Meditation: Job 2

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Bible Reading: Job 2

Meditation:
In Job 2 we learn that

1. Job kept his integrity in spite of all the pain and loss.
By his testimony we know that it is possible to respond rightly in times of extreme pain and hardship. If Job can remain unclouded by the darkness, we can too. We can keep seeing that God is good and that He loves us; that even when we can't make sense of our situation, we can trust God to be working things out for our good. Romans 8:28

2.Satan believed that self-preservation would cause Job to forsake God and abandon his faith.

v4 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.”

Self-preservation is a powerful basic instinct that man and animals have. The protection of oneself (and of one's possession) from harm or death is natural. It automatically kicks in in times of danger. In the interest of self-preservation, man can say and do all sorts of things. People curse, people even lie. People shift the blame on others to escape judgment and consequences.

3.Satan struck Job with sores (boils) all over his body.
Job was in such a pitiful condition; he had to cut himself to scrape away the infection. His own 3 friends could not recognize him. When Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zopha saw him, they "raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great."

By experience we know that sickness and disease can change the sufferer in so many ways. Sadness and hopelessness can set it. They become hard to deal with. But Job remained steadfast. His heart was fixed upon God.

4. Job's marriage had broken down.

9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” 

Job lost everything. Only his wife remained. But, when he got sick, even his wife abandoned him. To be told by your spouse to "curse God and die" means "Just give up on God and die already". This is quite sad because it's your spouse you need to draw strength and support from the most.

10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish (senseless) women would speak. Shall we receive good (beautiful)  from God, and shall we not receive evil (unfortunate)?”In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Job's wife wasn't familiar with God as Job was. Job knew God to be the same God in plenty and in want, in ease and in hardship. His mind about God did not depend on circumstances. He knew God to be God in spite of, regardless of...

The challenge is to know God the way Job did. The challenge is to keep the right perspective, to stay grateful, and to stay trusting.