RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-12-18	The Lord Gave And The Lord Has Taken Away (Jb.1:21)
		Job 1:20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. Job 1:21 And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." Job lost everything including his children and livestock, yet we see him face down to the ground to bless the name of the Lord (v.21). Job is saying that he came into the world with nothing and will leave the same way when he dies (Ec.5:15). Most seem to want to focus on the second half of Job's statement: “The Lord has taken away”. But this focus misses the godly perspective Job had. Even in his sorrow, Job recognized God's gifts in this life. Notice, “The Lord gave”. Job knows everything he has in this life comes from the Lord. That might be good for us to keep in mind as well. Job recognized that the LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. That is good theology. All good things come from God (Ja.1:17). Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. So God is sovereign whatever comes to us and whatever is taken away. Job had a good perspective in that it was THE LORD who had taken away his family and possessions. Job could have pointed to and blamed the wicked men who killed his servants (Jb.1:13-17). He could have blamed the natural disasters that killed his children and sheep (Jb.1:16-19). Job chose to look higher, to the ultimate source of all things, the God of the universe. He put his trust in the goodness of God, even though circumstances seemed the opposite. At times, God does allow suffering in the lives of believers. It is especially important to trust the Lord when things seem bad, realizing that God is indeed good. Psa 27:13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! God is not the author of pain and suffering. Scripture is clear that suffering and death are ultimately the result of sin (Ge.3). In Job's case it was Satan behind the tragedies, though he did not know that (Jb.1:6-12). Of course not knowing that, adds to the plot of the story. God sovereignty allows suffering to happen, and He uses suffering for the good of those who love Him (Ro.8:28). As was true for Job, we may not be able to fully understand why God allows certain things to happen, but like Job we can trust Him who is good (Ps.34:8; Is.55:8-9). Job mourned and yet, “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong” (Jb.1:22). May we have this same attitude when difficulties come into our lives. Whether the Lord is giving or taking away, our cry should be, “Blessed be the name of the LORD” (Jb.1:21). Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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