19 March 2008 Devotion for Today “Results of Life’s Trials” Job 2:7-13

19 March 2008 Devotion for Today “Results of Life’s Trials” Job 2:7-13

Officer Jim Heimerl , a Minneapolis policeman, was taking part in a 16.3 mile run in Grantsburg, Wisconsin. Jim was four miles into the race, when two deer ambled out of the woods and onto the road. The startled buck, no doubt distressed to find himself in the middle of a human marathon, began zigzagging wildly through the runners. Jim didn’t even see the animal until the two of them collided and sprawled together onto the asphalt highway. Jim fell flat on his face, received a concussion and opened a nasty gash on his forehead that required 23 stitches. The buck, however, paid an even higher price for his encounter. The collision broke his leg and his back, and the only humane response was to quickly dispense him to the ranks of the deerly departed. Jim had already been admitted to a nearby hospital for repairs when state game officials called to tell him Wisconsin law holds that anyone who hits and kills a deer on a Wisconsin roadway can claim the deer. But since he didn’t feel up to dealing with a dead deer, and since he didn’t want to store the carcass in his station wagon in 80-degree heat while he recuperated overnight in the hospital, Jim declined the offer. He lamented his luck. “I hunt deer for 14 years without getting a thing, and then I get one while I’m running a race.”

We are familiar with the things that Job had to endure. He suffered greatly for the glory of the Lord, and for thousands of years, his life has stood as a testimony to the faithfulness of the Lord and of His ability to bring His people through any trial. Job's story is one of vast encouragement. In this passage, we will see what the trials of life bring our way. Look this morning at Job 2:7-13

7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.
9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. 11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. 12 And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.” (Job 2:7-13)

Job's wife comes to him and tries to get him to curse God and go to his death with some dignity. I have always been bothered by this woman's attitude. However, as I thought about all that she had endured; I could just begin to sympathize with how she must have felt. After all, she has just lost her ten children; she is no longer the "first lady of the east." Her husband, once the greatest man of the east, v. 1:3, now he is sitting on a garbage dump scraping his disease ridden body with a piece of broken pottery. No wonder she is a little upset.

Job was first attacked in the area of his faith. This is always the way with trials. If we will listen to the devil, he will tell us that God doesn't know, doesn't care, doesn't understand; and isn't able to do anything about our situation.

I Peter 4:12-13 says this: Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” Understand that there may be no joy right now, indeed some things might get worse before they get better. The joy will come later- if anything there may be those times when all we can do is to look back on the situation and laugh.

Like the guy I read recently who awoke one morning to find a puddle of water in the middle of his king-size water bed. In order to fix the puncture, he rolled the heavy mattress outdoors and filled it with more water so he could locate the leak more easily. The enormous bag of water was impossible to control and began rolling on the hilly terrain. He tried to hold it back, but it headed downhill and landed in a clump of bushes which poked it full of holes. Disgusted, he threw out the water-bed frame and moved a standard bed into his room. The next morning, he awoke to find a puddle of water in the middle of the new bed. The upstairs bathroom had a leaky drain.

It helps to have a sense of humor when things like this happen. You might not laugh at them now, but by God’s grace, one day you can. When the trials of life come your way, instead of listening to the continually dripping of the faith destroying lies of the devil, learn to rest upon the unchanging promises of the Lord God. Your faith in God is never misplaced!

Have a blessed day!