November 26, 2016 – 28 Days Until My Head Explodes, Or Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

“There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said,“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you.”
Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:1, 13, 18-22

Well, this looks like the end of Santa – though we inherently know that Santa cannot be taken out by any other flying craft. Grandma may have been run over by a reindeer, but her story pales in comparison to this ugly scene. This is just a temporary setback for our jolly man in a red suit – he may be down, but he is not out. I like how the man standing on the tarmac is scratching his head like he is trying to figure out how Santa ended up on the front of a 737. Or, perhaps he thinks this is where the gift he didn’t get for Christmas ended up.

There once was a man named Job – he was blameless and upright and feared G-d and turned away from evil. He was wealthy, and blessed with many possessions. One day it all fell apart for Job – nothing was left of his possessions and his family. The true nature of the loss can be compared to many of the families in our country and the world who have lost everything through floods, fire earthquakes and other natural disasters. Job’s response even surprises his wife – “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” There is a tendency in our world today to want to associate only good happenings and good luck with G-d’s blessings – which means that when we experience the opposite, then G-d must have left and forsaken us. It is clear in the story of Job that G-d has neither left Job nor forsaken him, which is why we are surprised by his response. Even when trouble strikes, Job is clear that G-d is good and to be blessed in all circumstances.

The wisdom of Job’s stance to the tragedy that has befallen him is to recognize the presence of G-d even in the most desolate of experiences. Job Blesses G-d in the midst of his tragedy. In his devotion to G-d, Job truly understands that everything that he has is a result of the radical Grace of G-d. His possessions, his family, his property have not been earned, or merited – he only has what he has because G-d has blessed him without merit. So when it is taken from him, he does not feel forsaken. Instead, he still blesses G-d – because G-d is bigger than possessions, family, property and life. G-d is all in all – G-d is in, under and through all things – G-d is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

When life gets you down and when things aren’t going the way you think they should, perhaps you need to take a lesson from Job and take time to contemplate how you understand the blessings you have from G-d? The lessons we learn from our friend Job can be lessons that will give us hope through all of the tragedies of life.

Pastor Dave