Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
It was of critical importance for God to pull back the curtain and reveal to the world, what is really taking place behind the scenes because there are and have been many unanswered questions swirling around in the minds of people. Some of these questions will have deep implications for that which is prophesied to come upon planet earth in the last days.
And because God’s people will not be entirely free from the adverse effects, it is even more important that we cultivate the correct perspectives that will guide and strengthen our faith moving forward.
There is not a single country, or nation on the planet now, that isn’t currently experiencing some level of trouble. If it is not wars and rumors of war, it is debt that’s spiraling out of control. In other instances, the intransigence of politicians is driving multitudes to the brink.
Then there are weather related events, infectious diseases on the rise, and a general unsettled mood of uncertainty that has gripped nations and families to the point where desperation and frustration are becoming the order of the day. The Bible is clear on what will be transpiring across the globe even in our day. Let’s read:
2nd Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
Luke 21: 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
In some of these things, the people of God are going to be affected, some more some less, and therefore, the Scripture cautions us that some of those things God might do or permit may not always square with our preferences, or expectations.
However, in the bigger picture, He is always working out things for the best good of His people first, and then the world at large. There is a whole lot of noise out there, some of which have to do with applying passages of scripture in situations where they were not intended to be applied.
There are promises made to earth’s populations and there are promises that apply only to those persons who’ve chosen to enter into a covenant relationship with God. But very often you might hear passages of Scripture quoted, and applied where they were not originally intended to be.
Other promises which are qualified, and conditional are often applied loosely, to everyone, regardless of their relationship with God. These are just some of the reasons why it became necessary for The Lord to reveal certain truths, and also to answer several deep theological questions that may have haunted Job’s mind as he passed through his time of trouble.
Let’s take a few examples of some of these passages of Scripture so that we could confirm what is being said, about taking certain promises and statements that are either qualified or conditional, and applying them with a broad brush to everyone, when in fact God is speaking conditionally. Let’s read:
Romans 8: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
When you look at the passage carefully you will see a qualified statement with specific conditions which are applicable to those who love God, and who are called according to His purpose.
Now, even though it’s a fact that through the gospel God is calling every person, the fact is that not every person loves God, and not everyone responds to the call of the gospel in the positive.
And therefore, using that passage to make a broad application to the general public, regardless of their relationship with God, will be a gross misapplication of the text in question.
Again, when you scrutinize the passage carefully, it does not say that all things are good, it says that all things work together as a cumulative whole, for the good of God’s people.
That means that “All things” may at times include a few situations, conditions, providences, and certain circumstances that might not readily add up to the strictly, logical thinking mind. But when taken as a complete whole, it will make sense, and will be for the greater good of God’s people.
Another passage that is thrown around quite loosely is the one which promises protection from invisible and visible foes, of which the invisible ones are the most dangerous. Let’s read:
Psalms 34: 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them.
Again, the text is a qualified statement, beginning with “This poor man cried”, which begs the question of who falls into the category of this poor man. The bible specifically says that the angel of God encamps around them who fear Him.
Now, it is true that any poor man can cry unto God in his despair, and we encourage every poor man to do so, because God delights in mercy. For instance, when Jonah was running away from the mission he was sent on by God, several poor men began to pray like they never prayed before, and God heard them.
Now, it is the will of God that after these poor men receive their blessing, that they would be seeking a relation with the God who saved them, because the Bible says that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. And, it seems as if the poor men in the narrative, responded positively. Let’s read:
Jonah 1: 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
9 And he said unto them, I am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him. Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.
14 Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, we beseech thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee.
15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows.
Again, we must reiterate that anyone could cry unto God in their trouble and it’s highly advisable that all persons do so, however, that does not negate the fact that many of the promises in the Scriptures are target specific, meaning that they are conditional in some instances.
That said, you can never go wrong with crying unto God in your trouble, because, who knows, He may very well answer. The following example pertains to all sailors, regardless of creed or religion, because it does not set a qualification for only Christian sailors. Let’s read:
Psalms 107: 23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves thereof.
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and they are at their wit's end.
28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distresses.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so, He bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
So yes, at times and very often, God will respond in the positive to this poor man, whoever he might be, but the passage in Psalms 34, which pertains to the angel of The Lord encamping, is first and foremost a reference and a promise to persons who fear God.
That being said, we must now turn our attention to three deep, theological questions which most likely would have haunted Job’s mind, when, out of the blue, Job lost almost everything that was near and dear to him.
