Come Forth As Gold
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Job 23
1. Then Job answered: 2. "Today also my complaint is bitter, his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. 3. Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! 4. I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. 5. I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. 6. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would give heed to me. 7. There an upright man could reason with him, and I should be acquitted for ever by my judge. 8. "Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him; 9. on the left hand I seek him, but I cannot behold him; I turn to the right hand, but I cannot see him. 10. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 11. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. 12. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth. 13. But he is unchangeable and who can turn him? What he desires, that he does. 14. For he will complete what he appoints for me; and many such things are in his mind. 15. Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him. 16. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; 17. for I am hemmed in by darkness, and thick darkness covers my face.
You know the story of Job. He’s lost everything—absolutely everything—including his home and his family. He is being mightily tested. His “friends” are telling him to deny his God, turn away from him. After all, look what he’s done—they recount the disasters that have befallen Job. They remind Job how faithful he has been all his life. They tell him he doesn’t deserve what his God has done to him. And when we’re in the midst of a difficult situation, it’s so much easier sometimes to listen to those voices. It’s hard to keep the faith when we’re grieving, when we’re hurting, when we feel so far from God.
But Job refused to be swayed. He admitted he didn’t know why God had allowed him to suffer. He ardently desired the chance to confess any sins to God – recognized or not – perhaps he had unintentionally broken a law or commandment. He is willing, still, to take responsibility for his life and make any necessary amends. He questioned God – but not in a whining, self-pitying way, rather in a way that begs God to remove any sin, erase any wrongful thinking or deeds. He longs to re-shaped and refined to make himself acceptable to God.
He doesn’t know that God will eventually bless him with even more riches, more cattle and sheep, more children! He can’t possibly see into the future what God has in mind. But he is certain that God will sustain him and will not allow him to be lost forever. He trusts that even though he can’t “see” God right now, He is present and acting in Job’s life. Now that’s faith! That’s a faith I’m not sure I could actually muster if placed in a similar situation, honestly.
What is the lesson? Well, for me, the lesson is that God will bring you through every hardship, though every trial and tribulation. He will sustain you. He will watch over you. He has wonderful plans for you! You may not live out those great things in this life, but you will live them out--perhaps in the next! And that is worth any test, any hardship, any pain. The trick is to remember that in the midst of it all.
I hope you spend this last day of 2004 looking ahead to the wonderful plans God has for you in 2005! And that you remember every day, that today could be “the” day that you come forth as gold. Happy New Year!
Mary
