Most of us are familiar with the story of Job. While we may not recall the specifics of his trials, we remember the pain and loss he endured. God gave Satan permission to sift Job like wheat. To touch everything Job owned except one thing: his life. The right to life and death rested solely in God’s sovereign hand. Job lost almost everything. His earthly wealth was decimated. His physical health deteriorated. His children were killed. His life was in ruins. Even his wife turned against him. Instead of encouraging her husband, she told him he should curse God (Job 2:9). Cursing God was the one thing Job could not do. His circumstances were dire and he at times felt the human emotions of despair, anguish, and rage. But he didn’t reside in his emotions. He remained firm in his faith. Job had three friends who seemingly tried to comfort him. But their words had the opposite effect. Their pious platitudes exacerbated Job’s agony. They suggested that Job’s disobedience to God was the reason he was punishing him. God eventually restored Job double what he had lost (42:10). But what is noteworthy are the two things that happened in between. First, Job recognized God’s sovereignty. He realized that he was nowhere to be found when God created the world (38-42). He finally understood that God was God, and he was not. Second, he forgave his friends for their thoughtless, careless interactions with him. He blessed them as God had instructed him. He released the vengeance he wanted into God’s sovereign hands. Then and only then did Job’s restoration occur. Be encouraged by these lessons from both Joseph and Job: God will use evil for good for his children. He does it every time. He did it for them. And he will do it for you too.
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