How deep and wide is your trust in God? How easily does doubt creep in? In the story of Job we often emphasize the suffering of Job. The story, however, is very much a story of trust.
RELEVANCE
Job’s friends and accusers bring evidence against him to place blame on him and prove justification for his suffering. Yet Job regards it as a test of his trusting faith in God. He knows man quickly forgets God and trusts in counterfeit sources which weave traps. Yet he chooses to remain steadfast throughout his suffering to prove God’s faithfulness. Hear two of his confessions.
“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the reeds flourish without water?
While it is yet green and not cut down,
It withers before any other plant.
So are the paths of all who forget God;
And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish,
Whose confidence shall be cut off,
And whose trust is a spider’s web.”
(Job 8:11-14)
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
He also shall be my salvation,
For a hypocrite could not come before Him.
Listen carefully to my speech,
And to my declaration with your ears.
See now, I have prepared my case,
I know that I shall be vindicated.
Who is he who will contend with me?
If now I hold my tongue, I perish.”
(Job 13:15-18)
What a statement! “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Job withstood the persistent arguments of his friends and remained faithful to God. He won God’s favor and tremendous restoration.
REFLECT AND RELATE
What is your barometer of trust?
How do you decide how to measure God’s faithfulness?
How much of your trust in God is based on man’s misrepresentation of God?
How much of your trust in God is based on man’s failure to be trustworthy?
REFERENCES
2 Corinthians 1:9-11; 3:4-6; Hebrews 2:1-4:16