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Despite all this, Job did not sin, nor did he blame God (Job 1:22, NASB).
We’ve all heard of the trials of Job.
The Bible says simply, “There was a day!” (1:13, ESV). And on that day, Job lost his sons and daughters, servants, and herds of animals, and everything he had. But the trials of Job didn’t stop on that day; as the Bible continues, “Again, there was a day” (1:6). And on that day, Job lost his health with scabs and boils growing over his body.
We’ve all had bad days, but those two days in Job’s life are days nobody wants.
Adding the proverbial insult to injury, when someone experienced extreme difficulty during Job’s time, everyone thought, “What did he do wrong? How did he offend God?”
Job maintained his innocence.
Yet, his wife, mad at him for not confessing his sin and thus giving both a chance for restored prosperity, said to Job, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die” (2:9, NLT). And then his best friends, hearing of his trials, tried to help by making speech after speech about Job’s guilt.
In response to his fractured life — ruined health, along with criticism from his wife and friends, the Bible says that Job didn’t blame God.
I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord! (1:21)
Wow! It takes great faith to have faith.
First, we need great faith in God’s good, all-powerful, and sovereign rule, and second, we then find faith in the events of our lives that don’t make sense! Yes, it takes “big picture” faith to enable our “daily struggles” faith.
We proclaim. . .
God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
In Hebrew, the word “blame” means to “find fault with.” Blaming God goes beyond discouragement or questions to believing that God messed up and made a mistake. Job didn’t admit falsely to sin that he didn’t commit, nor did he challenge God’s goodness. Instead, he said. . .
Though He slay me, I will hope in Him (13:15, NASB).
One of my favorite authors is John White. He was a medical doctor who had an amazing career as a medical missionary, then a professor, then an author of Christian books. Dealing with Alzheimer’s and taking a walk with his son during the last week of his life, his son asked, “Dad, are you mad at God?”
In a moment of lucidity, John White responded, “Yes. Mad about Alzheimer’s. Never at God!”
It takes great faith to have faith!