The End of the Story

“They all lived happily ever after”. At the end of 42 chapters - nearly 40 of those chapters filled with poetry - soaring and roaring - stormy arguments and debates, wrestling with a world that so often doesn’t make sense - a world that we NEED to find sense in.

This morning we come to the end of the book of Job.

We identify with this book - - I don’t know that I have ever been through a Biblical book with you, where there has been a greater sense of ‘YES! That’s MY STORY!” - don’t know that I have ever had more of a sense that, “This book speaks for me”, than here in the book of Job.

It’s wrestling, struggling, fighting to trust God in a life that hasn’t gone according to plan … where there is hurt. You are trying to serve God and honor Him with your life. The Bible says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your pathways straight”. You’ve tried to do just that .... not perfectly, of course, you know you’re a sinner, but you’ve TRIED to honor the Lord with your life … and STILL:

“They all lived happily ever after”. At the end of 42 chapters - nearly 40 of those chapters filled with poetry - soaring and roaring - stormy arguments and debates, wrestling with a world that so often doesn’t make sense - a world that we NEED to find sense in.

Your career goals went south. Your health is getting worse - as the disease progresses - the family is still breaking apart .... so many different disappointments and wounds. How does my life make sense - If God is Holy … If He is All-Powerful … If He loves me?

We identify with this book - - I don’t know that I have ever been through a Biblical book with you, where there has been a greater sense of ‘YES! That’s MY STORY!” - don’t know that I have ever had more of a sense from you that, “This book speaks for me”, than here in the book of Job.

In this book of Job, after all of that wrestling, here we come to the end of the story - and at first glance, it seems like this is one more fairy tale ending of, ‘… and they lived happily ever after’.

It’s wrestling, struggling, fighting to trust God in a life that hasn’t gone according to plan … where there is hurt. You are trying to serve God and honor Him with your life. The Bible says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your pathways straight”. You’ve tried to do just that .... not perfectly, of course, you know you’re a sinner, but you’ve TRIED to honor the Lord with your life … and STILL:

Some of us love that - Some of us are suckers for happy endings … where the guy in the white hat gets the girl and the guy in the black hat is lying on the ground with a black eye, or being carted off to jail in handcuffs.

Your career goals went south. Your health is getting worse - as the disease progresses - the family is still breaking apart – or the haunting hurts of the past .... so many different disappointments and wounds. How does my life make sense - If God is Holy … If He is All-Powerful … If He loves me?

Some don’t like that - it seems so contrived. Seems too neat and tidy. …

You prefer the dystopian stories - like ‘Hunger Games’ - where big impersonal forces dominate and kids are forced to fight each other to the death - suffering for no apparent purpose - just seems more like real life to you. There is suffering in this world - and there is no logic and no purpose to it.

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Some don’t like that - it seems so contrived. Seems too neat and tidy. … not to mention - doesn’t it kind of smack of the very thing that the whole book has been teaching against? … the Prosperity Gospel? The message that is preached from so many pulpits - whether in this city or on tv, in front of large crowds and small .... “You reap what you sow” “If you honor God and repent of sin … He will make you wealthy and healthy and will give you a great reputation ...”. Job repented in verses 1-6 of this chapter and then God gives him more than he ever dreamed!

Not to mention - doesn’t this ending kind of smack of the very thing that the whole book has been teaching against? … the Prosperity Gospel? The message that is preached from so many pulpits - whether in this city or on tv, in front of large crowds and small .... “You reap what you sow” “If you honor God and repent of sin … He will make you wealthy and healthy and will give you a great reputation ...”. Job repented in verses 1-6 of this chapter and then God gives him more than he ever dreamed!

In this book of Job, after all of that wrestling, here we come to the end of the story - and at first glance, it seems like this is one more fairy tale ending, ‘… and they lived happily ever after’.

.... but that’s the very ‘elementary school’ understanding of God that Job had to move on from - that’s been the whole argument of the book.

Let me assure you - This is no shallow, careless, ‘fairy-tale ending’ - this is meaty, meaningful resolution and drama. Once again, God has something ‘big’ and important for us to learn here - this is here for OUR sake, Christian - so let’s dig in.

Some of us love that - Some of us are suckers for happy endings … where the guy in the white hat gets the girl and the guy in the black hat is lying on the ground with a black eye, or being carted off to jail in handcuffs.

