Job 13:15

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him..."

In one day Job lost everything. His wealth was all stolen, his seven sons and three daughters were all killed when their house collapsed in a wind storm, his wife wanted nothing to do with his God and encouraged him to just give up, and his friends told him that it was all his own fault. Take a moment to put yourself in his shoes. In his life this was the darkest day. Then, on another day not long after that, he lost his health. While he had his health he could at least take some comfort in it. But even that was taken from him. From reading his story we can see that great things were going on around him. He was the focus of a challenge by the enemy against the very integrity of God. But Job didn't know that. All he knew was that he had lost everything. He was literally reduced to sitting on an ash pile, scraping his boils with a piece of broken pottery. It is even said that his friends didn't recognize him.

It is thought that the book of Job in the Old Testament is actually the oldest of the books in the Bible. And here is this statement of faith that is beyond comparison with any other in the Word. Speaking of God, Job says, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him..." On one or two occasions the Bible refers to faith as a system of beliefs. But more often faith is used as synonymous with "trust." In the midst of his great loss Job affirms his trust in God. He knew, as did Abraham, that "... The Judge of all the earth (will) do right..." While he could not see it with his physical eyes while sitting on the ash pile, Job could see it with eyes of faith, circumstances notwithstanding. It is clear from reading the book of Job that this was not a time of comfort or joy for Job. We wouldn't expect it to be. He cursed the day he was born. But in the midst of his trials we find his great statement of faith, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him..."

As He knelt in Gethsemane, our LORD Jesus Christ prayed that the coming cup of suffering pass Him by. Being God, He was well able to extricate Himself from this event. But, as He Himself said, He always did that which pleased His Father. The Father added His commendation to His Son when on two occasions He said, "This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased." Scripture tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. The Father's direction to His Son was clear; the cross was to be His portion. So Jesus was obedient to the Father unto death, even death on a cross.

It is not certain exactly how long Job suffered. But in the end Job, and Jesus for that matter, were vindicated for their faith. Ultimately, Job gained double the wealth that he had lost, he gained another seven sons and three daughters, of whom it is said that there were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job, and, apparently, the support of his wife. Jesus was raised from the dead, and now sits at the right hand of God Almighty. There He intercedes for those that are His. He prayed for, and looks forward to, the day when His pain and bloodshed will be seen for its entire value, when all of His will be with Him in His presence for eternity. The faith of Job and of Jesus, their trust in God, was rewarded.

So how about us. Is there a trial, a loss, an agony that we are suffering just now? Is there something on the horizon that we dread? What do these things do to our view of God? Do we begin to hedge on statements that we have made of trusting Him? In our desire to be through the hard things, to again be in the enjoyment of this life, do we attempt to take matters into our own hands? Do we think that we need to give God a hand? In so doing do we expose a small faith, only a little trust in God? Do we believe that the thing we face is really under His control? And do we believe that He will bring glory to His own name through it? Does He really know what He is doing? It is when the day is dark and long that faith is seen for what it is. Will we say with Job, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him..."?

HJK