Coming Forth as Gold

We all know the story of Job. God allowed Satan to take his possessions, children, and health from him because God knew that Job would remain loyal to God. Even when Job's own wife told him to curse God and die, he remained faithful. Through this testing and God's silence Job did question God's sovereignty, but He clung to God's truths through it all. Let's take a look at this man's heart and some of the things He said BEFORE God answered him:

· "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." (1:21b)

· "Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" (2:10b)

· "God is wise in heart and mighty in strength." (9:4a)

· "If he takes away, who can hinder Him? Who can say to Him, 'What are You doing?'"

· "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him... he also shall be my salvation,..." (13:15-16)

· "For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;" (19:25)

· "When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside, I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the word of His mouth more than my necessary food. But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does, For He performs what is appointed for me, and many such things are with Him." (23:9-14)

Do we say these things in our heart when trials come our way? I know I need to improve. Let us remember that our perspective is sooooooo different from God's. Be filled with God's Spirit so that you can say like Job, "When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold."