God Has a Plan for Your Life—And It Might Be Horrible! - by Dr. Jessica Ann Hughes
I am also disturbed by Job's story and it's one of those reasons or doctrines why I can't completely accept or reconcile the faith. I mean, what kind of father would want to willingly allow custody of their offspring in the hands of a wicked person for all of his childhood and minor life as a kind of bet or test? Who would even think that is good?
IDK why people so strongly accept and encourages others to accept a God who is supposed to hate wicked things but then lets another being do wicked things (and Satan is the second most powerful and especially compared to us, and God is the only being who is powerful enough to stop it or choose not to bet in the first place). I'm not badmouthing God entirely. I love the creation. I love humanity. But some of his other attributes can't go unquestioned.
This is understandable, considering what Jesus said at Luke 10:21-24.
21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for doing so was well pleasing in Your sight. 22 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son determines to reveal Him.”
23 Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see the things you see; 24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things that you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things that you hear, and did not hear them.”
To truly know and understand the father and son, there are certain criterion that must be met. John 17:3
- One must be humble, like an infant... as if he knows nothing, and isn't so intelligent that his logic must be superior. We recall that Jesus, although the wisest man, was lowly. Matthew 11:29 He learn from his father, and obeyed. John 8:28; John 5:19, 30; John 12:49; John 15:8-10
- One must have correct knowledge of God and Christ, and it takes time to grow in knowledge. Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9, 10; 1 Timothy 2:3, 4; 2 Peter 1:2-8
With this understanding, worldly wisdom is foolishness, to those who know God and his son.
The account of Job demonstrates God's wisdom, almighty power, and his faithfulness, and trustworthiness. It highlights God's endearing qualities. How?
Wisdom : God's allowing Satan to try to prove his case, allowed everyone in heaven and on earth, to see that Satan is a liar.
That goes into the record books. Those who serve God, do not only do so, for selfish gain. PROVEN! In future, if that question should be raised, the records stand as a basis to dismiss it.
This tolerance on God's part, as the all powerful supreme ruler, who can extinguish any one who opposes him, demonstrates God's
reasonableness, and fairness - his
justice, in allowing persons to question his authority.
Result:
This is appealing, and draws God's children to him, rather that drive fear into them as if their father is a tyrant.
Almighty Power : As almighty, God demonstrates there is nothing that can be done, that is too big for him, or too difficult for him. to fix.
In other words, God knows that the world he allowed to exist, with sinful men (Romans 5:12), under the control of an evil one (1 John 5:19), will be filled with trouble, pain, and death.
God is not fearful of the death of loved ones, since he is able to, and willing to bring these ones back to life, in a world where trouble, pain, and death will not exist. Job 14:13-15
God used the account of Job, and other accounts, including the account of Jesus' friend Lazarus (John 11:1-45), the funeral procession of the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17), the little maiden that took ill and died (Mark 5:38-43), to demonstrate his power over death.
Result:
Knowing of God's almighty power, builds faith in individuals, and draws them even closer to God, knowing that they do no need to fear the enemy death, since "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38, 39
Justice : God is fair. Far better than any judge, God allowed Satan to prove his challenge before all onlookers.
Not only did Satan accuse God of being a liar, and a no good father... unworthy of governing intelligent creatures (Genesis 3:1-5), Satan accused all humans of being worthless leeches - only clinging to God, for what they can get from him (Job 1:7-12).
What better target for Satan, than Job - a faithful man whom God had blessed with plenty.
Why not carry the accusation as far as humiliation or death (Job 2:3-5).
Satan knew God was fair, and just. What about us?
The Bible says, God allowed Abraham to question his justice. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Genesis 18:22-33
On many occasions, God demonstrated that he is just. God gave Satan his "day" in court. At the end of the proceedings, all will know of God's justice. Deuteronomy 32:4
Result :
Justice is a quality looked for by all men. Even the wicked wants justice.
Seeing that God is just and fair, and always does what is right, endears God's children to him, and it allows them to persevere, seeing the result of Job's perseverance, and that God is faithful. James 5:10, 11
Behold, we count blessed those having persevered. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and you have seen the outcome from
the Lord, that the Lord is full of compassion and
is merciful.
We see then, that the account of Job, put's God in a good light, when we have all the facts in the right place.
God in his wisdom, and justice, gave Satan a fair chance to prove his claim, proving once and for all the truth of this matter. In so doing, God allows persons to demonstrate their faith in, and love for him.
God, as almighty, demonstrates that he is able to provide more than we could ask for, and God also demonstrates his faithfulness, and love to those who remain steadfast, in the face of the most severe of trials, giving them the reassurance of God's power over death.
This reassurance is needed in a world that is filled with trouble, suffering and death.
It is worth noting that God counts Job in among men like Daniel, and Noah, as a faithful man. This should remove any doubt that the account of Job is actually a real event in history. Ezekiel 14:19, 20