The story begins as the curtain is drawn back from the invisible world, and we see God protecting Job and all that belonged to him, night and day, 24/7, until, when at a summit in heaven, satan raises the question of quid pro quo, as if God was bribing Job to serve Him.
If that were indeed the case then it would inevitably mean that God was not as good as He claims to be, for if He has to pay persons to obey Him, then there would be some fundamental flaw in His character, and thus, He would have to bless folks into obeying Him.
That is a pretty serious charge, and therefore, God in His wisdom saw fit to use this episode with Job to answer some of those nagging theological questions which both saints, and sinners have wrestled with. Let’s read:
Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and hated evil.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.
8 And the Lord said unto Satan, have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and hates evil?
9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
This question needed to be settled once and for all, because earth’s inhabitants are to serve, love, and obey God, only from their free will, because God is inherently good and merciful to the core. Thus, the episodes which followed gave Job cause for concern as he grappled with the deep theological questions swirling around in his mind.
Some of these questions we will address from the Bible, so that our perspectives and views would be clear cut, especially as we head into unchartered waters. Our faith in God is directly linked to what we believe about Him, and therefore, we will have to address these questions very reverently.
Question [1] As our Creator, does God have a moral obligation to protect us in our fallen state? This first question includes persons who’re in a covenant relationship with God, and individuals who are not. Does He have a moral duty to protect us?
In all of our interpretations of Who God is, we must bear in mind that through Adam’s sin, man forfeited some of the natural safeguards, and provisions that the inhabitants of other unfallen worlds are given.
Christ came along, and He has paid the price for our redemption, but until such time when humanity will be fully restored to God, His protection and blessing occur strictly because of His mercy. Not because of a moral obligation or duty incumbent upon Him.
When the Scriptures are read correctly, you will see that God’s mercies, goodness, and grace are granted as gifts because of His loving character, but they are never presented as being a moral obligation on His part. No, not once! Let’s read:
Lamentations 3: 22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Exodus 34: 6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.
Genesis 32:9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said unto me, return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee.
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which You have shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff, I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
Psalms 103: 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear him.
It is fitting that we pause for a moment to search out the meaning of those two words: Mercy and Grace, because they occur quite often in the Bible, to the tune of 159 times for grace and 262 times for mercy. Let’s read:
Merriam Webster Dictionary. Mercy: Compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender.
Grace: Unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification.
The truth in the matter is that Adam’s transgression changed the human family’s relation to God, so that whereas before sin, the blessings, protections and favor of God were naturally theirs, after sin it was determined by God to deal in the currency of grace and mercy, for this was the only way that He could have redeemed us.
In other words, He would treat us in a manner that we do not deserve, and His character of love would be manifested in doing things for our good that He was not bound to do. The following statement will shed great light on the question under investigation. Let’s read:
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 723] Heretofore God’s providence had preserved David against all the plotting of his enemies, and had been directly exercised to restrain Saul.
But David’s transgression had changed his relation to God. He could not exercise His power to protect David from the results of his sin as He had protected him from the enmity of Saul.
If we were to conclude that God is morally obligated to protect the fallen human family, then He will also be morally obligated to protect satan, who also fell in transgression. Thus, it is because of His mercies alone, why any protections and favors are granted.
This leads us to the 2nd deep theological question that probably haunted the mind of Job. The Bible says specifically that Job was a God-fearing man, a man who was trying by God’s grace to live right and yet calamity came out of the blue upon him.
In the narrative, we observe that satan could never have touched Job without God’s permission, and so, the next theological question is:
Question [2] Does satan need God’s permission in every single instance, to cause destruction and mayhem? Let’s read:
[Great Controversy 589] In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hail-storms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power.
He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous.
So, we ask again, does satan need God’s permission in every single instance, without exception to cause great destruction and mayhem? The answer to this question is both yes and no. It’s a yes, if persons are in a covenant relationship with Christ, and are thus covered by His grace, mercy, and protection. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 10: 13 There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Genesis 20:2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, she is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me, therefore, suffered I thee not to touch her.
7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
[D.A. pp 324] When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan.
But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion.
If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding place. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness.
On the question of permission there is something folks must be aware of, in that he gets permission from God or he can get it from individuals through our choices and actions.
The Christian should understand from the word of God that there are times when adverse situations will be permitted to come our way, without any sort of provocation on our part, however, they are only permitted so that we can grow and mature in Christ.
That being said, the Christian should never be found helping satan in any way, shape, form or fashion, for if you give him permission, he will absolutely take it. That is guaranteed.
