Job 3 continued
Last week we saw how Job expressed a desire to die and escape all the awful things that had happened to him, but we also noticed his comment that the thing he had feared had happened:
"... the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me" (verse 25).
What is this thing that he was afraid of?
It sounds like he was living in fear of something happening - almost like it was hanging over him. Perhaps this is referring back to chapter 1 when we are told that Job continually offered burnt offerings in case his family had sinned when they got together to celebrate.
We know that Job was a very upright man who avoided evil and wondered if it was his God given deep reverence and respect for God which kept him tender and upright. We know that in God's sight he was blameless - and have also thought about this, but I just wonder whether we are now seeing a sense of Job trying to keep himself upright so that nothing bad would happen to him?
We hear of people who all their life have a fear of something - or a belief that a particular thing will happen to them.
In Hebrews 2:15 we read of those who 'through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage'. It is as if there is always this niggling fear in the back of their mind of a particular thing which they are in a lesser or greater way tormented with - they can never be totally relaxed and free of worry because of this thing.
Does it speak of an absence of complete trust in the Lord's ability to uphold us in a time of trial? Or in Job's case was there possibly a sense of relying on his own efforts to make himself right before God?? Or was it more that Job understood the great holiness of God and our propensity to sin - he understood that the 'wages of sin is death' (Romans 6:23) and he lived in fear of experiencing God's wrath and judgement because of those sins?
I think of the words in 1 John 4: 18, 'There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.' Do you fear something happening? Does it torment you? Don't you think Satan must love this opportunity to increase your fears and whisper more thoughts to you? He is trying to make you think that God is a liar - that he will not uphold and support you, that all things are not in his control. Think how a contented baby rests peacefully in the arms of a loving parent - no fear or torment. If only we could rest in the arms of our Lord like that! So often our fears monopolise our thoughts and we look away from his love.
In Job's case the things that he feared has happened. We could be tempted not to trust God because of this example. But as we considered recently, God uses the suffering of his children to conform them to his image - it is all for love. Why does a good parent reprimand or put restrictions to their child's wants in place, or purposefully give them different experiences and perhaps tough assignments? - out of love for their child - to teach them and to protect them; that they might grow up to be 'good citizens' with the skills and mindset needed to navigate through life. How much more then a loving heavenly Father.
So, how does this verse apply to you and to me today? Job was scared of something happening - and then it did happen. Does it teach us to listen to our fears, to dread them and live in expectation of that thing happening and do all we can to avoid it?
Perhaps it would be wise to listen to a a particular fear in the sense of being diligent - I mean, if you have a loose step and you are bothered that somebody will trip on it one day, then it would be prudent to address the broken step and have it fixed.
But if it is a niggling fear that something will happen - something out of your control, let us commit it into the hands of God - let us pray to him that we will be able to rest in his love and care for us and be enabled to trust him completely for all that he has planned for our lives.
Be still, my heart! these anxious cares
To thee are burdens, thorns and snares;
They cast dishonor on the Lord,
And contradict His gracious word.
Brought safely by His hand thus far,
Why wilt thou now give place to fear?
How canst thou want if He provide,
Or lose thy way with such a Guide?
When first before His mercy-seat
Thou didst to Him thine all commit;
He gave thee warrant from that hour
To trust His wisdom, love, and power.
Did ever trouble yet befall,
And He refuse to hear thy call?
And has He not His promise passed,
That thou shalt overcome at last?
He who has helped me hitherto
Will help me all my journey through,
And give me daily cause to raise
New Ebenezers to His praise.
Though rough and thorny be the road,
It leads thee on, apace, to God;
Then count thy present trials small,
For God will make amends for all.*
* John Newton - 1725-1807
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