Job 1:13-22
13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
Job demonstrates an amazing level of trust here. He has just lost his wealth (verses 14-17) and his children (verses 18-19). If that happened to me I would be tempted to be angry at God, and to want to escape into the comfort of fantasies. Part of the attraction of fantasy is the illusion of control, the feeling that we are safe and loved and in control when we partake of the fantasy. The call of God is to trust Him with the vulnerabilities of reality. This is what Job does. Job humbly accepts what has happened (verse 21). He trusts God's control even when his own world is seemingly out of control.
God, help me to trust You even in the darkest of times.
13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
Job demonstrates an amazing level of trust here. He has just lost his wealth (verses 14-17) and his children (verses 18-19). If that happened to me I would be tempted to be angry at God, and to want to escape into the comfort of fantasies. Part of the attraction of fantasy is the illusion of control, the feeling that we are safe and loved and in control when we partake of the fantasy. The call of God is to trust Him with the vulnerabilities of reality. This is what Job does. Job humbly accepts what has happened (verse 21). He trusts God's control even when his own world is seemingly out of control.
God, help me to trust You even in the darkest of times.