Let’s talk about Job!
“Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind.”
We can all remember the “whirlwind” that was Job’s life. Lost everything, in one day! Business, gone. Kids, gone. Reputation, gone. Retirement, gone. Everything, gone.
His friends, not helpful. Wife, told Job to, “curse God and die.” He was ALONE! Why? Because Satan “the accuser,” tried to bait God by saying Job only honored God because,” you have made him prosperous in everything he does.” Then, “take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
Job then goes through what most of us consider the “worst case scenario.” Eventually God shows up in Job’s life and after reminding Job of God’s authority, power and sovereignty via an illustration of the crocodile, blesses Job double!
“When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!”
The only place God did not give Job double was his kids. He lost ten and gained another ten back. He would see his first batch of kids in heaven, so the second batch was ultimately a double blessing but not multiplied like the cattle and goods. Plus, presumably his wife who was a bit short with him during the crisis, would also be the one baring the new batch of kids and God’s Grace was on her since the pain of childbearing was still a thing for her in her later years too. Amazing, with every new pregnancy she would likely recall JOB’s suffering and God’s faithfulness and His mercy on she and her family as well.
Job’s life ends with this:
“Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, good life.”
The next time someone says to you, “I would never want the Job experience for me,” remind them the fruit of Job’s life was painful, devastating but also a fruitful, faithful one that shows God’s hand of protection, power and provision for a man caught in a worse case scenario. God blessed Job double and Satan lost that battle. Totally worth it, right?!