by Mac Hammond
Perhaps it is because God wants us to learn from something else. James 5:11 says:
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (KJV)
God uses the story of Job to tell us that it doesn’t matter what you’re going through or the nature of the challenges you are facing; the principles are the same for all adversity. What matters is that you understand how to be patient like Job—you could also say his endurance—and something called the “end of the Lord.”What is the end of the Lord? It is salvation, deliverance, power, dominion, authority, healing, financial provision—all of the things that our covenant with the Lord is intended to do in our lives. What we see from Job is that the path we must walk to reach the end of the Lord is endurance.
Too often we think all we have to do is get saved, study the Word, and pray, and then we will float through life on a little, puffy cloud. The Word of God teaches us something quite different. To achieve the end of the Lord in any area, endurance will be required. That simply is the way of life on this earth. The Lord didn’t say “if” temptations, tests, and trials come; He said “when.” (James 1:2–4) The only path you can walk through adversity to the end of the Lord is endurance.
Well, since Job is our primary example of endurance, then we need to learn more about him.
1. Job didn’t have the knowledge we have about God.
Job is actually the first book of the Bible, not Genesis. Job didn’t have a Bible to tell him about God. He was not a member of the commonwealth of Israel. He had nobody to prophesy to him. He didn’t have the Holy Ghost. The book of Job is essentially an example of a man trying to understand God by what happens to him in this world. As Job and his friends show us, you can’t do that.
2. Job was rich.
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect [this means mature] and upright, and one that feared [or reverenced] God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. (Job 1:1–3 KJV)
I enjoy reading Dake’s Commentary because it includes a lot of statistics. In this case, it puts Job’s worth into today’s dollars based on what information we’re given in Job. Job had about 500 thousand acres, 1000 employees, 2 billion in assets, and 100 million a year gross income.
And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered 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 did Job continually. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (Job 1:4–7 KJV)
We know from the New Testament that Satan walks to and fro throughout all the earth, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). We’re also told that Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). We can conclude that Satan is in heaven for one reason: he is a legalist. He has to come before God to make accusation against someone—in this case, Job—who violated a principle of life. Satan knows that such violations give him entrance into people’s lives.
Today, because of our New Covenant, we have Jesus as our mediator and advocate. When we sin, Satan accuses us in the court of heaven, but Jesus stands up as our mediator and advocate and says, “My child has confessed his sin. He is sanctified by My blood and stands in the fullness of My promise of eternal life.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (verse 8 KJV)
It may sound like God is calling the Devil’s attention to Job, but He’s not. If you have an indices Bible, you have a number by the word “considered” and your center reference column says, “Set thy heart on.” Satan had already set his heart on Job. God simply noticed and acknowledged the fact that it had already occurred.
Then Satan answered the Lord. and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. (verses 9–10 KJV)
Satan is almost mocking God. “Yeah, he may fear You, but who wouldn’t? You put a hedge about him.”Why would Job—or any man, for that matter—need a hedge about him? That’s what determines who Satan may devour. If the hedge is up, he can’t devour you. If the hedge is down, he may begin the process.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. (verses 11–12)
Satan had set his heart on Job for one reason: his hedge was down. God was simply making the point that Job was already in Satan’s hand. In the mercy of God, we see Him putting a limitation on Satan: stay away from his life.
Satan then goes forth and Job’s problems begin.
And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 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. 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. 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. 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: 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. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped…(Job 1:13–20 KJV).
Job made his famous erroneous observation in verse 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. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. (Job 1:21–22 KJV)
How many of us have had something bad happen and we turn our eyes to heaven, ultimately saying, “God, why are you letting this happen to me?”That is a charge to God. It’s as if somehow He’s responsible, and He’s letting it happen to you. Worse than that, “Lord, why are you doing this? What are You trying to teach me? Is this judgment for something I did wrong?” James 1:13 says, “Let no man [even] say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man…” (KJV). It’s foolish to attribute to God responsibility for what happens to you.
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. (Job 2:1–3 KJV)
Once again, the archaic English and translators make it sound as if God is the one who did this and consequently, confusion comes. The Septuagint, though, gets it right. The Lord is speaking to Satan and says, “Still he retaineth his innocence so that thou hast ordered the destruction of his property without accomplishing thy purpose.” This puts the blame where it should be: on Satan.
It’s important to realize that Hebrew verbs can always be translated in the causative or permissive sense. The translator makes the call depending on whether they think God caused the situation or simply permitted it. Instead of, “…and God smote them with sickness and disease or illness,” the permissive voice says, “…and God allowed sickness and disease upon them.”
