Job 23:10 NLT
[10] “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”

In the midst of his extreme suffering, Job uttered immortal words that expressed his unshakeable confidence in God. Notice the words I have chosen…extreme suffering… Immortal words…unshakeable confidence!

How was it possible, in circumstances as puzzling as Job’s, for this man who did all in his power to stay within the boundaries of his knowledge and experience of God, to be so strong in his faith when everything had gone haywire? He, a wealthy and blessed man, had lost everything in a heartbeat. He had gone from affluence and influence to abject poverty, contempt, and abandonment. For what reason?

He had done nothing different, in his home and community, from his godly lifestyle and yet…here he was, sitting on a heap of ashes, smelling like a sewer, painfully fingering his festering sores, and groping for an answer!

From the mouth of this man, in the face of terrible suffering and cruel accusations from so-called “friends”, came words of affirmation that have brought comfort and hope to many down the generations.

Let’s examine just three of his statements.

Job 13:15 NIV
[15] “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him…”

Death stared Job in the face. In his day, there was little hope in doctors and no medical science. His physical state was so bad that no one came near him. He was an outcast from home and society. Even his visitors kept their distance, physically and emotionally. Job had only the mercy of God.

It seems that Job didn’t fear death. In fact, death was a pleasant prospect to relieve his suffering and give him peace. So, he made it clear that not even physical death could shatter his faith in God. He would trust Him to his final breath.

Job 19:25-27 NIV
[25] “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.”

These are the words of a man who lived centuries before the coming of Jesus and the New Covenant He came to establish. How did Job know about death, the resurrection, and eternal life? How could he declare with such confidence…

[26] “And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; [27] I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”

Despite the foolish philosophies of unbelieving people centuries later, who believe and hope for annihilation, King Solomon expressed his own commitment to the truth.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV
[11] “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

Both these men expressed their hope in the eternal truth written in their hearts that death is not the end but the transition to a new and better life…

People have tried to dodge accountability to God by devising their own version of eternity, a life of indulging all their fleshy lusts, but, in whatever form it may take, they cannot escape what God had done. He has indelibly inscribed both His law and eternity on our hearts.

As primitive as Job’s faith might have been in his time, he knew that his destiny was entwined with the God he trusted. It was written in his heart before he was born. Despite his ignorance of all God’s ways, of this he was certain. Death would not be the end of his life. Death would be the beginning of something much bigger and better. He would shed his mortal skin and with it, his limitations. In a new and resurrected body, he would “see” God, and how he longed for that moment.

Job’s issue was not about dying. His agony was about not knowing why he was being subjected to such suffering while he was living. He has done all he could, he had ticked all the boxes, and yet, it seemed, God was not satisfied! Why? To crown it all, God was silent. He refused to answer him.

And yet, Job’s trust in God held steady. With the same confidence that expressed hope in the resurrection, he could say…

Job 23:10 NIV
[10] “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

Did Job finally recognise that all this suffering was a test, not a punishment? Did this notion bring a new perspective to his hope?

Again, Job uttered immortal words. “He knows…” God knows! Didn’t this make all the difference? Did he suffer alone? Did his pain mean nothing to God? Others could criticise and condemn without pity, but not God! He knows…not only the agony of physical suffering but also the mental torture of “Why, God, why?”

The way Job took, the way we take, may be a tortuous journey to discover the meaning of our pain. God knows! We may agonise over our doubts and fears. God knows! We may trespass into bitterness and unbelief. God knows! We may accuse and blame. God knows!

God may never give an explanation but He always has a reason, and a purpose. Testing! God is testing…will our faith hold under fire?

In the end, through all the questioning and arguing, we slowly shed the dross of our misunderstandings and misperceptions, like gold in the crucible of refining. And, like gold, Job knew that he would come out of his fire, refined and pure. And, like gold, we will come out of the fire without dross…if we trust Him.

If faith in God is all that is left after we have exhausted every question, and every reason and argument in our favour, we will have passed the test.

Notice this! Although the devil was the cause, Job never factored him into his catastrophe. God never did, either! This mess was between God and Job. The devil was but a tool to be tossed aside with no mention when the matter was concluded. He may have set the whole process going, but only within God’s permissive will, and only within the boundaries of God’s purpose. He should never get credit or accolades for what he had done. His judgment is already sure.

Despite God’s refusal to answer Job, He did answer him eventually,…with a presentation of His God-ness far higher and greater than Job’s previous notions. After God’s rugged disclosure of His power and glory, with the frightening challenge, “Where were you…?”, Job fell on his face in humility and godly fear, where he belonged… and God lifted him up.

Perhaps the greatest lessons we learn from Job’s story are simply these…

Don’t tangle with God! You’ll never win.
Don’t question God! You may never get an answer.
Don’t stand up to God! He’ll beat you down.
Fall down before God! He will lift you up.

God does not respond to arrogance…or defiance…or rudeness!!! He responds to the humility that bends to His will with gratitude that He is, after all, both light and love. Whatever He does, be it unfathomable or distasteful to us, always meets the criteria of His light and love, and fulfills His two great purposes, our good and His glory.

So dear reader, take comfort from and follow the path of our spiritual ancestor. He blazed a trail of faith we can follow with absolute confidence, for the outcome is as sure as God Himself.