CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
June 11, 2023
What an example!
Job 1:1-22
As we approach Father’s Day, we are going to look at a man
that is not credited necessarily for being a father as much as
something else. We all have probably heard the saying that has
made Job a household name. “You have the patience of Job.”
Job endured more things than possibly anyone else in the
history of the world. If it could happen to a person, it did to Job.
In the 5 th verse we see the love and concern he had for his
children. As we read his sons loved to have feasts from time to
time where they would invite all their brothers and sisters to
join in. Job apparently did not attend these parties but was
concerned about what might be going on at them. So, when he
knew the feasts were over, he would get up early in the
morning and offer sacrifices on behalf of his children to God.
These sacrifices were the type that would cover sins against
God that might have been committed during these feasts.
In the very first verse, we read he sees Job was undeniably a
righteous and upright man before God. God had blessed Job
and his family in part because of this faithfulness and Satan was
telling God, “If you allow me to take away these blessings Job
will not be such a faithful person.” The only reason, Satan said,
that he is staying true to you is because of your blessing and
protection of Job and his family. So, God said to Satan, “Do
what you want to Job but you cannot take his life.” So, on it
began. We read how Satan had all of Job’s livestock carried off
or killed. Then Satan saw to it that at one of the sons feasts the
building collapsed, killing all of his children. After he was told
the news from the one surviving person from the feast Job’s
reaction was, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and
naked I will depart. The Lord gave the Lord has taken away.
May the Lord be praised.” In all this Job did not sin by charging
God with wrong doing. Obviously, Job did not know it was
Satan doing all these things to him. It is true God was allowing
Satan to do these things to him and his family. Satan was
stunned that Job did not instantly turn from God and expressed
anger, even hatred and rejection of God but he didn’t. Satan
then said to God, “If you allow me to harm Job physically then
he will curse you God.” God said, “Very well you can take his
health but you cannot take his life.” So, Satan brought serious,
painful health problems to Job. In the midst of this trial Job’s
wife even said to her husband, “Why don’t you curse God and
die? That does not sound very nice or reassuring from Job’s
wife, but I am sure she was confused and disillusioned from
losing her children, their possessions and now watching her
husband go through these health problems. She knew there
was nothing she could do to help and felt maybe it would be
better for her husband if he could die.
If we were to reread all of the book of Job, you would see his
frustration and disappointment about all the things he was
going through but never would he ever truly blame God for all
his troubles. Even Job’s friends piled on wondering how he
could remain faithful to God through all the problems that
seemed to never go away. Every time someone questioned
Job’s faithfulness to God, Job would give an inspirational
answer saying, “What right do we have to expect anything from
God?” Once again Job made it clear he wasn’t happy things
were happening to him as they were but recognized God’s
sovereignty in all things. After all the things Job endured, when
his close friends tried to come up with explanations that were
not in agreement with God we see what Job said to the Lord
how God dealt with Job’s friends and what ultimately happened
to Job in verse 42 and the final chapter.
Let us read this amazing conclusion to all of the things Job
endured for such a long time.
Job 42 Then Job replied to the LORD:
2 “I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’
5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.”
Epilogue
7 After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am
angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me,
as my servant Job has. 8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant
Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I
will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken
the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the
Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted
Job’s prayer. 10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and
gave him twice as much as he had before. 11 All his brothers and sisters and everyone
who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and
consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought on him, and each one gave him
a piece of silver [a] and a gold ring. 12 The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more
than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a
thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 13 And he also had seven sons and
three daughters. 14 The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the
third Keren-Happuch. 15 Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as
Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.
16 After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to
the fourth generation. 17 And so Job died, an old man and full of years.
We see God was merciful first of all to Job’s three friends that
also did not understand what and why all these things were
happening to Job. God made it clear to Job’s friends how wrong
they were about everything and then had Job himself do the
things that brought his friends back to a right relationship with
Him. Then we see God restored everything and more back to
Job when God said to Satan, “You can now see what a
tremendous man Job is and what an amazing example he is to
everyone around him.” Job was once again blessed with 7 more
sons and 3 more daughters. We see God blessed Job’s
daughters with beauty unlike anyone else. Job even did what
was not common in that day by giving his daughters an
inheritance along with their brothers.
In the final two verses of the Chapter 42, we are told Job lived
140 years. He saw his children and their children to the 4 th
generation and so he died old and full of years. Job was a
tremendous example to everyone who knew him. After
everything he endured God make sure his children, his
grandchildren even to his great, great grandchildren learning
from this man of God. Everyone can learn from this
tremendous man of faith, this tremendous man of God.
I pray that somehow all of us men can apply some of the
wisdom and faith Job has showed us in our lives. The fact also is
shown to us in this example that God does and will reward our
faithfulness. I pray also that none of us ever have to go through
anywhere close to the things Job went through, but I would
love to be a man God was so confident in that he would
consider me to be worthy to go through some of the trials Job
did.
The book of Job is such an inspirational book. I would
encourage you to read it again when you have a chance. What
an example Job is for everyone that reads and considers his
incredible life. Men, what a challenge it is to have the patience
and faith of Job. The fact is though that Job was a man just like
us. May we strive to be fathers, husbands, friends like Job was
to all of those around him. God will be with us helping us every
step of the way.
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study
Sunday School 9:00
June 14 7:00 Executive Committee
June 25 4:00 Movie Night—Jesus Revolution--here
Sign up sheet for children’s message in July, August, Sept.
Please consider taking a turn for this important ministry.
Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for
your continued giving!
Donation Box: VBS
First Sundays: food donations for food banks
Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362
Keep in Your Prayers
Carolyn Fansler; Iva Traughber Brunner; Nora Hanaver; Todd
Henricks; Tate Sawyer; Jonah Martina; Jan Bower; Larry
Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli
Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick; Ron &
Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Tina
Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer; Carl and Wilma Cable; Mike and Carol
Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler;
Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Patty
Cripe; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests;
healthcare workers and first responders; victims of disasters;
victims of shootings; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian
Brethren; Ukraine
Military and Other Services and their families
Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers
District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Woodland congregation;
for National Junior High Conference this month; for the youth of
this district.
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