Message for THE LORD'S DAY EVENING, August 14, 2016 Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolina by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister TOPIC: Christian Living, Faith, Trials WHY ME? Job 1:1-22 (NKJV) Please open your Bibles to Job chapter one. We will get to our text in just a few moments. ILLUSTRATION Gerald Sittser's life had been going well. He had a wonderful family and a very successful career as a history professor at the nearby university. But in a blink of an eye Gerald Sittser's whole life was turned upside down when his wife, his mother, and his four-year old daughter were killed in an automobile accident caused by a drunk driver. Sittser cried out, Why me, dear God, why me? Eight months after the accident the driver of the other car was tried in court on charges of vehicular manslaughter. Gerald Sittser had been subpoenaed to be a witness for the prosecution, which meant he would have to face the man who had taken his precious loved ones away from him. Sittser said, I did not want revenge against this man, I just wanted justice for the lives of my family members I lost. One witness in the case said she had seen the witness behind the wheel just ten minutes before the accident occurred. Another witness who was on the scene following the tragic accident heard the accused admit he was the one driving the car. It seemed the case against the defendant was rock solid. But the defense attorney was able to cast enough suspicion on the testimony of the witnesses to gain an acquittal for his client.
Gerald Sittser was enraged! The driver didn't get what he deserved any more than Sittser's loved ones got what they deserved. But despite his anger over the outcome of the trial, Sittser never turned his back on God. Instead, he said, I began to be bothered by the assumption that I had a complete right to fairness. Life is not about fairness, life is about FAITH and TRUST in GOD even when life isn't fair. Have you ever been through a circumstance that was so painful, so heartbreaking, so gut-wrenching it caused you to look heavenward and cry out, Why me, dear God! Why Me? When our whole world falls apart our human nature causes us to believe that some how we have been singled out or that God is punishing us for some sin in our lives. When bad things happen to us it is very easy for us to see ourselves as victims of our circumstances rather than victors over our circumstances. In tonight's message we are looking at the life of a man in the Old Testament who certainly had every reason to cry out, Why me, dear God! Why me? Of course I'm talking about JOB. First of all I would have you to notice... I. Job Had It All (vs. 1-5) 1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.
4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer 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 Job did regularly. 1. In these first five verses we note three things about this man named JOB. (A) Job was a very RIGHTEOUS man. (v.1) 1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. This verse paints for us the portrait of a man who was completely upright in his moral character. Job was a man of great integrity and honor; a man who was deeply devoted to God and his family; a man who was kind to his neighbors and benevolent towards the poor. He was not a perfect man or a sinless man, but he was a man who was very serious about living his life in a way that would please God. But not only was JOB a very RIGHTEOUS man...
(B) Job was a very RICH man. (vs. 2,3) 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East. Throughout history, people have believed that having many children is a mark of God's rich blessings upon one's life. Of course, there are many godly couples who are not able to have children and there are many godly couples who may have just one or two children. But if having lots of kids is a mark of God's blessings then Job was one blessed man! Notice he had seven sons and three daughters for a total of ten children. Seven...three... and ten are all numbers of holiness in the Bible, symbolizing completeness or wholeness. But not only had God blessed JOB with a large family, He had blessed him with great material wealth as well. Verse 3 tells us he was the greatest or richest of all the people of the East. (meaning east of the land of Israel) Job wasn't just rich by the standards of his own day, he was rich by the standards of any generation, including our own.
I mean stop and think about it! If someone moved to Long Ridge Road who owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys and more hired hands than you could shake a stick at, we would all believe that person was extremely rich wouldn't we? Job was a very RIGHTEOUS man. Job was a very RICH man. (C) Job was a very RELIGIOUS man. (vs.4,5) 4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer 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 Job did regularly. Some of you tease me about all the family birthday parties I have to go to throughout the year. Well Job's family was real big on birthday parties. Notice verse 4 says And his sons would go and feast in their houses each on his appointed day... The appointed day is referring to their birthdays. Each of the seven brothers would host a birthday party at his house on his birthday and invite their three sisters to join them. And no doubt dad and mom were invited too.
And when the party was over, Job would say, Before I go, I would like to pray for each and every one of you, my children, that if any of you has done anything or said anything at this party that dishonored God that He will forgive you of your sins. Job was a deeply religious man who looked after the spiritual well-being of his children. 2. JOB HAD IT ALL! He was a very RIGHTEOUS man... a very RICH man and a very RELIGIOUS man. 3. He had all the things that brings one security in this world. Because of his deep dedication and devotion to God, perhaps Job thought he would keep on enjoying these blessings the rest of his earthly life and die peacefully at a ripe old age. But sometimes things don't go exactly as we plan do they? JOB HAD IT ALL, BUT THEN... II. Job Lost It All (verses 13-19) 13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother s house; 14 and a messenger came to Job and said, The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans raided them and took them away indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!
