Job the sinner. Job had said some rash things during this discussion, but unlike his friends, he had spoken the truth about God (v. 7). Job had a new understanding of God’s power and purpose (v. 2), and he realized that he had to repent. Job’s sufferings gave him a new vision of himself and of the glory and greatness of God (Heb. 12:11).
Job the servant. Four times in verses 7–8, God called Job “My servant.” Although he had weaknesses and failures, Job served God during his time of suffering. By maintaining his faith in God in spite of trials, Job unknowingly silenced the devil and revealed to the world that God is worthy of our trust and worship, no matter how much He allows us to suffer. In the will of God, trials work for us, not against us (Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor. 4:16–18); therefore, we can work for God as we suffer. Suffering can be a ministry.
Job the intercessor. The friends had said some unkind things to Job and some terrible things about Job, yet he forgave them and prayed for them. The friends had to do what they admonished Job to do: confess their sins and repent. Do you pray for people who have wronged you (Matt. 5:43–48)? Do you pray for condemnation or restoration?
Job the receiver. Job had wanted to go to court and argue law, but instead he went to the altar and experienced grace. He received forgiveness, friends, family, wealth and honor, twice as much as he had before. God does not guarantee this kind of happy ending in this life to everybody who goes through trials (Heb. 11:36–40), but He does promise to reward all who are true to Him (Rev. 2:10). Job came out of the furnace a better person (Job 23:10), and so can you if you will trust God and let Him have His way.
The Trials of Job
If you feel your sufferings are beyond what anybody else has experienced, consider Job’s trials. He was shot at like an enemy (6:4; 16:12–13), hunted like a wild animal (10:16), covered by darkness (19:8), uprooted like a tree (19:10), and put into a furnace (23:10). His wife discouraged him, his three friends attacked him and the Lord seemed to abandon him. However, the greatest example of endurance in suffering is the Lord Jesus (Heb. 12:1–3). He was forsaken even by the Father and suffered the shameful death of the cross. He was made sin for us, yet He was sinless. There was no cause of suffering or death in Him, yet He willingly yielded to the Father’s will. He endured, He conquered, and we can conquer in and through Him. Job’s suffering makes it clear that God is worthy of our obedience—no matter what “profit” or “loss” may come from obeying Him. God is not obligated to make the righteous healthy and rich or the wicked sick and poor. Our Lord’s death and resurrection make it possible for God to transform our suffering into glory, not simply replace it with glory. Job’s suffering was replaced with earthly glory, but the believer’s suffering will be transformed into heavenly glory. Therefore, our sufferings are not in vain, for the Lord is working out His glorious purposes.
