New Here

New Here

New Here

The Beacon
March, 2024

“And we are witnesses of all he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear.” Acts 10:39-40

The Old Testament believer Job must have had a lot of questions! But we read in Job 1:22, “In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.” That is encouraging to read, even though we may find it hard to respond that way.

In Job chapter 1, we learn that this blameless and upright man was known as someone who feared God and turned away from evil. And at the end of his book, we see that Job was richly blessed with seven sons and three daughters. This, “greatest man of all the people of the east” was very well to do!

Job’s family would gather regularly for meals; they must have enjoyed each other’s company. But Job was concerned about the relationship his children had with God. He did what he could to keep their hearts pure before the Lord.

At one point, Satan was allowed by God to test Job. All his children and many of their possessions were destroyed. Job received the news and then he tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. You may remember how Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21) And once again we read, “In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.” (Job 1:22)

But Satan was not done with Job. In Job 2 we learn how his body was struck with loathsome sores. In his suffering, Job heard this advice from his wife: “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” (Job 2:9) Job thought that was foolish counsel, and we read that “In all this, Job did not sin with his lips.” (Job 2:10)

What a devastating time for Job! You can read in much of the rest of the book how some “friends” attempted to comfort and guide him through these tragedies. In Job 14:14a we find an important question being raised by Job: “If a man dies, shall he live again?”

Is that something we can know? Job seemed to think so. He answered his own question with, “All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come.” (Job 14:14b) Later in the chapter, he talked about his transgressions being sealed and how someone would cover over his iniquity.

Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. He paid the price for us. But, if a man dies, shall he live again? The Apostle Paul said about Jesus, “It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” (Romans 4:24-25).  Because He lives, we who put our trust in Jesus can live!