We have in this passage:

Some don’t like that - it seems so contrived. Seems too neat and tidy. …

RESTORED RELATIONSHIPS, vv. 7-9

A RICHER LIFE, vv. 10-17

You prefer the dystopian stories - like ‘Hunger Games’ - where big impersonal forces dominate and kids are forced to fight each other to the death - suffering for no apparent purpose - that seems more like real life to you. There is suffering in this world - and there is no logic and no purpose to it.

___________________

Not to mention - doesn’t this ending kind of smack of the very thing that the whole book has been teaching against? … the Prosperity Gospel? The message that is preached from so many pulpits - whether in this city or on tv, in front of large crowds and small .... “You reap what you sow” “If you honor God and repent of sin … He will make you wealthy and healthy and will give you a great reputation ...”. Job repented in verses 1-6 of this chapter and then God gives him more than he ever dreamed!

1 RESTORED RELATIONSHIPS, vv. 7-9

1 RESTORED RELATIONSHIPS

.... but that’s the very ‘elementary school’ understanding of God that Job had to move on from - that’s been the whole argument of the book.

1 RESTORED RELATIONSHIPS

Verse 7, “After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: ‘My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has ...”

Let me assure you - This is no shallow, careless, ‘fairy-tale ending’ - this is meaty, meaningful resolution and drama. Once again, God has something ‘big’ and important for us to learn here - this is here for YOUR sake, Christian - so let’s dig in.

God is angry at Job’s three, so-called friends.

We have in this passage:

But hang on a second - these three friends have been trying to DEFEND God! They haven’t been questioning His ways - His character - they’ve been standing UP for Him. They may have been a little off - but why is God so angry?

RESTORED RELATIONSHIPS, vv. 7-9

He doesn’t leave us to guess. He spells it out clearly, in v. 8. It’s because … ‘YOU have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”. God repeats the charge in v. 8, just in case we forget. In other words - more than failing to comfort their godly friend when his world fell apart - which is bad enough … but MORE than that … they have painted a wrong view of God and would have led Job away from TRUE worship if he had actually taken their advice. They were painting a picture of God as a HEAVENLY VENDING MACHINE - not a God you worship, but a God you WORK - manipulate - you use to get things … “Do good things and God will give you nice stuff.”

A RICHER LIFE, vv. 10-17

It’s not as though Job has been perfect. He’s said wrong things about God in this book too - said that God had turned cruel towards him … that God was persecuting him.

But Job has been grasping, groping for the truth in the middle of darkness and heartache and physical pain … the guy has lost everything and is on his way to death, with his body falling apart - - TRYING to understand God .... even when he couldn’t quite get it.

_______________________________________________________

And you can identify. YOU can identify.

1 RESTORED RELATIONSHIPS, vv. 7-9

That’s why - in verse 1-6, Job repents - not for what his friends want him to repent for - not repenting for some sin that brought the suffering into his life ...

Verse 7, “After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: ‘My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has ...”

… He repents for questioning God’s plan - that God knows what He is doing and is firmly in control - working out good. God has spoken to Job - said, essentially this: “You don’t understand what I’m doing? That’s because you CAN’T understand what I’m doing! And that’s because you are puny, finite human being .... and I am the one, infinite God - created everything with the word of my mouth, sustaining all things by the word of my power - and working out every minute detail in all of this vast universe .... to further my good purposes. There’s no way you can ever understand these ways, Job. No way you can ever understand these ways, Christian .... So just trust me. Just trust me. I love you.”

God is angry at Job’s three, so-called friends.

Job’s confession shows that he finally gets it: “I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

But hang on a second - these three friends have been trying to DEFEND God! They haven’t been questioning His ways - His character - they’ve been standing UP for Him. They may have been a little off - but why is God so angry?

So much of what Job’s friends said was right - it was true

In verses 1-6 - he has a richer relationship with God. He sees God now as he has never seen God before in his life.

Job has been brought to faith … TRUST, DEPENDANCE on God. He used to worship God as the Great King of the universe … TRUE. IMPORTANT.

They believed in the Sovereignty of God; they believed in the righteousness of God … they believed in law and justice and morality … they would have been theological conservatives and we would have cheered them on for much of what they say.

.... but God is angry at them.

But now, he worships God as more than that … He worships God as trustworthy. He thought he knew God before. How much more will he know God after what he has been through.