16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you! 17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you! 18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you! 1. Between verses 5 and 13 the story suddenly shifts from earth to heaven, where Satan has a conversation with God concerning this righteous man named Job. 2. If you were to ask the average Christian, Where is Satan most would tell you that he is in hell. But that isn't true! 3. In verse 7, GOD asked Satan, From where do you come? And Satan answered, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it. I PETER 5:8 (NKJV) says, Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
4. One day Satan will be cast into hell forever and ever, but for now he roams back and forth upon the earth to frustrate God's plan and attack God's people every way he can. 5. Satan soon reveals his evil intentions to God. He wants God to give him permission to launch a vicious attack against Job. Now it is important to note, Satan doesn't have the freedom to carry out these attacks on his own. He had to receive God's permission. 6. In verse 12 GOD granted Satan permission to attack JOB, but with one restriction; he was not allowed to lay a hand on Job. Now here is an important biblical truth we need to grasp! While GOD grants Satan permission to test us and tempt us, He does not grant him permission to destroy us! 7. Well in verses 13-19 that we read earlier, we see the vicious nature of Satan's attack. To understand just how devastating Job's loss was, imagine 10 caskets lined up side by side and in each one of those caskets is the lifeless body of each of Job's children! Ten caskets, ten graves, ten gravestones!
And that's not to even mention the deaths of almost everyone of his household servants and the loss of all his material possessions. 8. JOB HAD IT ALL...AND THEN HE LOST IT ALL! Surely JOB turned his eyes heavenward and with tears streaming down his cheeks, he cried out, Why me dear LORD, why me? I have lived for You, and honored You, and served You all these many years. WHY GOD, WHY? JOB HAD IT ALL JOB LOST IT ALL And thirdly... III. Job Kept His Faith Through It All (vs. 20-22) 20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said: Naked I came from my mother s womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD. 22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
1. In the aftermath of this horrific loss, how did Job respond? (A) Job responded with SINCERE SORROW. v. 20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head. Job was devastated! He was heartbroken! He was crushed! He sobbed! Isn't that the natural thing to do when we suffer a great loss? Some would have us to believe that in times of great sorrow and tragedy in our lives that we who are Christians need to put on a happy face so as not to show any signs of weakness in our faith. Nothing could be further from the truth! The Bible teaches us it is OK for us to grieve, but that we are not to grieve like those with no hope. (I Thessalonians 4:13) Even Jesus wept when He stood at the entrance of the tomb of His dear friend Lazarus. When Job lost everything he responded with SINCERE SORROW just like any normal human being would do under similar circumstances.
(B) But Job also responded with SINCERE WORSHIP. 20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. Here we see Job's tremendous faith in the midst of the most devastating loss of his life. He didn't blame God, he didn't curse God, he didn't stop believing in God. He fell to the ground and worshiped. Verse 22 says, In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. And in that 21 st verse Job states one of the most profound truths in all the Bible: 21 And he said: Naked I came from my mother s womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD ORD. None of us comes into this world as owners of anything, we are just stewards who are entrusted with the care of the things that come into our lives for a period of time. We came into this world with no clothes on our backs and no money or material things in our hands. We came into this world with no deeds or titles to anything. We came into this world with no savings account, no checking account, and no stocks or bonds.
Anything we accumulate in this life in the way of riches...relationships...rewards...or recognition... we must hang on to loosely because they are not ours' to keep. Everything belongs to God! Everything! Including our mate, our children, our grandchildren, our parents, our brothers and sisters, our friends, and our Church family. One day these blessings will be returned to GOD, the rightful owner. This is why we must cherish each and every precious day the LORD allows us to have these blessings in our lives! C O N C L U S I O N The closing chapters of JOB tells us that Job's story had a happy ending! In the latter part of his life GOD blessed Job with ten more children and blessed him with far more material blessings than he lost that one tragic day! Job is living proof of that wonderful promise in Romans 8:28... And we know that all things work together for good to those who love GOD who are called according to His purpose. God doesn't promise us life will always be fair or that everything will always go as planned or desired. But He does promise us His undying love, His unwavering faithfulness, and His un-ending hope!