For he will not lay upon man more than right (Job 34:23).
The book of Job records the sufferings of a good man who could not understand why these terrible losses and troubles should come to him. His three special friends came to comfort him, but only made matters worse. Their comfort consisted largely of accusing Job of sin and urging him to confess it. Their idea of justifying the ways of God to human beings was Do good, and you will be wealthy and healthy; do evil, and you will be poor and sick. These three men have many spiritual descendants today. Job said, "Miserable comforters are ye all" (Job 16:2), and so they were.
It is true that evil tends to death, and good to life, even in this world; but that is not all the truth. Thousands of God's children are great sufferers, and trouble often develops superior character. "We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Rom. 5:3-5).
After the three miserable men had finished making others miserable, young Elihu came as the Lord's spokesperson and assured the sufferer that God "will not lay upon man more than right." This is a truth hard--sometimes impossible--to understand when we are in trouble. But we can believe it, for the Lord "knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust" (Ps. 103:14).
Job was the center of a conflict larger than his personal affairs. He did not know it, but he could say, "God is greater than man" (Job 33:12). Once we accept this fundamental fact, we can resign all trouble into His hands and say with the New Testament disciples, "The will of the Lord be done" (Acts 21:14), and with Abraham, the friend of God, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen. 18:25).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man" (Ps. 60:11).
The book of Job records the sufferings of a good man who could not understand why these terrible losses and troubles should come to him. His three special friends came to comfort him, but only made matters worse. Their comfort consisted largely of accusing Job of sin and urging him to confess it. Their idea of justifying the ways of God to human beings was Do good, and you will be wealthy and healthy; do evil, and you will be poor and sick. These three men have many spiritual descendants today. Job said, "Miserable comforters are ye all" (Job 16:2), and so they were.
It is true that evil tends to death, and good to life, even in this world; but that is not all the truth. Thousands of God's children are great sufferers, and trouble often develops superior character. "We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Rom. 5:3-5).
After the three miserable men had finished making others miserable, young Elihu came as the Lord's spokesperson and assured the sufferer that God "will not lay upon man more than right." This is a truth hard--sometimes impossible--to understand when we are in trouble. But we can believe it, for the Lord "knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust" (Ps. 103:14).
Job was the center of a conflict larger than his personal affairs. He did not know it, but he could say, "God is greater than man" (Job 33:12). Once we accept this fundamental fact, we can resign all trouble into His hands and say with the New Testament disciples, "The will of the Lord be done" (Acts 21:14), and with Abraham, the friend of God, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen. 18:25).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man" (Ps. 60:11).
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