Do you believe in a God Who gets angry? So many people even inside the Church - struggle with the idea of a God who could ever get angry. All sunshine and roses. Divine Santa Claus .... comes around to give nice gifts - toys, to good little boys and girls. And if they are bad … well, they won’t get their new toys … but anger?

MY EYE SEES YOU

I used to serve you .... know ABOUT You - - but I never really KNEW You … I used to think that suffering meant God’s anger at me … God’s rejection of me. I couldn’t SEE YOU FULLY ...

The God of the Bible gets angry:

, “The WRATH of God is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness of humans … who suppress the truth in their wickedness ...”.

… now, “I understand You as I’ve never understood you before … as a direct result of the suffering he has been through”.

If you don’t understand the wrath of God - you will never make sense of the cross: Why would

I see that I can fall into trial and suffering without any warning but

But it’s one thing for God to be angry with the wicked - why is He angry here – with these friends? He is angry with their false speech: Verse 7, “You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”

Reminds me of the William Cowper hymn that we love around here: “GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY”.

“Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His works in vain. God is His own interpreter … and He will make it plain.”

They would rather defend their idea about God than have compassion for Job. Orthodox doctrine without love is repugnant to Him - it makes Him angry.

God repeats the charge in v. 8, just in case we miss it the first time through.. In other words - more than failing to comfort their godly friend when his world fell apart - which is bad enough … but MORE than that … they have painted a wrong view of God - would have led Job away from TRUE worship if he actually had taken their advice. They were painting a picture of God as a HEAVENLY VENDING MACHINE - not a God you worship, but a God you WORK - manipulate - you use to get things … “Do good things and God will give you nice stuff.”

“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He plants His footstep in the sea, and rides upon the storm.”

It’s not as though Job has been perfect. He’s said wrong things about God in this book too - said that God had turned cruel towards him … that God was persecuting him.

Deep in unfathomable mines of never failing skill, He fashions all His bright designs and works His sovereign will.”

Remember - this is a man who tried to take his own life on 5 different occasions. He was a troubled man - deep psychological trouble and sickness. Lost his mom as a child … was shipped off by his dad to boarding school where it seems he was sexually abused. He struggled with mental illness for his entire life.

But Job has been grasping, groping for the truth in the middle of darkness and heartache and physical pain … the guy has lost everything and is on his way to death, with his body falling apart - - TRYING to understand God .... even when he couldn’t quite get it.

He once tried to jump into a river to kill himself, but it was only a foot deep. It was a tragic life. Do you think that you’re the only one who has ever been where YOU are? Lie of the devil - the enemy of your soul. History is filled with Christians - this

And you can identify. YOU can identify.

That’s why - in verse 1-6, Job repents - not for what his friends want him to repent for - not repenting for some sin that brought the suffering into his life ...

But God put him in a place where he lived almost next door to John Newton - the former slave-ship captain who had been powerfully saved from his sin and transformed - became a pastor. What a providence!

John Newton was his pastor - John Newton, who wrote: “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see!”

… He repents for questioning God’s plan - that God knows what He is doing and is firmly in control - working out good. God has spoken to Job - said, essentially this: “You don’t understand what I’m doing? That’s because you CAN’T understand what I’m doing! And that’s because you are puny, finite human being .... and I am the one, infinite God - created everything with the word of my mouth, sustaining all things by the word of my power - and working out every minute detail in all of this vast universe .... to further my good purposes. There’s no way you can ever understand these ways, Job. No way you can ever understand these ways, Christian .... So just trust me. Just trust me. I love you.”

That man pastored, shepherded William Cowper … this broken man ... cared for him - until Cowper was able to see ...

Job’s confession shows that he finally gets it: (v. 3), “I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” Verse 2, “I KNOW that you can do all things and no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

“Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His work in vain … God is His own interpreter and HE will make it plain.” He came to that point of resignation. God loves you, Christian. The pain that makes no sense … behind that frowning providence, God hides a smiling face.

In verses 1-6 - he has a richer relationship with God. He sees God now as he has never seen God before in his life.

Oh, but He is angry with the friends, isn’t He? Let’s take a look at that again:

Job has been brought to faith … TRUST, DEPENDANCE on God. He used to worship God as the Great King of the universe … TRUE. IMPORTANT.

__________________________________________________

FRIENDS,

But now, he worships God as more than that … He worships God as trustworthy. He thought he knew God before. How much more will he know God after what he has been through.

