"Job II: Blessing Abounds" sermon preview

This week we continue and conclude our reading of the book of Job.  In these closing chapters, Job made his final speech, Elihu joined those who spoke against Job, and God responded to Job; though Job had little to say in reply to God's line of questioning.

The story of Job ends with God accusing Job's friends for all that they had said.  Job then prayed on their behalf and the Lord accepted Job's prayer.  God ultimately restored Job's fortunes and then some.  He now had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 donkeys; twice as much as he had before.  He also had seven more sons and three more daughters and lived to be 140 years.  Though Job suffered terribly, in the end blessing abounded.

In all of this there is much that could be said, but I note a few things in particular.  First, while Job's friends attempted to come to the defense of God, in the end God defended Godself and the friends were in trouble for what they had said.  There are many in our culture today who also attempt to defend God.  Is it possible that they too come up short in this regard and actually do the name of God more harm than good?  What is our role in declaring truth about God?

Second, Job demanded time and time again that God respond to his cries for justice and that God hear Job's defense.  Yet when God did respond, we have the sense that Job got much more than he had bargained for.  Still today, people cry out to God and demand that God answer their complaints in the midst of their suffering and trials, yet I wonder if we too would find ourselves sorely lacking should God actually answer us.

Third, what is the role of suffering in our lives?  Certainly it is true that even the righteous are allowed to suffer.  None of us likes to suffer and many of us become frustrated with God when the suffering does not end in the way that we believe it should.  And yet, it seems that it was through the suffering that Job drew closer to God and in his understanding of God.  Likewise, we serve a savior who modeled for us the redemptive work of suffering and who calls us to take up our cross and follow Him.  While none of us would choose to suffer, it seems that God chooses to use our times of suffering for God's kingdom purposes and eternal good.