There’s No Hope; Time To End It All            Job 7

What’s been the lowest time in your life? Maybe it was a period of immense emotional trial within a close relationship, or a lengthy period of sustained unprofessional behaviour towards you in the workplace; perhaps a long period of ill health. Whatever it was, assuming that season isn’t current, that season of trial came and it went; but how did you feel when you were in the midst of it?

Job is primarily a book of trials and longsuffering in the life of a devout believer.

The background: 10 children lost, livestock lost, employees lost. Only Job’s wife was alive and she said after this horrific trial to Job, “Curse God and die.” We can’t be too hard on this woman; what would you do? We have Job’s ample words – he poured out his grief. I feel for his wife: what support did she receive through the loss of her children, wealth and her primary means of income? Her husband was broken - covered in boils and scratched himself with a broken piece of pottery to find some relief.

It was emotionally, physically, and mentally draining. Even sleep was elusive. I love my bed, I love sleeping, but imagine if your body is wracked with pain and sleep evades you. Job said, “When I lie down I say, 'When shall I arise?' But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn.” (verse 4) Job said, “ When I say, 'My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint,' then you scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions, so that I would choose strangling and death rather than my bones. I loathe my life.” (verses 13-16) Even his bed was no comfort for him. Where’s the rest, where’s the hope. At this point his suffering had gone on for months “so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.” (verse 3)

For Job in this season – there was no hope, it was time to end it all. He said, “I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath.” (verse 16) He was wanting to check out. I know some of us have been in that position. Where would you go from here?

What about prayer? Job had been praying. Much of what he said in the book is a prayer. And he asked why did God bother with him. What was the point? “How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit? If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you?” (verses 19, 20) What have you prayed about and there didn’t seem to be any answer, or the answer was an obvious no? You ask why – what have I done?

Job covered off the same thing. If sin is the issue Job said, “Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity?” (verse 21) Job said if my sin is the issue then pardon me, forgive me and take away my reproach. Isn’t that what we are told even in the New Testament? (James 5:16) “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” Job prayed; no healing. His conclusion was that he wanted to die.

Where’s the hope, where’s the healing? In order to answer that, I’ll ask this question. When was the time that you grew emotionally, mentally or spiritually? May I suggest that it was after a period of trial. No athlete is going to win lying in the couch; it takes pain and commitment. If you want to get more fit, you need to train harder. If you want to get stronger, you must lift more weights.

There’s a purpose in the pain. I loathe pain. Before the verse ”confess your sin and pray for each other that you may be healed,” it says in James 5:10, 11, “As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”

Through the crucible of trial comes triumph and blessing. We don’t know how long Job ultimately went on through his sufferings, but was at least months. After the unfaithful counsel of his friends, after many sleepless nights and days of agony, God then came to him and spoke to him. How? Through creation. Through revelation. We are not even told that Job was miraculously healed. It may have been like most healings we see today: gradual, maybe through the use of diet, cleaning the wounds and relying on God given healing through the immune system.

God said consider what I have done, Job. Meditate on what I have made. While it’s a challenge, rather than focus on the immediate, focus on me. Job would finally be blessed with double the livestock he had before, he would be blessed with 10 more children as read in Job 42 the last chapter. It didn’t replace the loss of his kids; surely, he would have grieved their loss until the end of his days, but his life was a testimony to us as James, the brother of Jesus, told us.

So, what about trial? It is vital for the believer. Peter said, “do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” He went on to say, “let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” Without it, we remain shallow, self-absorbed and lacking empathy. Story of Leprosy priest. Through his suffering he identified with those he was ministering to.

The purpose in our suffering is not about us, but our words and our witness in Christ. Peter again: “if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.” (1 Peter 4:16) Christians who constantly complain will never be out of the cycle of misery, because the heart isn’t right and the Lord still has work to do in them.

So, where’s the hope? Paul told us, “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, why? because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

God says we get more of the Holy Spirit as we see the purpose of suffering. That’s the message to give especially this time of year. Joy to the world the Lord has come. Jesus came with the ultimate purpose to suffer and die. Why? So that those of us who live for him have more than hope, but a blessed assurance that we will rule and reign with Him.

You have gone through trials, but the greatest trial has been covered for you. Paul quoting Hosea, who knew a thing about suffering, said, “Where oh death is your sting, where oh grave is the victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55) They have been defeated. Jesus rose for you.