Much of what Job’s friends said was right - it was true

V. 5 - - MY EYE SEES YOU

I used to serve you .... know ABOUT You - - but I never really KNEW You … I used to think that suffering meant God’s anger at me … God’s rejection of me. I couldn’t SEE YOU FULLY ...

Much of what they said was right - it was true

… now, “I understand You as I’ve never understood you before … as a direct result of the suffering he has been through”.

They believed in the Sovereignty of God; they believed in the righteousness of God … they believed in law and justice and morality … they would have been theological conservatives and we would have cheered them on for much of what they say.

.... but God is angry at them.

I see that I can fall into trial and suffering without any warning but that DOESN’T mean that God, in all His busyness has forgotten me. DOESN’T mean that He has stopped working out my good in love.

Do you believe in a God Who gets angry? So many people even inside the Church - struggle with the idea of a God who could ever get angry. All sunshine and roses. Divine Santa Claus .... comes around to give nice gifts - toys, to good little boys and girls. And if they are bad … well, they won’t get their new toys … but anger?

Reminds me of the William Cowper hymn that we love around here: “GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY”.

The God of the Bible gets angry: , “The WRATH of God is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness of humans … who suppress the truth in their wickedness ...”.

“Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His works in vain. God is His own interpreter … and He will make it plain.”

If you don’t understand the wrath of God - you will never make sense of the cross: Why would

“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He plants His footstep in the sea, and rides upon the storm.”

But it’s one thing for God to be angry with the wicked - why is He angry here? He is angry with their false speech: “You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”

Deep in unfathomable mines of never failing skill, He fashions all His bright designs and works His sovereign will.”

Remember - this is a man who tried to take his own life on 5 different occasions. He was a troubled man - deep psychological trouble and sickness. Lost his mom as a little boy … was shipped off by his dad to boarding school where he was abused in many ways – including sexually, it seems. He struggled with mental illness for his entire life.

They would rather defend their idea about God than have compassion for Job. Orthodox doctrine without love is repugnant to Him - it makes Him angry.

Do you see what God tells the friends, in v. 8? “Get seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And MY SERVANT JOB shall pray for you, for I will ACCEPT HIS PRAYER not to deal with you according to your folly.”

He once tried to jump into a river to kill himself, but it was only a foot deep. It was a tragic life. Do you think that you’re the only one who has ever been where YOU are? Lie of the devil - the enemy of your soul. History is filled with Christians – this church is filled with Christians who know suffering.

‘My servant Job shall pray for you ...” Wow! Do you realize that Job’s friends - his so-called ‘comforters’ have NEVER prayed for him?! They sat in silence beside him. They lectured him, they were angry with him … but NEVER, in this entire book - Does it ever tell us that they prayed for him.

But God put Cowper in a place where he lived almost next door to John Newton - the former slave-ship captain who had been powerfully saved from his sin and transformed - became a pastor. What a providence!

There is something in this sacrifice that would be easy to miss if you aren’t careful. Something that is massively important: Notice Job’s condition WHEN God calls him to pray for his three friends?

THE John Newton was his pastor - John Newton, who wrote: “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see!”

Verse 9, “Eliphaz .... Bildad and Zophar .... went, “.... they go and do as the LORD commands - - they go round up seven sturdy, stubborn bulls, they find and collect seven feisty rams and manage to drag them to where Job is. This is a hugely expensive offering - only nobility can afford an offering this rich. The friends slaughter them and put the pieces of all these animals on the altar. See the smoke rising from the burning carcasses as Job raises his hands in prayer, calling out to God on behalf of these friends … just as he used to pray for God’s mercy on his children after their birthday parties. He’s praying to God, barely able to lift his arms above his head

That man pastored, shepherded William Cowper … this broken man ... cared for him - until Cowper was able to see ...

“Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His work in vain … God is His own interpreter and HE will make it plain.” He came to that point of resignation. God loves you, Christian. The pain that makes no sense … behind that frowning providence, God hides a smiling face.

.... because his body is STILL WASTING AWAY. His skin is still filled with pussing sores, the pain is still excruciating.

