The Rest of the Story

When I was a young girl, my mom used to listen to Paul Harvey.  He would always begin a segment then take a break and return by saying, "and now, for the rest of the story."  When we left Job last week at the end of chapter 1, many tragedies had befallen him.  He had lost his livelihood.  He had even undergone the worst pain imaginable for a person: the loss of not just one but all of his children.  Satan wasn't done with Job yet; he receives permission to further test Job by affecting his health as long as he spares his life (Job 2:6).

As Job continues to grieve his losses, he begins to be afflicted in his flesh as well (Job 2:7-8).
Seeing his suffering, Job's wife suggests that he should simply "curse God and die" ending all of
his suffering once and for all (Job 2:9).  In the next verse, Job holds fast to his integrity by asking
his wife, "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?"  Throughout much
of the rest of the book, Job seeks answers from God because he refuses to believe it when his
friends tell him that his trials are punishment for his sin (Job 4:6-9).

And now "for the rest of the story."  At the end of the book, we come to the part that I love
most.  In chapters 38-40, Job finally gets what he wants.  He receives his audience before
God, and God answers Job's inquiries by firing a whole series of questions back at him.  This
interrogation serves to remind Job and ourselves just who is in control.  It is God alone who laid
the foundations of the earth (Job 38:4). He made the clouds (Job 38:9).  Only God regulates the
weather (Job 38:22-38) and provides for and controls the behavior of the wild animals (Job
38:39-39:30).  The interchange also flies in the face of those who say that God created the
world and then stepped back to watch it run itself.  These last chapters of Job depict a God who
cares for the intimate details of His creation and takes a very active role in the running of the
universe. 

Hopefully this blog entry about Job will remind all of us that God is in control. Even in the
midst of our difficulties, God knows what we are going through and cares for us (I Peter 5:7).  He
will never leave us or forsake us in our moments of need.  Please share below your own favorite
manifestations of God's involvement and concern for the world.  Also if any of you are
going through your own sufferings right now, you can include prayer requests below as well.

Next reading: Ecclesiastes 7:1-Isaiah 7:25; 2 Corinthians 7:8-11:33; Ps. 48:1-54:7; Prov. 22:17-23:3

Jane

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), Copyright(c) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.