Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. (James 5:11, NKJV).
First Job lost his wealth. Then he lost his 10 children, who died in a tragic storm. Next he lost his health, being struck with painful boils from head to foot. What’s more, instead of comforting Job, his three friends only added to his misery. They excoriated Job, telling him it was his hidden sin that caused his woes. Their theology was black and white: God prospers the good and afflicts the bad. Their remedy for Job was to come clean and confess his grave sin.
Job found himself in a fog, a thick haze, and in such came the why and where questions. Why me? Where is God? Jesus himself cried out from the cross a why question: “Why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Where was the Father? The feeling of divine abandonment is the worst of all suffering. It can dispel any and all hope. Yet Jesus’ faith saw that God was in the darkness. Job’s faith looked to God in the thick fog.
Although Job didn’t realize it, Satan was the one afflicting him not God. Satan claimed that Job only followed God for the blessings he received from his hand. If he suffered he would then curse God (Job 1:9-11). Job may have struggled, questioned and misunderstood, but he never gave up on God. He saw the light flicker in the distance, which even death would not extinguish. Job knew he would come to see his redeemer (Job 19:25,26).
It is true that God allowed the turmoil to enter Job’s life. It would refine him further and bring him closer to his side. But he also set a hedge to protect Job’s life, thereby limiting Satan’s rein. And it is well to remember that, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
God’s people at the end of time will suffer a horrific tribulation, as did Job. And as Job was declared blameless so will they be called blameless (Job 1:1; Revelation 14:5). As Job endured so will they endure through the great turbulence at the world’s end (James 5:11; Revelation 14:12). And like Job, they will vindicate God’s character and truth, exposing Satan’s barren lies. Job was fully restored at the end of his ordeal; likewise God’s people will be restored after their tribulation.
A mountain requires patient endurance to scale it. It’s the fantastic view at its peak that makes the hardship of the climb worth it. Through the suffering Job got to the top and got to see God’s glory for himself, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You” (Job 42:5). The saints at the end will behold God’s glory as well, seeing him face to face (1John 3:2). Hold fast through your trails! And you too will behold his glory.
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