He Worshiped Anyway

He fell to the ground and worshiped.”

Job 1:20 ESV

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.

If I mention the name Job to you, what do you think..... what comes to your mind first?

We think of a man who faced lots of tragedy right?

We think of a person who didn’t understand it all BUT he trusted in God, correct?

While we do not understand all that it happening with Job and how he possessed such incredible faith, we hope that we can follow just a faithfully as Job did in the time of our struggles

Now the book of Job has one central character throughout its pages, and that is Job himself.

Let me share with you a bit of his life

Job 1:6–12 ESV

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Now right off the bat I think verse 7 is important for us to remember and hang onto… Satan is always walking, seeking and hoping to hurt, separate, kill.... Peter told us in I Peter , to be on the watch because our adversary the devil, walking about like a roaring lion… seeking those he may devour.

Now we know Job was an upright man, for the Lord asked Satan, look at my man Job, he is faithful and blessed.... my words there, but that is the implication.

But Satan says, He wouldn’t be that way if you didn’t protect him… And if he lost it all, he would look to heaven and curse you… Satan always loves to being accusations my friends.... He always does!

God put the bullseye on his back when he brought up his name before Satan.

Then, Satan worked to destroy all that Job had, with the exception of Job and his wife. When God also allowed Satan to attack job himself (but not kill him), the enemy went after Job, too.

The man lost all he had except his wife despite the fact that was “a man of complete integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil” ().

). It would appear in the world’s eyes that his faithfulness gained him nothing and cost him everything.

Now verse 13-19 record the events that took place, those tragic events

There were groups that raided and stole, killed and the servants of Job and his family,

Even fire fell from the heavens consuming servant sand sheep…

And there was a great storm that arose and killed his children, sons and daughters. The only ones who escaped where the servants who made it back to Job to report the events that had taken everything from him...

Could you imagine hearing the news that you had lost it all....

It could happen… fire, theft and even murder happens on a daily basis in this land…

It is hard for us to imagine what our response would be, but I hope it would a good response, one where we put our faith in God even in despair....

The world wondered about Job, those men who came by and wondered what Job did wrong, what sin did he commit??

Even Job’s wife was not a cheriful woman, at this point she can only encourage Job to do wrong and hopefully die…

It would appear in the world’s eyes that his faithfulness gained him nothing and cost him everything....

It would appear in the world’s eyes that his faithfulness gained him nothing and cost him everything....

How do you think the world views us, Christians when things go wrong??

Now we know it is a sad story, tragedy fills it.... but there is hope.... God is in control still. And while Job does not understand what is happening, God has not forgot Job… God is watching....

We know this how?

Well early on God tells Satan, have you considered my servant Job… look at verse 8

Job 1:8 ESV

8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”

What does God mean that He is blameless and Upright?

And then there is another little thought there, Job is said to fear God and turns away from evil...”

So he walks the walk and talks the talk.

Twice, the scriptures record his response with words that may be few, but that are packed with obedience and trust:

Twice, the scriptures record his response with words that may be few, but that are packed with obedience and trust:

“He fell to the ground and worshiped . . . Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.” (, )“Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said” ()

His world fell apart, yet he still worshiped his God. Job did not blame God, nor did he say anything evil against Him.

I fear that I, however, would have succumbed to cynicism and blame—and that’s why this story is amazing to me.

We turn to Job for comfort and faith not because he worshiped God on the mountaintop, but because he worshiped Him when tragedy after tragedy hammered him. He stood with God when others (including his wife) would not have. Sometimes, the brightest witnesses for God are those whose lives shine against the backdrop of a dark, confusing, heart-rending life.

“He fell to the ground and worshiped . . . Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.” (, )“Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said” ()

His world fell apart, yet he still worshiped his God. Job did not blame God, nor did he say anything evil against Him. I fear that I, however, would have succumbed to cynicism and blame—and that’s why this story is amazing to me. We turn to Job for comfort and faith not because he worshiped God on the mountaintop, but because he worshiped Him when tragedy after tragedy hammered him. He stood with God when others (including his wife) would not have. Sometimes, the brightest witnesses for God are those whose lives shine against the backdrop of a dark, confusing, heart-rending life.

ACTION STEPS: 

Job 1 ESV

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. 13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Job 1

That’s not the part of the story that I don’t understand, though. What amazes me is how Job responded to his tragedies. Twice, the scriptures record his response with words that may be few, but that are packed with obedience and trust:

“He fell to the ground and worshiped . . . Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.” (, )“Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said” ()

His world fell apart, yet he still worshiped his God. Job did not blame God, nor did he say anything evil against Him. I fear that I, however, would have succumbed to cynicism and blame—and that’s why this story is amazing to me. We turn to Job for comfort and faith not because he worshiped God on the mountaintop, but because he worshiped Him when tragedy after tragedy hammered him. He stood with God when others (including his wife) would not have. Sometimes, the brightest witnesses for God are those whose lives shine against the backdrop of a dark, confusing, heart-rending life.

ACTION STEPS: 

Pray for someone whose life seems to be a continual mess.If you’re in a spiritual valley that likely hinders your witness, press beyond the issues. Be obedient to God.

PRAYER: “Father, I don’t know if I could have been as faithful as Job. Grant me that kind of trust."

TOMORROW’S READING: