Job 1:21 - Dealing With Crisis.
Job 1:21 (TLB) "I came naked from my
mothers womb," he said, "and I shall have nothing
when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had,
and they were his to take away. Blessed be the
name of the Lord."
INTRODUCTION
A Special Message from Pastor Rick on the
Coronavirus
Walking Without Fear Through the Valley of
Virus
Health officials continue to offer common
sense steps to contain, reduce, and prevent new
infections of the coronavirus. But what should be our
spiritual response to this pandemic? How can our hope
in Christ remain firm as we walk through this
dark valley?
I have a special message for you that
includes reminders that God is always with you, to
focus on what is unchanging, and that God can use
you to minister to others even in this crisis.
You can listen to my message by going to
https://pastorrick.com/listen/ and finding Walking Without Fear Through the
Valley of Virus (Parts 1 and 2).
We already know in advance that this
virus will not last. It's a valley that we will
walk through, and we're going to walk through it
together. [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
COMMENTARY
Handling Adversity
Step into the time tunnel with me, and
let's travel together back to Uz (not the wizard
of, but the land of). Wherever it was, Uz had a
citizen who was respected by everyone. Why? Because
he was blameless, upright, God-fearing, and
clean living. He had ten children, thousands of
head of livestock, acres and acres of land, a
great many servants, and a substantial stack of
cash. No one would deny that he was "the greatest
of all the men of the East." His name was Job,
a synonym for integrity and godliness.
Yet, within a matter of hours, adversity
fell upon this fine man like an avalanche of
jagged rocks. He lost his livestock, his crops, his
land, his servants, and all ten children. Soon
thereafter he also lost his health.
The book that bears his name records an
entry he made into his journal soon after the
rocks stopped falling: "The LORD gave and the LORD
has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD"
(Job 1:21).
Following this incredible statement, God
adds: "Through all this Job did not sin nor did he
blame God" (1:22).
The logical questions are, Why didn't he?
What kept him from bitterness or even thoughts of
suicide?
At the risk of oversimplifying the
situation, I suggest three basic answers that I have
discovered from searching through this book.
First, Job claimed God's loving
sovereignty. He believed that the Lord who gave had every
right to take away (Job 1:21; 2:10). Job looked
up, claiming his Lord's right to rule over his
life.
Second, he counted on God's promise of
resurrection. "Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from
my flesh I shall see God" (Job 19:26). Job
looked ahead, counting on his Lord's promise to
make all things bright and beautiful in the life
beyond.
Third, he confessed his own lack of
understanding. What a relief this brings! He didn't feel
obligated to explain why (Job 42:2"4). Job looked
within, confessing his inability to put it all
together.
He rested his adversity with God, not
feeling forced to answer why.
When we're looking in all the right
directions, we won't take the wrong turn. [Chuck
Swindoll www.insight.org.]
When Your Eyes Are Full of Tears, Keep Them
on God.
What would happen if every single thing
in your life went bad? Would you still trust
God if your plans didnt work out? If
everything fell apart? If you lost it all? Would you be
able to honor God even in your pain?
The whole book of Job in the Bible is
about answering that one question: Will you
worship God when everything in your life goes wrong?
For Job, almost everything that could go wrong,
did, but he was faithful. He worshiped God by
honoring him, even when he was wounded.
So how do you honor God when you dont
understand whats going on in your life? How do you
keep your eyes on God when theyre full of
tears?
You honor God, not by thanking him for
your problems but by thanking him in the middle
of your problems. You do what Job did.
Job 1:21-22 tells us how Job responded:
I came naked from my mothers womb, he
said, and I shall have nothing when I die. The
Lord gave me everything I had, and they were his
to take away. Blessed be the name of the
Lord. In all of this Job did not sin or revile
God (TLB).
At each point in your life, you can find
reasons to praise God. Life is never all good, and
life is never all bad. In every moment you have
good and bad together.
Throughout the book of Job, Job finds the
good for which he can praise God, even in the
middle of the bad. You can use this list to help
you praise God, no matter whats going on.
Heres what you can praise God for:
That he is good and loving (Job 10:12)
That he is all-powerful (Job 36:22,
37:5, 23)
That he notices every detail of your
life (Job 23:10, 31:4)
That he is in control (Job 34:13)
That he has a plan for your life (Job
23:14)
That he will protect you (Job 5:11)
Whatever is going on in your life today,
choose to honor God in faith. [Daily Devotional by
Rick Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
Acts 16:25: Persecution And Suffering Are No
Match For Prayers And Singing.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2007/20071203-0015.html
Acts 16:25: Persecution And Suffering Are No
Match For Prayer And Singing. (updated)
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2009/20090706-1506.html
Acts 16:25: Praying And Singing Praises To
God Have Omnipotent Power.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20180531-0915.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