.... BECAUSE JOB’S SITUATION HAS NOT CHANGED YET. Don't miss that, friend. We tend to read this part as if God’s restoration has already come. It’s coming … but it hasn’t happened yet. Job is STILL on the ash-heap, still in the garbage dump, homeless, childless, penniless … and God gives him the task of being priest -

Now, back to the FRIENDS,

See what this means - it means that sufferings are no disgrace in God’s eyes - - your pain and heartache is not NECESSARILY God’s punishment on you .... and in the midst of sorrow that you may not know how you will ever survive - you’re tempted to feel abandoned by God .... but He has something for you. He has ministry for you. He has a purpose for you to serve Him, Christian - - NOT WHEN YOU GET BETTER .... but NOW!

Notice what God tells the friends, in v. 8? “Get seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And MY SERVANT JOB shall pray for you, for I will ACCEPT HIS PRAYER not to deal with you according to your folly.”

And see the forgiveness of Job. You’ve been there - person in your life who has hurt you when you needed them most … and you are expected to forgive ...

‘My servant Job shall pray for you ...” Wow! Do you realize that Job’s friends - his so-called ‘comforters’ have NEVER prayed for him?! They sat in silence beside him. They lectured him, they were angry with him … but NEVER, in this entire book - Does it ever tell us that they prayed for him.

These friends came to Job at the lowest point in his life .... and instead of bringing comfort when he has lost everything … they come along, take fist-fulls of salt and grind that salt in the wounds.

There is something in this sacrifice that would be easy to miss if you aren’t careful. Something that is massively important: Notice Job’s condition WHEN God calls him to pray for his three friends?

God says, “Pray for these three.” And Job without any promise of blessing for himself at all .... Job suffering with a body falling apart … Job, skin wasting away, skin and bones all that’s left of his body … Job who has nothing .... he prays for them. What a picture of forgiveness.

Verse 9, “Eliphaz .... Bildad and Zophar .... went, “.... they go and do as the LORD commands - - they go round up seven sturdy, stubborn bulls, they find and collect seven feisty rams and manage to drag them to where Job is. This is a hugely expensive offering - only nobility can afford an offering this rich. The friends slaughter them and put the pieces of all these animals on the altar. See the smoke rising from the burning carcasses as Job raises his hands in prayer, calling out to God on behalf of these friends … just as he used to pray for God’s mercy on his children after their birthday parties. He’s praying to God, barely able to lift his arms above his head

.... because his body is STILL WASTING AWAY. His skin is still filled with pussing sores, the pain is still excruciating.

The friends

.... BECAUSE JOB’S SITUATION HAS NOT CHANGED YET. Don't miss that, friend. We tend to read this part as if God’s restoration has already come. It’s coming … but it hasn’t happened yet. Job is STILL on the ash-heap, still in the garbage dump, homeless, childless, penniless … and God gives him the task of being priest -

See what this means - it means that sufferings are no disgrace in God’s eyes - - your pain and heartache is not NECESSARILY God’s punishment on you .... and in the midst of sorrow that you may not know how you will ever survive - you’re tempted to feel abandoned by God .... but He has something for you. He has ministry for you. He has a purpose for you to serve Him, Christian - - NOT WHEN YOU GET BETTER .... but NOW!

And see the forgiveness of Job. You’ve been there - person in your life who has hurt you when you needed them most … and you are expected to forgive ...

These friends came to Job at the lowest point in his life .... and instead of bringing comfort when he has lost everything … they come along, take fist-fulls of salt and grind that salt into open wounds.

______________________________________________________________________

2 RICHER

God says, “Pray for these three.” And Job without any promise of blessing for himself at all .... Job suffering with a body falling apart … Job, skin wasting away, skin and bones all that’s left of his body … Job who has nothing .... he prays for them. What a picture of forgiveness. The one who longed for a mediator, now becomes God’s mediator for the ones who tormented him.

LIFE, vv. 10-17

And what a beautiful foreshadowing of the greater Mediator to come: “There is one God and One mediator between God and man – the man, Christ Jesus”, as Paul writes in 1 Timothy.

Then comes v. 10 - and the happy ending.

This story is not saying:

See Job, struggling to lift emaciated arms in prayer – so that God will have mercy on his tormentors … that God will be reconciled to these failed friends. And remember that Jesus didn’t just offer up prayers for us – But God took on human flesh to die – so that, “I, the guilty one, may go free”.

This is mercy on display – pointing to the Great Mercy to come.

What the story is saying - remember back to the beginning. Remember back to the enemy of God - who hates us … Satan - - comes prancing before God and taunts him: “The only reason Job - or anyone else, for that matter - the only reason human beings worship you, God, is because of what they get from You. Nobody really LOVES YOU for who You are.”

