We all have a Job to do
First published July 2011
The book of Job is about a short period of testing in Job’s life.
The real story is that Job lived a life of 140 Years, and what happened in the book of Job was less than a year of that 140.
The Book of Job
In this book, we learn some very fundamental things concerning our life and walk with God.
1. We gain a glimpse into the attitude and nature of evil.
2. We see what gets God's attention
3. We learn how to live a blessed life.
The book of Job starts by introducing us to the main character. Please read below, because what I have to share is essential for you to see this.
Job 1
" 1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
"What we learn from these first few scriptures.”
We see quite a pedigree of this man and concepts
1. He is Perfect, this comes from the Hebrew word that means he was morally pure and one of integrity.
2. Feared God
3. Hated, Avoided, and Resisted Evil
4. He was blessed
However, in these first few scriptures, we learn about Job, but we don't really know how to be like Job.
I submit to you that the following scripture gives us a peek into the nature of Job and is a basic outline of what produced Job and why we have this book in the Bible.
"5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually."
The Fifth thing we learn about Job is that he was an intercessor for his family.
Not once a year.
Scripture says he continually interceded for his family.
What came first? The Chicken or the Egg?
Did Job learn how to intercede after he was blessed, or was Job an intercessor before he was blessed?
I submit to you, that though it is not stated in the text we learn something about the nature of Job by his understanding and motivation in this single scripture.How can a man understand the fallen nature of humanity and the holy nature of God to such a degree that he would be motivated to be in a constant position of prayer for his family?I believe he had such a connection, relationship, and understanding of God that he was motivated to do what he did.
Further, I propose to you that the reason why Job was blessed is because of his connection and understanding with God, and from that, fellowshipping with the source, he became well supplied.
The New Testament shows us that this principle is Universal,
"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you."
Job becomes a man who walks with God.
Job prays.
Job communes.
The more he walks with God, the more he honors the holiness of God.
The more he understands the Holiness of God, the more he understands the nature of evil.
The more he understands the nature of evil, he perceives the nature of flesh.
This understanding develops over time.
His walk with God precipitated his blessing.
The more sanctified a life he lived, the greater the hedge around his life becomes. The Hedge of Holy living pushed back the work of the destroyer and embraced the blesser.
What Happened?
Sheep, Oxen, and Camels were healthy, had lots of offspring, and he became a blessed man.
He lived in such a way that what he had was his and could not be touched by what he resisted and stood against. Job had such an understanding in the land of blessing. He understood it was all a very fragile reality.
Not because the nature of God, but because of the nature of flesh.
He understood that his kids might misspeak and make a mistake and bring evil into his reality. So what began as a relationship with God on a personal level, he became an intercessor... The Intercessor for his family.
What follows in the Book of Job is very instructive.
The devil has a conversation with God, God points out the righteous life of Job and Satan gives us a clue into the real blessing of living a sanctified life.
Read the Words that God said about Job."And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servantJob, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" Job 1:8
Think about this. This is a man who does not have the advantage of the New Testament. There has not been a cavalry. There is no New Testament grace.
Here is a man living with the blessing, grace, and protection of God in another day.
God points this man out to Satan and says, "Look at my boy."
Satan says in response, "The only reason he serves you is because you bless him."
God responds, "Oh yeah, Try Him."
God knew that Job was Job before he had sheep, oxen and camels.
God knew that the nature of Job was not produced by blessing. God knew him before he was blessed. He had such a measure in this man, that he was willing to allow him to be tested and provide an example to the Devil of how Good a righteous man could be. He more so, an example to you and I, how Good we can be if our mind is made up.
What transpires over the next few chapters is horrifying. He loses everything except his wife and friends, and they serve to be a lingering reminder of what terrible things have transpired.
His wife says to him, "Curse God and Die."
His friends say to him, "You must be a terrible sinner, repent."
For 40 chapters, we read of a conversation with Job and his "comforters".However, I want you to notice something. I submit to you, we gain a glimpse into the nature of Job one more time in the last chapter of his book, Job."
And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before."
His Trouble Ended and the second dimension of his blessing began when he returned to his role of intercessor.
When we cease to be so worried about our trouble and begin to pray for the trouble in others lives... The Lord will come and work in your life.
I submit to you, the reason there is a book called Job in your Bible is because Job was a man who Loved God and loved those he knew to such a degree that he involved himself in the spiritual realities that they would live.
When you pray, you are doing something.
1. You are gaining a revelation of the Holiness of God.
2. you are gaining an understanding of the depravity of flesh.
3. You will begin to sanctify your life by being a person of integrity and morality.
4. You will be pushing back against the work of the Devil, to where he can not touch nor interfere with you or your stuff.
5. God will take notice.
6. You will be blessed.
There is unspeakable blessings for those who will follow the pattern of Job.
If you want to be blessed,
You have a Job to do.
You want your family to be protected
You have a Job to do.
You want God to take notice of your situation.
You have a Job to do.
You want the Devil and his influence to be abated?
You have a Job to do.Job lived 140 years and experienced nine months of trouble in the middle of his life. His trouble was bookended by blessing.
Real thick cover and few pages.
We have a JOB to do.
1. Be real, Honest and one of integrity.
2. Sanctify yourself in personal holiness.
3. Resist evil and all of it's influences.
4. Be an Intercessor.
If you will do your JOB, Heaven is watching, Hell is held at bay and Blessings are coming your way.
In Him, By Him, Through Him,
This happened to such a degree that the Devil did not even try, and God was proud of the man Job had become.
Summary of his Ethical Resume.
1. Morally and Ethically Pure
2. Sincere and Honest
3. Fear God and Hated Evil
4. He continually interceded for his family
The Result?
The Devil Knew he Could not Touch Him.
God did not let the Devil Touch him.
The book of Job is about a short period of testing in Jobs life.
The real story is that Job lived a life of 140 Years, and what happened in the book of Job was less than a year of that 140.
The Only specific thing we know about the life of Job is that he was an intercessor for his family.
Scripture makes General comments about his life. Perfect, Upright, Loved God, Hated Evil, and was blessed.
Those are generalities.
The scripture gives us only one clue that shows us the virtue in action.He continually interceded for his family.
Do you know what ended Jobs’ trial?
We find it at the end of Job 42.
And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Those involved in the salvation of others are the ones that Heaven and Hell are watching.
Why?
Because that is the only thing that heaven and hell care about.
His neighbors and generation were impressed with his wealth.
However, Job spent enough time with God to know what mattered.