Learnings from Job

As a result of an unwelcomed work assignment this summer, I’m now blessed to be on Pastor Wayne Cordeiro’s Life Plan reading schedule currently in Job from the OT & a couple of books in the NT. Job is the great sufferer of all time and his friends are there throughout to firstly encourage & console, then later accuse & judge. Nothing new there, but a couple of new learnings for me. First, since the focus of the book is Job’s calamity, suffering and God’s blessing, I have always missed these first few lines of Job:
4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.

I don’t know the cultural meaning behind some of that, but it’s clear that Job regularly honored God in a big way and desired the same for his children. Imagine being so burdened for your teenagers, 20somethings, etc., that you would regularly sacrifice to God each time they had the opportunity to party. My parents would’ve had to quit their jobs. And don’t forget the sister part – that’s just wrong. Job was really a good guy! Anyway, even with all that goodness, Job’s buddies eventually rip him to shreds.

Secondly, from the first speaker/friend, Eliphaz, comes a great honest approach for friends who are going through rough times. Eliphaz basically says something like this, “Job, do you mind if I talk to you? But what friend could keep silent at a time like this watching you go through so much!” Then he follows with gentle encouragement, treads lightly, compliments Job, suggests that he turn to God and predicts good things for the future.

Unfortunately, later in the book, Eliphaz becomes hurtful displaying a judgmental human nature familiar to us all. But thankfully God is perfect, just, merciful & full of grace. And in the end, He saves the day! Yaaah!