Yesterday’s blog covered the basic
Introduction of Job. We discovered the
two possible meanings of his name in Hebrew: the persecuted one and in Arabic: repentant one. He had a large family but at this time his
children were adults with homes of their own.
They apparently got along quite well and liked to party because each of
the seven sons hosted a party every month that would last up to several days
and they always included their three sisters.
Job was the richest man in the
East at that time, which would make him a billionaire if he lived in the 21st
century. Job is recorded as honest
inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated
evil with a passion.
Tania Not Tanya moment. There are some people that wear poverty like
a badge of honor but that’s oxymoronic when we consider John 10:10 (NLT) which
says: The thief’s purpose is to steal and
kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
We can be poor or rich in spirit, health,
relationships and/or finances. I have
heard that money was evil for many years, not from my Pastor, but from well-meaning
mis-informed “Christian-folk” who missed Job 1:1-4 as well as these scriptures:
- Ecclesiastes 10:19b (NKJV): But money answers everything
- Deuteronomy 8:18 (NKJV): And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day
- Proverbs 13:22 (NKJV): A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous
There are more, but this blog’s focus isn't wealth. I am well aware of the theme scripture that
some of those same “mis-informed well-meaning “Christian-folk” use to support
their misunderstanding of the word: For the love of money is
a root of all kinds of evil,
for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced
themselves through with many sorrows. 1
Timothy 6:10 (NKJV). The first eight
words are key: “For the love of money is a root. From those eight
words, two give the text real meaning:
o
love: If you love money you will do any and everything
to get and keep it.
o
a: Infers that “loving”
money is “one of” the roots of all kinds of evil.
We have a responsibility to know
the word for ourselves according to 2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT): Work hard so you can present yourself to God
and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed
and who correctly explains the word of truth.
To be clear, the first chapter of
Job specifically talks about his character, how wealthy he was and the
amazing intimate relationship he had with God.
So I can 1) listen to the broke minded well-meaning Christian-folk down
hemmmmmmmm, or 2) stand on the word of God and claim, believe, declare and
prepare for my millions. Vanna, I’ll take
door number two please for millions.
Job 1:6-12 discusses the Spiritual
staff meeting held in God’s conference room.
The angels were on time, but the designated accuser aka satan, the devil, the father of lies was late
for the meeting. He was actually honest
when he said that he had been on earth looking for a Victor and God says “have
you noticed my “friend Job?” At first
glance it may appear that God just offered Job up as a mark for the accuser but
that’s not it at all. God is far too
loving and intentional for that.
Needless to say the accuser is given permission to “handle” Job and
handles him he does. My paraphrased
version of verses 13-22 is as follows:
After his morning sacrifices Job decided to go home rather
than to do the pop up visits he does once a week at the various locations of his
livestock and instead use the time to catch up on some of his bookkeeping. He even thought of visiting his children at
his eldest son’s home if he finished his work early enough. In the middle of calculating some figures one
of his servants came to his office excitedly informing him that a messenger was
there to see him. Job gave permission
for the messenger’s entrance and was surprised to see the foreman of the
livestock:
- He said Sir, “the oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.
- Just as Job was about to question him, another servant interrupted his train of thought when he entered and said: Sir “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
- Job looked at his servants in disbelief and opened his mouth to speak just as a third servant entered the room and said: Sir, “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
- Job felt light headed and looked at the three of these servants trying to figure out if this was a practical joke or if they were lying when a fourth servant entered the room. Job thought to himself “it can’t get any worse than this.” But when he saw the tears welling up in this man’s eyes he knew in his gut that the very next sounds he heard would be the most devastating. With anguish and through empathetic tears he said: Sir, “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
Job was stunned. He
sat there in utter silence for what seemed like an eternity but in reality it
was only about 25 seconds and then he stood up, tore his robe in grief. He walked over to the ledge where he kept a
sharp knife and held it close to his chest.
Everyone in the room gasped in horror each of them thinking their worst
thoughts all of which centered on Job taking his life. The tension was so thick that Job could have
cut it with the knife in his hands.
Instead he raised the knife slowly and he seemed to pause when it got
near his throat, he then continued to raise until he got to his scalp. Without a mirror he placed the scalp at the beginning
of his scalp and in one slow motion guided it perfectly to the base of his
neck. He brought the knife back to the
tip of his scalp and guided it back to the base of his neck again. He repeated these steps until his head was
almost perfectly shaved. He then dropped
the knife, fell to his knees, bowed his head to the ground and worshiped as he
cried out:
“I came naked from my mother’s womb!!!!
and I will be naked
when I leave!!!!!!!
The Lord gave
me what I had!!!!!!!!
and the Lord has taken it away!!!!!!!!!!!
Praise the name of the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Praise the name of the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Praise the name of the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
I’m
out of time, we’ll have to pick up tomorrow
In
His New Excellence,
Tania
Not Tanya
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