“Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said…” (Job 38:1 NIV)
If you are familiar with The Book of Job, you already know that Job went through. You might also be aware of the fact that God had enough confidence in Job that He granted Satan the chance to tempt Job. The Lord said to Sata, “Has thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and eschewetth evil?” God did not give Satan, shall we say, carte blanche, meaning the freedom to do anything he could to tempt Job. Sovereign God put a limit of what Sata could do to Job. God said, “Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand” You have heard it before, but while Satan tempts faithful people, God tests faithful people. Neither you or I or exempted from that truth.
This morning, I want to share something one of my young grandchildren shared with an adult who was dealing with an unwanted circumstance. Let’s just call the circumstance, “a test.” Here is what she shared, words of wisdom, “When you take a test in the classroom, the teacher is silent.” Pasue and think about that a minute.
Now, just in case you didn’t get it immediately, when you do, you will shout out aloud, “Praise God!” I know I did! The message was for me too, and if you are going through one of the tests in life, or when you go through another tests, you will be probably moved and made to feel better by my grandchild’s profound words.
Consider Job, He lost his flock, his servants, his children, and suffered boils from the sole of his feet to the top of his head. Job experience great grief. All this is reported in the first couple of chapters in Job. Yet, from chapter one to Chapter 38, God is pretty much silent while Job is going through his test. God is the Teacher, and He is being quiet during Job’s tests in life. But the Lord speaks out in chapter 38, canceling out any doubt that his so-called friends had tried to plant in Job’s mind. As you read on in Job you will see a dialogue between Job and God. As a bonus point of emphasis, make sure you make a notation of this statement, “Talking with the Lord helps you get through your tests.”
In God’s perfect timing; in the timing schedule of the One who knows the plans He has for you, you will end up taking ownership of the words composed by Bishop Larry Trotter, “It’s only a test that you’re going through. It’s gonna be over real soon. Keep the faith. Don’t give up. For it’s only a test. It’s only a test, you’re going through, it won’t last always”.
Your takeaway: Keep in mind that sometimes, our Teacher is silent when His students are taking a test. Also, keep in mind that “Better” is on the way. Praise God again! Let me support that statement with an excerpt from the end of The Book of Job in the closing verses. Read them! Rely on God! Rise up and look forward to a brighter day! Remember that through your temptations, trials and tests, the Lord will never leave you or forsake you. Remember your faith will increase because of your tests, Remember, for the believer “Better,” even when we can’t see it, it is always waiting for us. Be blessed!
“The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. In all the land no women were found as beautiful as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them inheritances among their brothers. After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations. And Job died, an old man and full of days.” (Job 42:12-17 NASB)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King