Monday: Faith Amid the Refining Fire
It’s one thing to be in a battle; it’s another not even to see the forces arrayed in that battle. In a sense, this is what we as Christians deal with. We know that the forces are out there, we can feel them in our lives, and yet, we have to press ahead in faith, trusting Him “who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27, NKJV).
Read Job 23:1-10. What is the essence of Job’s struggle? What does he not see? At the same time, what does he take on faith, despite all his trials?
Image © The Classic Bible Art Collection – Formerly Standard Publishing at Goodsalt.com
Even amid his terrible trials, Job trusted in the Lord. Despite everything, Job was determined to endure. And one of the things that kept him persevering was gold. Not a gold medal; rather, he was looking into the future and realized that if he held on to God, he would come out the better for it — he would come out like gold. How much Job knew of what was happening behind the scenes, we aren’t told. Regardless of how much was hidden from him, he endured the refining fire anyway.
Do you fear the fire? Do you worry about the heat that circumstances generate? Perhaps, as with Job, the heat of God seems unexplainable. It may be the difficulty of adjusting to a new job or a new home. It could be having to survive ill treatment at work, or even within your own family. It could be illness or financial loss. Hard as it is to understand, God can use these trials to refine you and purify you and bring out His image in your character.
Being proven to be gold seems to be an incentive for Job here, something to fix his eyes upon, and that helps pull him through his troubles. It’s a powerful testimony to his character already that, amid all the pain and suffering, he was able to sense the reality of the purifying process. Also, however much he didn’t understand, he knew that these trials would refine him.
| In your own experience, how do trials refine and purify? What other ways could you be refined, other than through suffering? |
(22)
I have tried to write an erudite comment on this topic at least five times this morning, and each time I looked at what I wrote and thought that my words seemed so trite and insignificant. Then I remembered that words are often not the best way to help a situation.
Just a little glimpse into my personal life. The other day I had to deal with an ageing family member who is having difficulty coming to terms with where their life is at the moment. The argument began near midnight and went on for over an hour. Finally, I put my arms around this person and said, "We love you!" All the rage of the last hour disappeared and he sat there sobbing in my arms, and we were able to get him to bed and to sleep. I wish I had thought of that a lot sooner.
Explanations and theology are fine for discussions and lesson studies but when you are at the knife edge of pain and ageing, words often fail and it comes down to a gentle touch and a bit of assurance.
I wish I could say that everything is fine now, but the saga is ongoing. Extending love in these circumstances is not short-haul stuff. The carers also needs to care for themselves.
Yep. I'd also like to concentrate on love! Trials are an opportunity for growth, and sometimes we get really tired of them all. But that's life, a life in this unperfect world of ours. Thank God Jesus is always there to support us, to gives strenght when we do not have any. Today, I need to face my trials with Jesus. That's my only safeguard against dispair!
I could get a job. I could help more out in church than just deacon.
Study has 3 questions:
1. What is the essence of Job’s struggle?
2 What does he not see?
3. what does he take on faith, despite all his trials?
1. Job's love and faithfulness to our creator.
2. The allegations of Satan that he (and subsequently mankind) only loved God because of God's goodness to him, and that Job would curse God, if he was not blessed and suffered pain and persecution, to the point of death.
3. Job could not believe, God was inflicting pain, loss of status, family, and possessions.
He had major cognitive dissonance of his world view that godly living was honored by God, and questioned God why bad things happen to those who love and honor him !
As you consider the entire story of Job - the big picture - what do you see?
As the only Source of life, God 'leads' all who are willing to be led by Him. That is what He does and that is what we need. As per the foundational covenant, He is our God and we are His people. He is The Shepherd and we are the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 95:7; 100:3).
But who is creating the conditions that God is needing to lead Job through (Job 2:3-7)?
And what was the benefit Job gained from/despite his awful experience? What was it that Job was able to now see that he couldn't see previously (Job 42:5)? What had Job spoken of God that was right in contrast with his friends who had spoken of God that which was not right (Job 42:7)?
In your consideration of the above, note carefully question in Job 9:24 and God's extended description of one particular aspect of creation in Job 40:15,19 and 41:24,34.
We definitely see many images/types of Jesus, the Son of God (incarnate Word) and in the dispositions and offices made perfect in him through suffering, as the Son of man.
