“If You Believe in God…”

His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity?  Curse God and die!"

This verse came straight out of Job, chapter 2, verse 9.  Job's wife was disgusted at what had been happening to her and Job.  By this point, Job has lost a lot. 

His oxen, donkeys, and his camels were taken.   His servants were killed, his home destroyed with his kids inside.  Job ended up with sores, and tried to scrape them off with broken pottery. 

His so called friends, Zophar, Eliphaz, and Bildad, didn't support him, but treated Job like he had some kind curse from a huge sin he committed. These same three even wrote letters to Job harassing him and, judging him about what has been going on.

But see, not once did Job curse God.  Not once did he say God was to blame.  If anyone had the motive to do so, it was Job.  This leads me to my point.

I was signing up for a forum for fans of one of the teams I follow.  When I logged in, the first forum I saw was titled, "If you believe in God......."  It was kind of strange to see in a sports forum, but I went in.  When I did, I read through many of the posted answers. 

What saddened me was the multitude of answers stating they do not believe in God because of something that happened in their lives.  People talked about relatives dying, about the wars, about diseases, about losing babies, about not having a baby, about how a church turned their backs on them (probably the number one answer), along with other responses.

It's all too easy for us to turn our backs on God.  But this is the time we need to be focused on Him, more than any other time.  To have real faith in God is to believe and act obediently regardless of what is going on in our lives. 

Job says in chapter 13 verse 15, "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him."  Job doesn't curse God, but stands up for what he knows, is right.  This is exactly what we need to be doing. 

Remember the verse at top where Job was being told by his wife to curse God?  Look at Job's response in verse 10: "You are talking like a foolish woman.  Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

I know at times, this can be easier said than done, but I know it can be done.  It has been done, and I'm sure not just by Job.  We can do it too.  Find that support from your friend, family, or pastor.  Call me if you want.  I certainly don't mind.  Most of all focus and lean on our Father.

Dear Father, as hard as it is as times, I pray I stay focused on you.  I also pray I have a person to lean on in my time of need.

Nick Manzie