It was the taunting that started the action of this book and the fact that the book ends like this - proves that Satan hasn’t changed one IOTA of God’s plan.

2 A RICHER LIFE, vv. 10-17

Satan does NOT have the power to change the plan or the purpose of God.

Then comes v. 10 - and the happy ending.

In fact look at v. 11, “Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil .... and don’t miss what comes next … ‘for all the evil that THE LORD HAD BROUGHT UPON Him and each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold.” (piece of silver and ring of gold - marks of respect. Job gets his honor back. His reputation is restored. Treated with dignity again. Speaking of dignity. Don’t miss what is says about the source of Job’s troubles. “… for all the evil that THE LORD HAD BROUGHT UPON HIM.”

This story is not saying:

THE BIBLE WILL NOT EVEN GIVE SATAN THE DIGNITY OF RECEIVING CREDIT FOR JOB’S SUFFERING AND TRIALS.

What the story is saying - remember back to the beginning. Remember back to the enemy of God - who hates us … Satan - - comes prancing before God and taunts him: “The only reason Job - or anyone else, for that matter - the only reason human beings worship you, God, is because of what they get from You. Nobody really LOVES YOU for who You are.”

THE EVIL THAT THE LORD HAD BROUGHT UPON Him. Oh Christian - as we wrap up this series - - have you learned this truth - - that Satan cannot so much as touch a single hair on your head, without God’s permission.

It was the taunting that started the action of this book and the fact that the book ends like this - proves that Satan hasn’t changed one IOTA of God’s plan.

Piper: “Whatever Satan’s liberty in unleashing calamity upon us, God never drops the leash that binds his neck.”

- -- And not only that - but God is using every suffering - every trial … every stroke, every cancer, every heart-attack, every lost loved one and broken family experience … it all comes from Him - “The evil that the LORD had brought upon Him ...”. And He is using it for your good .... because He loves you. Like He loved Job.

Satan does NOT have the power to change the plan or the purpose of God.

Look at the restoration God brings to Job.

V. 13, “And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning ...”. We don’t know how old Job was when the storms hit. He had 10 grown children with their own homes - so he must have been 50-60-70 years old. God restores him - and he lives another 140 years. That’s significant - tells us that the normal life span that God has granted to us as humans … … is 3 score and 10 - 70 years. Job, after his suffering and restoration - gets TWICE THAT. He lives to see and enjoy children, grandchildren … great-grandchildren to the FOURTH generation.

In fact look at v. 11, “Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil .... and don’t miss what comes next … ‘for all the evil that THE LORD HAD BROUGHT UPON Him and each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold.” (piece of silver and ring of gold - marks of respect. Job gets his honor back. His reputation is restored. Treated with dignity again. Speaking of dignity. Don’t miss what is says about the source of Job’s troubles. “… for all the evil that THE LORD HAD BROUGHT UPON HIM.”

THE BIBLE WILL NOT EVEN GIVE SATAN THE DIGNITY OF RECEIVING CREDIT FOR JOB’S SUFFERING AND TRIALS.

This is not just a restoration - - God gives Job TWICE what he had before. This is REWARD .... NOT WAGES - Job doesn’t earn this by his suffering … this is loving reward.

ILLUSTRATION - PARENT.

THE EVIL THAT THE LORD HAD BROUGHT UPON Him. Oh Christian - as we wrap up this series - - have you learned this truth - - that Satan cannot so much as touch a single hair on your head, without God’s permission.

Verse 12 tells us there are 14k sheep, 6k camesl, 1k yoke of oxen and 1k female donkeys. Verse 13, 7 sons and 3 daughters -

Notice the name of the daughters, in v. 14, “And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah ,and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. (16) And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters.”

Piper: “Whatever Satan’s liberty in unleashing calamity upon us, God never drops the leash that binds his neck.”

- -- And not only that - but God is using every suffering - every trial … every stroke, every cancer, every heart-attack, every lost loved one and broken family experience … it all comes from Him - “The evil that the LORD had brought upon Him ...”. And He is using it for your good .... because He loves you. Like He loved Job.

Jemimah - ‘Dove’

Look at the restoration God brings to Job.

Keziah - ‘Cinnamon’

K-H - ‘Container of eyeshadow’.