Hebrews 2
10 For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God — for whom and through whom all things exist — should make the source of their salvation perfect through sufferings
11For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
Fatherhood and Sonship completed for mankind !
Taking a look at the marriage vow:
„…from this day forward for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, in tears and in laughter, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God‘s holy law; and this is my solemn vow.“
reminds me, that when life gets unbearable within the marriage relationship, how often do we recline from our vows and opt for separation and divorce as means to escape suffering. Wasn’t marriage designed by God to be a union for life, to love, honor and submission?
In a sense, Job made a vow (a covenant) with God- see Job 31 and he passed the tremendous trial of his faith. However, I believe this was not because of some strength that he pulled from deep within himself, since he at a certain point angrily accused God of wrongdoing, indifference and injustice in his case, rather through the power of the Spirit of God.
In Zechariah 4:6 we read:
„Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.“
So what Job did was actually demonstrating to angels and humans God‘s power and His unchanging will to preserve all who are loyal Him.
Great points Amina. I was thinking about the last question, what other ways could you be refined, other than through suffering? and the Holy Spirit is exactly what I thought about. He prompts us to make changes in our lives and speaks in that still, small voice that compels us to make a decision to make a change. The changes can be small, but they add up over time and refine our character.
The transformation within us helps us to keep our lamps trim and burning so that we can send distinct rays of light into the darkness of this world (E.G. White, Counsels to parents, teachers, and students, p. 68). Thanks for sharing your insights.
Well, I have never read the book of Job like other books of the Bible like the entire book of Hebrews and others. Looking to the right or the left and not seeing God at all is so true, yet there is always that "still small voice," of God's Holy Spirit that is always there to give us His "Peace that passes all understanding" Philippians 4:7 etc. and etc.
The apostle Paul to the gentiles always told us to look and discern scripture through the Christ and his work. Aka he is the wisdom and power, substance of God in his written Word.
To paraphrase Martin Luther we open the Hebrews scriptures to find Christ, as we look in a cradle to find a baby.
Carefully concealed in him are all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.”—COL. 2:3
Men and Women in scripture are not our salvation and santification, but point to Christ, not themselves as idols.
Shalom brother in Christ
🙏👍
I had question concerning abouts job's wife
She is paganism women or God fearing woman and what's the origin of her family as according to the lesson of today
Femas, my belief is that Job's wife may have been a believer, she just did not deal with their trial in the same way her husband did when tested in the fire. Her behaviour is understandable from a human standpoint in light of what they believed about God (note the theology of Job's friends) and what she had gone through. Remember, everything that happenedto Job, also happened to her. She lost all her children in one day. Then they lost all their wealth. Now she was caring for her husband as he suffered excruciating pain. Seeing a loved one in so much pain can make death seem like a blessing. Even Job cursed the day that he was born. Mrs Job was angry with God. She had been taught that faithfulness to Him would be rewarded. She did not understand the great controversy that was happening and maybe did not have a personal relationship with God. Like many in the church, she may have known about him, but without knowing him intimately, her faith could not hold out through the crucible.
Before we judge her too harshly for losing her faith, let us think of how we lose ours - for acceptance, for money, for career progression, for a spouse, for immigration papers... We may not speak the words to curse God ( we are too hypocritical, cowardly and self-deluded to do that and prefer to be lukewarm - neither hot nor cold just in case), but our actions condemn us and Jesus says our lukewarmness makes him sick. When I look at Job's wife I think "there, but for the grace of God, go I."
I thank God for the story of Job. Because we have this story, we have an advantage over Mrs Job in our understanding of the cosmic conflict. We, like Job, have access to the same power that enabled him to overcome temptation. May we too be found faithful.
Jocelyn be blessed for deeply explain
So, how was Joseph different in comparison to Job? Job never was thrown into a pit by his brothers and then sold into slavery by them and then thrown into prison over a false accusation of sexual lust by his masters' own wife etc. and etc. Yet Joseph was allowed to go through a very fiery crucible that kept changing for the worse at every turn of his life and just like Job, Joseph was blessed by God also at every turn of that crucible too and in the end Job ends up with twice what he had before and Joseph ends up just like what his dreams depicted of him as being the ruler of his brothers and father and mother and also second in command to the Egyptian Tycoon and Commander.