Job: The Calm Amid the Storm

“Laissez les bons temps rouler” is Cajun French for “Let the good times roll.” When they do, a good time is had by all. Reality is they don’t always, not for anybody, regardless of their appearance, not even for good godly people. Job was a man who “was blameless and upright, and a man who feared God and shunned evil.” (Job 1:1) Yet, he lost every possession and his health.

There is no record of him whining “Why me, God?” His three responses are worth noting and emulating in the good, and yes, bad time.

Before considering Job’s responses, observe Satan was bringing charges against him before God. As if He didn’t know “…the Lord said to Satan, ‘From where do you come?’ So Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘From going to and from on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.’” (Job 1:7) That fact disproves the misconception that Satan is in hell. He is instead commuting between earth and heaven. That is why so many productive prominent Christians fail. They have been the objects of Satan’s hatred and he designs their destruction. He isn’t in hell, but you can be assured he is hell bound.

Satan said to God, Job doesn’t love you, he just loves the things you have given him. Take them away and “he will curse you to your face.” (Job 1:11). Remember the situation. Job has become the object of Satan’s attacks under the mysterious permission of the sovereign Lord. His children are dead, his wife has deserted him, his home and his business lie in ruins, his health has collapsed; he’s left sitting in the ashes of his former life, mourning and pouring out his confusion before God as he scrapes the sores on his skin with broken potsherds. He is suffering grievously physically, financially and emotionally. How will Job respond?

First, he said, “I know my Redeemer lives….” (Job 19:25) He had confidence in the Lord and never thought He was out of control.

There is an important sidebar truth here. People sometimes ask how people were saved before Jesus’ death and resurrection. Visualize the cross as a point in time. Since then persons have been saved by looking back historically to the cross. Before the cross persons were saved by faithfully looking forward to what the cross achieved. The Book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible and Job was in faith looking forward to his Redeemer.

Second, He knows me. Job confidently said, “He knows the way I take.” (Job 23:10) Job was assured God was not unaware of his plight and loved him. God knows what is going on. He is never insensitive to us and our needs. 

Third, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15) His strong resolve sustained Job and God ultimately restored him.

Imagine Satan is standing before God with an accusation and the topic of discussion is you. Satan is saying that person doesn’t love you, they just love the things you give them. Take them away and they will want to curse you and die. How would you respond?

All of us have losses, defeats, injuries and sickness. We will have others. Be sure that when you do, you have the same resolve as Job. No whining allowed. No, why me.

Job knew he might die, he actually wanted to. He had faith death was not the end. He compares life to a tree: “For there is hope for a tree if it be cut down that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.” (Job 14:7)

A tree is cut down, but sprouts again from the root. Job is confident that if he dies he will live again with the Lord. Make sure you will also.