I Only Am Escaped
The
first chapter of Job has given us much insight into the methodology
and purpose of both good (God) and evil (Satan). We close the writing
on this eye opening page of God’s Word with sadness but according
to the will of God. Other lessons more pertinent to this hour awaits
opening.
I
only
am
escaped:
In
Summery: We
find Job getting messages concerning the carnage left behind as the
devil passed death and destruction over Job’s huge estate with much
livestock, crops and servants.
Job
1:14-22
“And
there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and
the asses feeding beside them:
15
And
the Sabeans fell upon
them,
and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge
of the sword; and I
only am escaped alone
to tell thee.”
16
While
he was
yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is
fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants,
and consumed them; and I
only am escaped alone
to tell thee.
17
While
he was
yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made
out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them
away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and
I only am escaped alone
to tell thee.
18
While
he was
yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy
daughters were
eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
19
And,
behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the
four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they
are dead; and I
only am escaped alone
to tell thee.
20
Then
Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down
upon the ground, and worshiped,
21
And
said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return
thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the
name of the LORD.
Job’s
“friends” offered little support and no help to him during his
suffering. Job never became vindictive though troubled with their
false and self generated accusations of many vile and evil doings.
They, no doubt, considered
themselves as examples
of why Job thus suffered destruction without divine
intervention. Job,
however had walked upright in ALL his ways. He was a “good man”
in the sight of all. He obeyed God to the letter of His commandments.
One thing Job lacked; he failed to know the Lord in all His glory.
There are none good in the sight of the Lord. Goodness is applied to
them only after recognition and acceptance in knowledge and truth
that God is omnipotent
and of
ALL things, the author. Finally Job realized
this truth. He
realized, as many of us do, that he only knew a far off God. He had
heard of God. Now he has come to realize that God is ever present and
working our lives.
Job
32:1-2
“So
these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was
righteous in his own eyes.
2
Then
was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the
kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he
justified himself rather than God.”
Job
repented his errors before God. God heard his prayer of confession
and promise of reconstruction of soul. We must not for get that our
little things may be great in the sight of God just as our big
problems are small to Him. Job took his self
centered ways
and assumed self-righteousness and pushed them
into nothingness. His friends, whom he had reason to hate but did
not, became his focus for prayer. God
knew the change and His compassion enlarged even as Job confessed and
repented.
Job
42:10
“And
the LORD turned the captivity [note:
Job was being held captive by the devil]
of
Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as
much as he had before. 11
Then
came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all
they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with
him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all
the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him
a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. 12
So
the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for
he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a
thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. 13
He
had also seven sons and three daughters. 14
And
he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second,
Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. 15
And
in all the land were no women found so
fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance
among their brethren. 16
After
this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his
sons' sons, even
four generations. 17
So
Job died, being
old and full of days.”
- Proverbs 25:12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
- Luke 18:27-30 27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.”
- Luke 18:30 “Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.”
- “I only am escaped” is a bold statement. It was made by each bearer of bad news concerning Job’s Troubles. It is made often by some today when they are apparently fated to dodge suffering on disastrous occasions. Job attributed his misery to the hand of God. It was not. All good things come from above. Nothing good comes from the dark side of creation because it is designed by the devil. God did not watch Job suffer as he did not watch His son on the cross. But, God heard Job’s repentance and he responded. That same God is our God. Know God, know peace. Amen. 04-08-2019 Bll
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