~ Day Thirteen ~

In his hour of great need, Job set his heart on heaven and fixed all his hope for comfort and peace there. While his friends were a constant reminder of his present pain and sorrows, Job found strength in remembering the past mercies of God."This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope" (Lamentations 3:21). Though Job had lost all his earthly comforts the Lord's great compassions never failed him, they were new every morning. All that he had to do was fetch them from the Lord in prayer; then moment-by-moment and day-by-day, by God's all-sufficient grace, he could regain the strength that he needed to navigate the rough earthly terrain of temptation and doubt and grief and pain. Job found he was able to rejoice in his deepest distresses, because when all else had failed him his one Hope remained to be his continual source of joy. "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him" (Psalm 62:5a).

In one bold and beautiful declaration of faith, Job silenced the defamation of Satan and the disparagement of his friends. The abuse which he suffered on all sides would have driven a lesser man to despair, but Job was a man of great faith who knew where to turn when all else was lost. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). When Job was met with the harshest blows from the earth he lifted his face toward heaven for kisses to soothe his wounds. All his foes arrogantly predicted that the first thing Job would surrender under pressure would be his dependence upon God; however, just like the One whom he put his trust in and exemplified, Job wasn't about to let the lack of creature comforts or critical counsel from his friends in any way deter him from pursuing his love relationship with the Lord. No pain on his person or agony in his heart could convince him to relinquish his one true support and forsake the Lord. "Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psalm 73:25, 26). The tender hands which Job depended on to supply all his needs were not now to be mistrusted just because those same hands determined that something else was more needful for His servant in order to accomplish His greater purpose. "But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Your works" (v. 28). Job's extraordinary response of faith in God, in the midst of overwhelming tragedy, reminds us to look to our Blessed Hope and Savior, whom the Father was pleased to bruise and to put to grief (Isaiah 53:10); Who, although He had been smitten and forsaken by the same divine Hand, committed His spirit into those hands and triumphed over the cross and the grave (Luke 23:46)! God will take the worst things in our lives and work them for our everlasting good and His great glory. Let us therefore trust Him in all things and receive the comfort that He alone can give in our time of need. "Be joyful in hope, faithful in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12).

Read: Job Chapter Thirteen

The presence of Job's friends meant so much to him in the early days of his suffering. When the bottom dropped out of his life, they rushed to his side to hold him up; like Aaron and Hur (Exodus 17:12), their presence strengthened him in the heat of the battle. Their silent ministry was a great comfort to him when his tears were his food and the agonies of his heart were his constant companion. They had proved themselves the most effective counselors until they opened their mouths to actually give him counsel. "You are all worthless physicians. Oh, that you would be silent, and it would be your wisdom!" (vv. 4b, 5). Without even stopping to consider if they had made a proper diagnosis, they took their scalpels and began to cut into his flesh; and oh, how deep they wounded their friend without a second thought to the scars they were leaving behind. When they opened their mouths to speak, if only they would have turned their words to heaven in prayer, instead of spewing their balm of lies upon his open wounds. "Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes, your defenses are defenses of clay. Holy your peace with me, and let me speak, then let come on me what may!" (vv. 12, 13). Job's only hope for relief from his suffering and their slander, was to get an audience with God so he could make his appeal to heaven. "Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him" (v. 15). As Job's life was slowly ebbing away, he declared his absolute trust in the Lord in this bold declaration of faith. Then he submitted his supplication to the One who was his only hope: "Only two things do not do to me, then I will not hide myself from You: Withdraw Your hand far from me, and let not the dread of You make me afraid. Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, then You respond to me" (vv. 20-22). There were two things Job wanted God to do: to withdraw His hand of punishment and to start communicating with him. How he longed to remove the impediment wedged between him and his Friend, so that he could enjoy His favor and fellowship as he had in times past. "But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me" (Micah 7:7). May we follow Job's example, and not that of his friends, and go boldly before the throne of grace in prayer to obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Regardless of all the earthly losses we sustain, we will find hope for the journey if we are willing to lay hold of that which can never be taken from us - prayer! "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope" (Psalm 130:5). "Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together" (Psalm 34:3).

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"Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord - that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful" (James 5:10).

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