Third Example of Patient Endurance: Job (5:11-12) - Part 1 of 2

Third Example of Patient Endurance: Job (5:11-12) - Part 1 of 2

We think of those who have kept going as blessed (James 5:11). You must have trials to persevere. There can be no victories without fights, and there can be no peaks without valleys. If you desire the blessing, you must be prepared to shoulder the burden and engage in the battle.

I once heard a young Christian pray, "O Lord, please teach me the deep truths of Your Word! .  .  .  I want to be taken up to the heavens to hear and see all the amazing things that are there!" He said a real prayer, but I don't think the young man knew what he was asking for. Paul went to the third heaven and learned things that were too wonderful for words. To keep Paul humble, God had to give him a thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:1–10). If God doesn't balance our privileges with our responsibilities and our blessings with our burdens, we will become spoiled, pampered children.

When do "blessings" happen? James taught that there is a blessing after we have endured, even though we may experience God's blessings in the middle of trials, like the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace (Dan. 3). Job was a good example for him.

The Old Testament book of Job is lengthy, and the chapters are full of speeches that seem long and boring to people in the West. Job is very upset in the first three chapters. He loses his health, his money, and his family (except for his wife, who told him to kill himself). In Job 4–31, we read Job's defense as he talks to his three friends and answers their false claims. Job 38–42 tells the story of how God saved Job. First, God humbles Job, and then He honors him and gives him twice as much as he had before.

It is important to remember that Job did not know what was going on "behind the scenes" between God and Satan when you study his life. Job's friends said he was a sinner and a hypocrite. They said, 'There must be some terrible sin in your life, or God would never have let you suffer like this.' Job disagreed with them and said he was innocent (but not perfect) the whole time they talked. The friends were wrong: God had no reason to be angry with Job (Job 2:3), and in the end, God scolded the friends for lying about Job (Job 42:7).

Job is one of the best examples of someone who has suffered. Things were not going well for him because he lost his money and his health. He also lost his dear children. His wife was against him because she told him to "curse God and die" (Job 2:9). His friends were against him because they thought he was a hypocrite and deserved God's judgment. It even looked like God was against him! Heaven did not answer Job when he cried out for answers.

But Job kept going. Satan thought that Job would lose faith in God and get frustrated with Him, but that didn't happen. Job did question God's will, but he did not give up on his faith in the Lord. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him." (Job 13:15). Job was so sure that God was perfect that he kept arguing with Him, even though he didn't understand everything God was doing. That is what it means to be strong.

God promised Israel that He would bless them if they followed His laws (see Deut. 11). This led to the belief that God blessed people who were rich and comfortable and cursed people who were poor and suffering. Unfortunately, many people still hold onto that incorrect belief today. The disciples were shocked when Jesus said it was hard for a rich man to get into heaven. 'Who can be saved?' they asked (Matt. 19:23–26). They were saying, 'God has blessed the rich more than anyone else .  .  . if they can't do it, no one can!'

The book of Job shows that this idea is wrong because Job was a good man who suffered. God saw no evil in him, and even Satan couldn't find any. Job's friends were unable to substantiate their allegations. Job shows us that God has bigger plans for suffering than just punishing sin. Job's suffering allowed Jesus, the perfect Son of God, to suffer for the world's sins.

What was "the end [purpose] of the Lord" in Job's case? The purpose was to demonstrate His abundant compassion and mercy. There were definitely other things that happened because of Job's experience because God never lets His saints suffer for no reason. Job encountered God in a novel and profound manner (Job 42:1–6), subsequently receiving increased blessings from the Lord.