No Matter What

“And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”
Job 1:7 (KJV)

Many moons ago, when I was a freshman at college studying theology, I remember a fellow student, as he joined the group in the Student Centre, being asked where he was coming from. His reply was the quote from the scripture above.  Amusing as his answer was, that set of scripture went on to show God bringing Job to Satan’s attention. Strange because God already knew Satan was considering Job, backed up by his ready answer, that Job didn’t fear God for nothing—look what he gets out of it! Take his riches away and see what happens (Job 1: 9-11).

Today, Satan is still targeting God’s people and Christians are still misjudging and missing the point.  It leads to an age-old question, one which has caused some of us to lose our faith: why do bad things happen to good people?  Most of Job’s friends could not understand; surely Job had some hidden sin and that was the reason he was being punished. But let’s look at what God said to Satan about Job (chapter 1, verse 8) that there is none like him….high praise indeed!

We need to remember that there will be trials and tribulations in this life (John 16:33) and how we deal with them makes all the difference.  Will we count it all joy (James 1:2)? Will we be like Daniel’s friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who told the king whether or not their God delivered them from the fiery furnace he should know that they wouldn’t compromise – no matter what (Daniel 3:16-18)?

There are times when all we need to do is to be still and know He is God (Psalm 46:10).  Forget the condemnation of others and remember that those same friends who condemned Job had to seek his help for forgiveness from God (Job 42:7-9).  We ought also to be careful how we counsel others going through trials, as we seek mercy from God.  God is quite able to deal with it. “Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool,” he said in Psalm 110:1.

So when (not if) adversity strikes us, what will we do?  Curse God and die for certain, as Job’s wife urged (Job 2:9); or know that whether He saves us now, whether or not He brings us through, we will always praise Him.  In the words of Job, the LORD gives and the LORD takes away – blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:21)

Prayer
In Jesus’ name we pray that God will be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.  (Psalm 67:1)
Amen 

Study by Jackee Brown

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About the Author:
Jackee Brown is a member in the Worldwide Church of God UK Congregation in London.

Local Congregation:
Worldwide Church of God London
Indian YMCA Student Hostel
Mahatma Gandhi Hall
41 Fitzroy Square
LONDON
W1T 6AQ

Meeting Time:
Saturday 2:30pm

Local Congregational Contact:
Martin Ryan
Phone:  020 8202 3998
Email: martin_ryan@wcg.org.uk