“Shall we actually accept good from God but not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10 NASB).
Job is one of the oldest books in the Bible. It tells the story of a righteous man who loses everything in life. First, he loses his family, then his wealth, then his health, and finally his reputation. His wife advises him to curse God and die, while his best friends are sure Job has a secret sin.
But the book of Job lets us know what is going on behind the scenes. God’s bragging on Job, and pointing out to Satan how righteous Job is. Satan accuses Job of only serving God for the blessings. So God tells Satan that he has permission to take away all his blessings. Which Satan does.
That is when Job says, “the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Job’s response to losing all the blessings in life is to worship God. Which reminds me of Hebrews 13:15, “let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.” Praise is only a “sacrifice” when it is given when we don’t feel like it.
Then Satan returns to the Lord, and God points out how well Job has responded. To which Satan accuses Job of only caring about himself (Job 2:4). So God lets Satan take Job’s health. After repeated rounds of his friends accusing him of sin, Job tells them concerning God, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. ” (Job 13:15 NKJV).
I am no Job. But recently, within a week, I was in an accident in which my car was totaled, my boss let me go because I didn’t have transportation, I had a cold, and I took a tumble in a Pizza place and landed on my face, breaking my glasses. I was reminded of the story of Job.
Eventually we all have Job moments, where we are tested to see if we follow God because we love him or because we love his blessings. I remember what the Lord Jesus said about the Apostle Paul, “I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16).
This has not been my first Job moment. I remember the last time, I lost my Job, my wife, by daughters, and my home. The difference is that this time it was near painless, because my “all on the altar” was laid. I have come a long way, but I have a long way to go. For I also remember, “if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). And, “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18).
You have longed for sweet peace,
And for faith to increase,
And have earnestly, fervently prayed.
But you cannot have rest,
Or be perfectly blest,
Until all on the altar is laid.
– E. A. Hoffman
