday School Class. After reading this masterpiece. I have come to realize that God gets a lot of blame that he shouldn't. I also learned that no one has the right to question God.
I grew up in the mountains of eastern kentucky. One of my greatest childhood memories was going next door to my Grandma's and preaching to my Aunt's and Uncle's.
I would see them pull up the driveway. I would get my little pocket bible and run to granny's. My Aunt would bring me a can of 7-up almost every time she came.
I can still remember my sermon text. Probably because I used the same one every week. It was John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotton Son that whosoever believth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."
One of the songs I would sing was called, "Tale of Job"
I had it memorized as a child and can still remember the lyrics. I would start it out by reading, "Here's a tale of Job. A righteous man who had a loving wife and children." And then I would began to sing.
Over thirty years later I don't sing that song in public anymore but I still love the story of Job. The story of Job teaches us so many lessons about life.
The Bible calls Job a perfect and upright man who stayed away from evil. It goes on to say that Job was a very rich man. He had seven sons and three daughters.
In chapter one it tells of how God and Satan are talking about Job. God allowed Satan power over Job. But told Satan his power was limited in which he could not lay his hand upon Job.
I have been told that the loss of a child is the most difficult loss a person can suffer. I have never lost a child. But, I do know what it feels like to lose a Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Aunt and Cousin. I also know the heartbreak of losing a Dad.
Job not only lost one child but Satan killed them all. Did you hear what I said. Satan not God. God told Satan not to harm Job. Satan obeyed God. But the Devil knew where to hurt Job. Satan called fire down and burned up his sheep. He also had the wind to blow hard enough to cause the house that Job's children were in to collapse and kill all of them. Click Job 1
In all this Job stayed true to God. Even saying, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Job thought that God was behind his pain but he still kept his faith. He had no idea that Satan had asked God for permission to take away his wealth.
Well, the next Chapters consist of Job's wife telling Job to just curse God and die. Then Chapters 4-37 tell of how Job's so called friends came and accused Job of sinning. Job continues to ask God why? Why me ? What have I done to deserve this ? The Lord finally appears on the scene in Chapter 38 in a whirlwind.
If you want to get to understand God better. Take a few minutes and Click to Job Chapters 38, 39 and 40. God is a Great God!
The disciples came to Jesus and ask why a blind man was born blind. Was it because his parents sinned ? Jesus replied,(John 9)
The next time something bad happens to you or someone else.. Don't question God. Beware of the Devil. God loves you. The Devil hates families, marriages and has declared war on innocent unborn babies. As the song goes, "Farther Along" we'll know all about it, Farther along we will understand why.