Job 1-5: A Picture of True Faith

"In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong." Job 1:22

As we continue to read through the Bible chronologically, we come this morning to the book of Job. Most scholars believe that Job's story occurred before Abraham was born, and thus we pause before Genesis 11 and 12 to look at the entire story of Job. I'm excited for it this morning, and I hope you are too.

The verse quoted above is the theme of these first five chapters as well as the entirety of the book of Job. Job, a righteous man, was faithful to God even amidst great trial. He did not curse God with his mouth nor ever give up his faith in God. Now, don't get me wrong, there are points in the book of Job that we will find where Job certainly didn't get an A+. Let us remember even from Genesis 3-11 that man will never get an A+. However, given the circumstances, Job did a phenomenally good job in God's power staying faithful to his convictions, perhaps way better than we would ever do.

Let us review the story real fast. The story starts out by the author describing Job's righteousness. Job was so faithful to God that he even offered sacrifices for his evil children. However, on that fateful day, Satan comes to God, and God asks Satan if he has tested Job. Satan tells God that the only reason that Job blesses God is because God has given him so many possessions. God doesn't agree, and in order to prove his point, he allows Satan to test Job in any way as long as he doesn't kill him. Satan does so, and he leaves Job with absolutely no possessions or children, only leaving his wife (which proves to be more of a hindrance than a help). Satan also placed sores on the entirety of Job's body, leaving him in incredible pain constantly. Yet amidst all of these things, Job trusts in the Lord, as proved by his words and actions. Scripture tells us that after these things Job was led to "worship," even as he said, "the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (1:20-21). Even after his wife tells him to forsake God and commit suicide, Job still holds firm by asking her, "shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" (2:10). Amidst all of his trials, Job remains faithful to the Lord.

Yet, the story continues. Oftentimes we only look at the first few and last couple chapters in Job, yet there is so much more beauty in observing the entire book, which we will do. In chapter 3, we find Job cursing his birth. This was an expression of his sorrow, expressing that he is in so much pain that it would be better than he would not have been born. Yet amidst it all, let us realize that Job was not cursing God, he was merely cursing his birth. Furthermore, in chapters 4 and 5 we see his first friend's consolation, encouraging him to "seek God" amidst his trial since he must have sinned in order for it to come about (although we know that this isn't true!).

From this great story we see a picture of true faith. Job was a truly righteous man who did not give up his faith because his circumstances changed. Ultimately, that is what true faith is: holding firm confidence in God even though your circumstances don't seem to be consistent with the character of God. Let us notice this morning that faith is not the absence of doubt, but rather trust amidst our doubt. If we were to go through a trial like Job did, we would certainly be affected negatively just like Job was, even cursing the day of our birth. Yet the question amidst our trial is not "how bad does it hurt?" but rather "will you or will you not forsake your faith?" A true child of God will never give up his faith even in trial, because he knows that behind the trial is God's sovereign purpose. Amen!