A Blitzkrieg of Loss

 

What comes to your mind when you hear the name Job? Pain? Suffering? Loss? I think loss would be a good word for the events of chapter one! Imagine being a guest in the home of Mr and Mrs Job on this fateful day!

 

Ding Dong!  “Come on in!”

 

“Job! The Sabeans have raided your fields and taken all your farm equipment and killed all your workers! I’m the only one who got away!”

 

Ding Dong! “Come on in!”

 

Job! A terrible fire hit the sheep barn! All your sheep and workers in the barn are dead. I alone got away!”

 

Ding Dong! “Come on in!”

 

“Job, The Chaldeans raided your parking garage, killed all your servants and took away your camels. I alone have escaped “

 

Ding Dong! “DON’T ANSWER IT JOB!

 

“Job! A tornado hit the house where all ten of your children were partying. They are all dead. I alone have escaped.”

 

One right after another, “while one was still speaking,” another shows up with bad news and when all is said and done, all that Job has left is his house, a bitter wife, and four servants who managed to escape and bring the bad news to Job!

 

How would you receive such news? What would your reaction be? Job stood up, tore his robe, then took the time to shave his head. These are things people did in his culture to demonstrate grief and sorrow.

 

Job spent time grieving, but in his grief, the Lord came to him and gave him special words of comfort that served Job well and consequently helps any and all people who suffer loss of any kind.  The mere act of falling to the ground and speaking these words was an act of worship!

 

Job 1:20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 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." 22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

 

We brought nothing into this world and we will leave with nothing. Anything we have in this lifetime is a gift from God, and if He chooses to take anything away, well that’s His prerogative. We know God is good, and good is His ultimate goal for His children. All we can do in these moments is trust! Trust in His goodness believing what is written here in Job and in Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 

But let’s not be flippant about this either! Remember Job took the time to grieve and so must you and I in our losses. Then with time, let us learn to remember the good gifts of the Lord. Let us remember: “The Lord gave!” Treasure the memories He gave us before the loss, in so doing, we worship the Lord and bless His Name!