Why does God allow bad things to happen? Sometimes things happen simply because we live in a sin cursed world. Many times, God allows things that are not His will because of the choices we’ve made. God respects our free moral agency. When we make a choice that is bad, it opens us to cursing and death. When we make a choice that is good, it opens us to life and blessing. Whatever the situation is, though, God is not the one purposely bringing harm into your life.
So when you read a verse that makes it sound like God is the destroyer, you need to know that’s out of character with everything we’ve learned about God throughout the New Testament. This should not redefine your theology. You ought to read that and say, “Hmmm…” and look up another translation or two.
Remember, the Bible doesn’t contradict itself. Seeming contradictions can be resolved when you find the problem, pick which point of view most aligns with the larger picture of God the Word gives us, and then figure out what is wrong with how the other verse is being read. The explanation is usually found in who is doing the talking or in the translation.
6. Job had opened his life up for these attacks.
Once more, the Lord makes the observation that Job’s hedge is down. He didn’t turn him over to Satan. He was already open to Satan. God did in His mercy limit, once again, what Satan could do.
I do need to point out why Job had opened himself up to these attacks. We read in Job 3:25, “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” Fear is a deadly force that will always bring your supernatural hedge of protection down. Believing supernaturally orients your life in one direction or another, and that’s what makes fear so deadly. Fear is simply believing that the worst is going to happen to you. Faith is believing God’s promise is going to happen to you. Fear operates on the same spiritual principle as faith, and it will draw the enemy of your soul to you just like a magnet. We have to be aware that fear is a factor when we deal with adversity.
7. Despite adversity, Job didn’t blame God.
And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. (Job 2:4–6 KJV)
Once more, the Lord makes the observation that Job’s hedge is down. He didn’t turn him over to Satan. He was already open to Satan. God did in His mercy limit, once again, what Satan could do.
I do need to point out why Job had opened himself up to these attacks. We read in Job 3:25, “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” Fear is a deadly force that will always bring your supernatural hedge of protection down. Believing supernaturally orients your life in one direction or another, and that’s what makes fear so deadly. Fear is simply believing that the worst is going to happen to you. Faith is believing God’s promise is going to happen to you. Fear operates on the same spiritual principle as faith, and it will draw the enemy of your soul to you just like a magnet. We have to be aware that fear is a factor when we deal with adversity.
7. Despite adversity, Job didn’t blame God.
So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. (Job 2:7–10 KJV)
8. When adversity is handled correctly, the end of the Lord will be your reward.
If we continued to read Job’s story, you’ll see that his problems continue for 40 chapters. The last thing I want to point out is something that often gets overlooked: what happened after the adversity ended. Job 42:10 says:
And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
What was the end of the Lord for Job? He had twice as much as he had before. That means in today’s terms, it was twice as much as 500 thousand acres, 1000 employees, 2 billion in assets, and 100 million a year gross income. That was the end of the Lord.
Job was regarded for his trust in the Lord despite all circumstances. He worshipped instead of cursing God, and he was rewarded because he endured to the end. That is something we can all learn from: Job’s endurance and the end of the Lord, which was deliverance and twice as much as Job had before.
So the next time somebody comes up to you and compares you to poor ole Job, give them a holy kiss and move on.
Mac Hammond
Mac Hammond is senior pastor of Living Word Christian Center, a large and growing church in Brooklyn Park (a suburb of Minneapolis), Minnesota. He is the host of theWinner’s Waybroadcast and author of several internationally distributed books. Mac is broadly acclaimed for his ability to apply the principles of the Bible to practical situations and the challenges of daily living.
Mac Hammond graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1965 with a Bachelor’s degree in English. Upon graduation, he entered the Air Force with a regular officer’s commission and reported for pilot training at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. He received his wings in November 1966, and subsequently served two tours of duty in Southeast Asia, accumulating 198 combat missions. He was honorably discharged in 1970 with the rank of Captain.
Between 1970 and 1980, Mac was involved in varying capacities in the general aviation industry including ownership of a successful air cargo business serving the Midwestern United States. A business acquisition brought the Hammonds to Minneapolis where they ultimately founded Living Word Christian Center in 1980.
After more than 30 years, Living Word’s church attendance has grown from twelve people in 1980 to an active church body of 10,000 members. Today some of the outreaches that spring from Living Word include Maranatha Christian Academy, a fully-accredited, pre-K through 12th grade Christian school; Living Free Recovery Services, a state licensed outpatient treatment facility for chemical dependency; The Wells at 7th Street, a multi-faceted outreach to inner-city residents; CFAITH, an online cooperative missionary outreach of hundreds of national and international organizations providing faith-based content and a nonprofit family oriented ISP; and a national and international media outreach that includes hundreds of audio/video teaching series, the Winner’s Way broadcast, the PrayerNoteseNewsletter, and the Winner’s Way eMagazine.
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