Therefore, it is highly advisable that folks position themselves intelligently through our choices, and actions, so as to greatly minimize the possibility and the occurrence of attacks.
God has not left this world up to evil angels, for He has spread a general umbrella of protection over all of earth’s inhabitants. But there will be times when some things will fall through the cracks as it were. It is the main reason why the following passage must be thoroughly understood. Let’s read:
1st Peter 5: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.
From: IFAW, International Fund for animal welfare. Lions are big cats primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa. They inhabit various ecosystems, including savannahs, grasslands, open woodlands, and scrublands. They are opportunistic hunters…..
Lions are skilled hunters who work in coordinated groups—called prides—to surround and ambush their prey, relying on stealth and speed to approach their target before launching a coordinated attack.
The devil is an opportunistic hunter, meaning that if he were to see any golden opportunity to tempt and destroy, you can bet your last dollar that he is going make the most of it.
Thus, on the question of how he can get permission, the answer is a yes and a no. He can get permission from God, or you could give him permission by your choices and actions. Let’s read:
[The Desire of Ages pp 72] In His industrious life there were no idle moments to invite temptation. No aimless hours opened the way for corrupting associations. So far as possible, He closed the door to the tempter.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp] Idleness is the greatest curse that can fall upon man because vice and crime follow in its train. It enfeebles the mind, perverts the understanding, and debases the soul.
Satan lies in ambush, ready to destroy those who are unguarded, whose leisure gives him opportunity to insinuate himself under some attractive disguise.
This leads us to the third theological question which most likely surfaced in Job’s mind, as he was going through his valley experience. The Bible tells us that Job was doing the very best that he could, by God’s grace, living in harmony with the principles, and the laws of God’s kingdom.
This raises the question of whether or not the God- fearing person should be accounted worthy of God’s blessings and protections, if they are found to be living righteously in the sight of God, as he testified of Job.
Question [3] Is there anything such thing as persons being worthy to receive any of God’s blessings and protection?
Several examples are given in the Scriptures where a person or persons may have felt that they deserved a blessing or favor, on account of their faithfulness, or because of their service to the church.
In requesting a favor from God, some have touted their good deeds, while others have mentioned the issue of benevolence to God’s kingdom as a reason why God’s blessings and favor should be bestowed.
For instance, if you have been faithful in your duties to the kingdom of God, or if you have served on the board of elders for many years, or for too many years; and if you have been known to give large sums of money to the storehouse on a regular basis, does that then mean that you qualify as being worthy to receive a blessing or a favor from The Lord?
Apparently, Job struggled with this question, for as he reviewed his faithfulness in former years, and his generosity to the poor and the afflicted, he seemed to wonder whether these things did not count as it pertained to warranted deliverance from his current troubles. Let’s read:
Job 29:1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2 Oh that I was as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
Here it is again, as the question of being worthy to receive a blessing or favor is raised. Even though we may not say it out loud in the public square, it may be that at times the question arises in our minds as we review our faithfulness in times past. Let’s read:
Luke 7: 2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, that he was worthy for whom he should do this.
5 For he loves our nation, and he has built us a synagogue.
6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof.
7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
2 Kings 20:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying,
3 I beseech thee O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart
and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
These are just 3 of the deep theological questions which most likely haunted Job, as he rolled these questions over, and over again in his mind. In our day, the same questions may surface in our minds, as we see the devastations and adversities coming upon the earth.
As was stated before, there are instances when we may not be entirely immune, because having faith in God may not insulate us from all trouble every time. And the questions which churned in Job’s mind may begin swirling around in our hearts, especially as we might be affected, some more, some less.
The question of being worthy may arise in times of sickness, and trouble, especially if we’ve been very faithful in serving, loving, and obeying God. Then the question of whether or not God has granted permission to the devil to cause adverse situations may give some persons cause for concern.
Again, the question of whether or not God is duty bound to deliver or to save us in varying situations may cause some persons to think twice. One thing is certain as the days for Christ’s second coming draws near, we all are going to witness very strange things that can perplex the mind at times.
However, even though we are concerned, we should not be consumed by what is taking place, because in the Bible prophecies concerning end time events, it is written that The Lord will be working in behalf of His people, not only on a temporal level, but also to prepare us for His return.
All things may not be good, but in the larger picture they will be of benefit to those who love and serve The Lord. There might not be explanations available, but we know, because we have been warned, that perilous times shall come.
We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will help us to be resilient. Let us keep our heads lifted to the skies, for God has promised never to leave or forsake His people, even to the end of the age. Let’s read:
Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
God Bless