God Doubles!

The story of Job is difficult to read and likely, for many, even more difficult to interpret.  But it is such a rich and powerfully packed book of the bible that serves as a sort of guide for those of us aiming toward godliness as we learn to navigate rough waters this side of eternity.

And in the very end of the book - after all we have seen Job suffer through, and after the ungodly advice given to him by “friends” of his concerning his pain in unfortunate adversity, we discover a faithful and prayerful man, and a faithful and powerful God.

As the Lord burned in anger toward the two friends who misrepresented God’s purposes to His dearly beloved son, Job, we see, even still His great care and concern in the midst of His almighty sovereignty.  He says in chapter 42, verse 8, “My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf.  I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about Me as my servant Job has.”

 Because even in his discomfort and misfortune, Job remained filled with honesty and integrity in the eyes of the Lord.

In verse 10 we read, “When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored His fortunes.  In fact the Lord gave him twice as much as before!”

Upon his torture device of ill-treatment from “friends” and from ultimate suffering through devastating loss and grief, Job was restored and replenished… abundantly.
Ahh… and wasn't that, perhaps, a foreshadowing of the One named Jesus from Nazareth.. who prayed upon His very own torture device, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

My commentary says this about Job regarding the one simple prayer made for his friends, “There is nothing that pays so well as prayer, and the more difficult the prayer to make, the greater the reward for making it.”

Yes… we triumph over our trials and tantalizers by the relentless pursuit on bended knees!

And so what the enemy meant for harm… God actually used for good.
While Satan inflicted the blow, and while God granted permission for the affliction, It was our faithful, loving, and miracle-working God who used harm for a harvest!

Ahh… only God!

We see here that Job’s fortune was doubled.  My commentary says, “… in his (Job’s) afflictions, he may have received the greatest blessing from heaven.  But whatever be the form of God’s blessing, it is great and wonderful.  The Christian has more than a paradise regained.  The second Adam brings a kingdom of heaven that is more precious than the lost Eden.”

So all that Job had lost in his life… was all worth it in the end.  Because God is a God who doesn’t simply mend and patch up the broken life… for those who call on Him as their Savior and depend on His goodness and grace while pointing to Him with everything they have… He heals and renews and blesses with super abundant kindness.

He is God and He is good.

Praise to Him for doing immeasurably more than we could ever ask for or imagine! (Eph 3:20)