In Job 38-42, God himself “questions” Job. Questions is a really, really, nice way to say that God got all up in Job’s business and attitude. In a series of questions, God describes himself, well, really he describes his works. Slowly digesting each question that God asks Job is a very “awe-ing” time. It filled me with wonder and gave me a fresh perspective on God’s hugeness, power, and majesty.
In Job 42:7-10 (click to read), it isn’t until Job prays FOR his friends – these same three friends who have accused, berated, and wrecklessly represented the Lord for 30+ chapters – that God restores to Job all Job lost in the trials (v10).
Two things struck me:
1. Not until Job took his eyes off his own misery and trouble, did God restore and end his misery and trouble. Job had to minister and be concerned with others… even those who he most likely wasn’t very pleased with at the time. Personally, I’d have been ticked at them and wanted to curse them instead of pray for them.
2. Just as God allowed the trials and circumstances surrounding Job’s troubles and losses, He also orchestrated Job’s praying for his friends and his own ultimate restortation. God addresses these friends in v7 and tells them that Job has to pray for them. This gets Job’s eyes off his own troubles (after he’s had a correction in his attitude and his own significance) and on to praying for his friends. Isn’t it just like Father to send what we need our way?
And this is the point for me. In the midst of trials -whatever form they take – I need to continue to be aware and look for those opportunities to do God’s bidding, regardless of how I feel at the time, and regardless of how I feel about who I am ministering to.
I am to be on guard for God opportunities… be aware for what He’s doing around me and join in on His work… Ephesians 2:10 (The Message) “He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.“
I wrote a blog a few months ago about this verse in Ephesians. See it here. Interesting… different passages… same lesson. Who says God’s word isn’t alive?
Thats a good word Shoe. I was reading a book on Job once, Maimonides The Guide for the Perplexed, not normally a book I would read but friggin school. The book suggests that each of Job’s friends represents famous distinct schools of thoughts concerning God. One being an islamic view, one a mytical so on and so forth. Thinking about that though I started thinking about what Job really had to do to pray for His friends and recieve his healing. What did he pray? Did he also know that God was going to punish them or did he blindly have to pray for something not knowing what would happen? Really did job minister to his friends or did Job pray for people and ideas he didnt agree or believe? It just made me think. Good word Shoe, it encouraged me.