Am I Enough – The Conversation

Greetings Dear Reader,

There is an excellent book by Max Lucado called When God Whispers Your Name.  Although the book is not about Job it is a good read.  I mention it here because one of the two primary things we need to see as we begin to walk with Job is that it is very clear that it is God who brings Job into the conversation.

It is God who says to Satan that he is proud of his servant Job.  It is God who starts the entire process.  I have a dear friend Adam who many years ago saw God as treating Job like a pawn in a game because of this.  I think instead that God is preparing Job for a level of refinement that will draw him even closer to God. 

I believe that any level of loss is worthy of enduring if it actually brings me closer to God.  God has confidence in Job.  He knows that Job will not curse him or reject him.  He also points out very clearly that Job is blameless and upright.  He makes it clear that there is no one like him in faith and obedience to God.

This second bit is very important.  I have heard many people try to teach about Job’s sin.  God is not punishing Job.  Remember that Jesus told us that wealthy men have great difficulty entering the Kingdom of Heaven.  Job is very wealthy but by God’s grace is capable of not letting his wealth define him.  He remembers that everything he has including his children are on loan to him from God.

Look at Job’s words when his few remaining servants report to him that his possessions, his income, and his children have all perished in the same day.  "Naked I came from my mother, and naked I will return. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken away! May the name of the LORD be praised."   Through all this Job did not sin or blame God for doing anything wrong.

Even as I sit in my office and look around at my precious books or my Daughter asleep in the comfy chair in my office I must ask myself the question.  As I see my eldest Son torn in pain by events he cannot control I must ask the question.  As I see my younger Son trapped in pain from his youth instead of moving forward with Christ I must ask the question.  The question I must ask in any pain and loss is this: Is God enough?

I have heard others say in times of trial, “at least you have your health.”  That part of the conversation, however, is for tomorrow.  For now I must ponder the pain of my friend Job.  Is God just a player of pawns?  Job is righteous and upright.  He does not deserve any of this by our standards.  Then again if I really listen to Job I must admit that it all belongs to God anyway and he can do as he wishes with it.  That is who I must be.  That is how my heart must be armed and engined.  I must decide if God is enough.

Job Suite – Michael Card

Blameless and upright, a fearer of God

A man truly righteous, no pious façade

One about whom God was accustomed to boast

And so one whom Satan desired the most

One day the accuser came breathing out lies

It's you, holy handouts his faithfulness buys

In one desperate day his possessions were lost

His children all killed in one raw holocaust

His children all killed in one raw holocaust

And yet through it all, through the tears and pain

He worshiped his God, found no reason to blame

Once more the Deceiver denounced and decried

It's skin for skin and hide for hide

Strike down his flesh and he'll surely deny

And confess that his praying has all been a lie

Very well, take him, the Holy One sighed

But you must spare his life, my son shall not die

So Job was afflicted with terrible sores

Sat down in the ashes to wait for the Lord

Sat down in the ashes to wait for the Lord

And yet through it all, through the tears and pain

He worshiped his God, found no reason to blame

A throne of ashes, a crown of pain

A sovereign of sorrow, a mournful reign

May the day of my birth be remembered no more

May darkness and shadow come claim it once more

Why did I not perish on that dreadful day

And sleep now where kings and counselors lay?

What I dreaded most has now come upon me

Why is light giver those in misery?

I loathe my own life so my tears fall like rain

As I find that there is no peace in my pain

Lord, send a comforter now to my door

So that this terror will frighten no more

A counselor between us to come hear my oath

Someone who could lay a hand on us both

These friends of mine are no comfort to me

So deafly they listen so blindly they see

Their words and their doctrine they all sound so true

The problem is Lord, they're all wrong about you!

I know my advocate waits upon high

My witness in heaven sees the tears that I cry

A true intercessor who will condescend

To plead with God as a man pleads for his friend

If I've been untrue, if I've robbed the poor

If I'm without guilt, what am I suffering for?

God would not crush me for some secret sin

And though he slay me still I'll trust in Him

I know now that my Redeemer's alive

He'll stand on the earth on the day he arrives

And though my body by then is no more

Yet in my flesh I know I'll see the Lord

Who is it who darkens my council

Who speaks empty words without knowledge?

Brace yourself up like a man

And answer me now if you can

Can you put on glory and splendor?

What's the way to the home of the light?

Does your voice sound like the thunder? Are you afraid?

Where were you when earth's foundations were laid?

Who gave the heart it's wisdom?

The mind it's desire to know? Can you bind the stars?

Raise your voice to the clouds?

Did you make the eagle proud?

Will the ox spend the night by your manger?

Did you let the wild donkey go free?

Can you take leviathan home as a pet?

If you merely touched him, you'd never forget

Who is it that darkens my council?

Who speaks empty words without knowledge?

Brace yourself up like a man

And answer me now if you can

I am unworthy, how can I reply?

There's nothing that you cannot do

You are the storm that calmed my soul

I place my hand over my mouth

I place my hand over my mouth

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."