Job 2:9-10 – Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold firm your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You are speaking as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we actually accept good from God but not accept adversity?” Despite all this, Job did not sin with his lips.
Job was man who lived thousands of years ago. The scriptures tell how he was a man who loves, knew and trusted the Lord. It was his life’s goal to please God and He was diligent to pursue that goal. He not only was consumed by honoring God with His obedience to the Lord, but He offered prayers and sacrifices to Him for His children, just in case they should sin. But there came a day, unbeknownst to him, that in order to prove that a man could love and serve God for unselfish reasons, the Lord allowed the enemy to greatly torment Job. The Lord was confident that Job would stand strong. So in one day Job was robbed of all of his possessions (He had great wealth). His possessions were stolen or destroyed. That included all of his property, his servants and all of His children. Incredibly, though Job was stricken with sadness, immediately after receiving the news Job said “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) Job’s faith, though he was greatly grieved, did not waiver. (Job 1:22)
Since the devil had tried to steal Job’s faith through this great loss and he had failed to do so, he had one more trick up his sleeve. He said that if allowed, he would take Job’s health from him. The devil said that having done all that to Job then it would cause Job to hate God and curse Him to His face. So Job’s health was taken from him and left him with open wounds from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. Job, since he had no possessions left, sat on the side of the road scratching his wounds with broken pottery. Now let’s remember that all that Job suffered through His wife also miserably suffered through. As she watched the horrific condition of Job and how he still loved God and was faithful to Him, she lost her temper and said to Job “Do you still hold firm your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9) Wow, imagine being beaten down and at the worst place of your life and having only your spouse to comfort you, who then says to you “You’re a fool for continuing in your faith after all this. You miserable wretch, curse God and die.” Wow! So how did Job respond now? He told his wife that the God we accept good from, if we truly know, love and trust Him, should also be the God that we accept adversity from Him? (Job 2:10)
Family and friends, when life is easy and good, people see us praise the Lord. So if we have testified about the goodness of God and praised Him during the good times, then shouldn’t we continue in trusting and praising him during the bad times? After all, God has not changed, He remains the same. (James 1:17, Hebrews 13:8) If we truly know, love and praise Him, thereby making ourselves servants of God before the world, shouldn’t we also continue to praise Him in adverse times. If not we cheapen our testimony and even worse, we bring disgrace to His name. (Hebrews 10:29) People will mock Him saying that some will love Him during good times but not in the bad times so why should anyone serve Him, which is what the devil said would happen should Job’s blessings be removed. It is an evil thing to disgrace the name of the Lord. That is acceptable to none who love Him. Praise God in the easy and in the hard times. Always praise God!
When deep adversity ravaged Job verse 1:22 states “Despite all this, Job did not sin, nor did he blame God.” What about us? When adversity ravages us, will we not sin by accusing and blaming God? Will our faith in Him descend into sin by not continuing to trust in Him (Romans 14:23). Or will we like Job stand strong and be praised by God for doing so. Let’s set our goals high and our conscience will be free. (1 Peter 2:20) Let us study God through close fellowship with Him and let Him reveal Himself to us so that we shall not become weak, stumble and fall, but instead will be steadfast and true to Him, who is rock solid and true to us. (Matthew 7:24-25) Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.