Let me tell you a story...

Let me tell you a story...

There was a a good, honest man named Job who lived in the country of Uz. He respected God and refused to do evil, he hated evil. Job had a large family with seven sons and three daughters. He was very wealthy.  In a day when wealth was counted in livestock, he owned 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 1000 oxen, and 500 female donkeys and he had many servants. In fact, he was the richest man in the east.
 
Job’s family loved one another, they were very close and his sons took turns having dinner parties in their homes, and they invited their sisters. But Job was also very wise, and knowing the frivolity of youth, the day after each of these parties, he got up early in the morning, sent for his children, and offered a burnt offering for each of them. He thought, “Maybe my children were careless and sinned against God at their party.” Job did this because he respected God and loved his children and was very concerned that they would be forgiven of their sins.

What Job did not know...
The day came when God was holding court with the angels in heaven, and even Satan was there with them.  God asked Satan, “Where have you been?”  and he answered, “I have been roaming around the earth, going from place to place.”

So God asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him. He is a good, faithful man. He respects me and refuses to do evil.”

Satan answered Him, “Of course Job respects you.  You always protect him, his family, and everything he has. You have blessed him and made him successful. He is so wealthy that his herds and flocks are all over the country.  But if you were to destroy everything he has, I promise you that he would curse you to your face.”

The Lord said to Satan, “All right, do whatever you want with anything that he has, but don’t hurt Job himself.”

Job still doesn't know, but his life is about to get painful...
 One day while Job’s sons and daughters were having a party at the oldest brother’s

house. A messenger came to Job and said, “We were plowing the fields with the oxen and the donkeys were eating grass nearby,  when some Sabeans attacked us and took your animals! They killed the other servants. I am the only one who escaped to come and tell you the news!”

 That messenger was still speaking when another one came in and said, “A bolt of lightning struck your sheep and servants and burned them up. I am the only one who escaped to come and tell you the news!”

That messenger was still speaking when another one came in and said, “The Chaldeans sent out three raiding parties that attacked us and took the camels! They killed the other servants. I am the only one who escaped to come and tell you the news!”

That messenger was still speaking when another one came in and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house.  A strong wind suddenly came in from across the desert and blew the house down. It fell on your sons and daughters, and they are all dead. I am the only one who escaped to come and tell you the news!”

When Job heard this, he got up, tore his clothes, and shaved his head to show his sadness. Then he fell to the ground to bow down before God and said,

“When I was born into this world,   I was naked and had nothing.  When I die and leave this world,
 I will be naked and have nothing. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.  Praise the name of the Lord!”

Even after all this, Job did not sin. He did not accuse God of doing anything wrong.

About the story...

You may have had some bad days, but you've never had a day like this [neither have I], but you do have bad days right?  How do you handle that?  Are you sad?  Do you blame God?

"Even after all this, Job did not sin. He did not accuse God of doing anything wrong."

When life is hard and it hurts, that's not evidence that God isn't there, or even that He doesn't care.  Worship Him.  Trust Him.  Serve Him.