V. 13, “And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning ...”. We don’t know how old Job was when the storms hit. He had 10 grown children with their own homes - so he must have been 50-60-70 years old. God restores him - and he lives another 140 years. That’s significant -

QUESTION: Does it strike you as strange - disturbing even, that this double replacement could ever be thought of as somehow undoing the hurt that Job has just endured? The 10 KIDS ARE STILL DEAD!

, tells us that the ‘years of our life are …”3 score and 10 - 70 years.” Job, after his suffering and restoration - gets TWICE THAT. He lives to see and enjoy children, grandchildren … great-grandchildren to the FOURTH generation.

Oh, but if you look at the end of the story in that way, you’re missing the point -I am convinced, that in Job’s remaining 140 years, there was not a single a day, when he didn’t

This is not just a restoration - - God gives Job TWICE what he had before. This is REWARD .... NOT WAGES - Job doesn’t earn this by his suffering … this is loving reward.

This isn’t REPAYMENT - this isn’t an erasing of hurt .... this is God vindicating his servant and taking the relationship to a level deeper than ever it was before or ever could have been.

ILLUSTRATION - PARENT.

Kind of like the Garden of Eden -

Verse 12 tells us there are 14k sheep, 6k camesl, 1k yoke of oxen and 1k female donkeys. Verse 13, 7 sons and 3 daughters -

Job could have lived his whole life without the pain he suffered. Could have not lost anything - God could have made that happen for him - - it was already happening! Job could have coasted through this life on the smooth streets of ease ....

… and he never would have KNOWN God. Would have known about him, would have continued to worship Him and serve Him and make sacrifices to Him … but never KNOWN HIM in relationship. Never learned to trust Him - that He loves Job, that even in devastating trial … God is working out His good plan for the the one He loves.

QUESTION: Does it strike you as strange - disturbing even, that this double replacement could ever be thought of as somehow undoing the hurt that Job has just endured? The 10 KIDS ARE STILL DEAD!

No wonder God furthered his education .... He wouldn’t let him live a whole lifetime knowing ABOUT God and never KNOWING GOD - “MY EYE HAS SEEN YOU!”

Y EYE HAS SEEN YOU!”

Oh, but if you look at the end of the story in that way, you’re missing the point -I am convinced, that in Job’s remaining 140 years, there was not a single a day, when he didn’t think about his daughters and sons that were no more - - never a day without a tear for them. You know about that – you who have lost a loved one – a child, a spouse, a parent. My parents died 14 years ago – and there still isn’t a day when I don’t miss them.

My EYE HAS SEEN YOU - and now I know that You don’t abandon your child - no matter how dark the night. Now I know, that even though life may be in pieces … it doesn’t

When the foundation for all my security drops out beneath my feet, I see that I am not plunged into a bottomless pit - no - I see that I fall into the outstretched arms of my heavenly Father - who loves me.

This isn’t REPAYMENT - this isn’t an erasing of hurt .... this is God vindicating his servant and taking the relationship to a level deeper than ever it was before or ever could have been.

The hurt you have suffered will never be erased. That’s not how God works.

Would Abraham and Sarah ever know the power of God if they weren’t childless until old age? Would Joseph ever have known the power and justice of God, if his own brothers didn’t sell him into slavery and if he wasn’t unjustly thrown into prison by his boss? Would Moses and Israelites ever have known the riches of God’s loving, rescuing power, if not for the Egyptian slavery and the Red Sea wall that they couldn’t cross alone? What would Daniel have known about God if not for the lions’ den?

Nothing will ever undo the pain - lost loved one .... abuse, rape … wounds caused by the family member you trusted,

But the point of this ending is that the hurt is not the end. God will vindicate you, Christian.

Job could have lived his whole life without the pain he suffered. Could have not lost anything - God could have made that happen for him - - it was already happening! Job could have coasted through this life on the smooth streets of ease ....

Beautiful picture of family life and a man who is overflowing with delight in his daughters. Wealthy in finances, wealthy in love.

… and he never would have KNOWN God. Would have known about him, would have continued to worship Him and serve Him and make sacrifices to Him … but never KNOWN HIM in relationship. Never learned to trust Him - that He loves Job, that even in devastating trial … God is working out His good plan for the the one He loves.

No wonder God furthered his education .... He wouldn’t let him live a whole lifetime knowing ABOUT God and never KNOWING GOD - “MY EYE HAS SEEN YOU!”

Oh - how life can change in a moment, Christian.

My EYE HAS SEEN YOU - and now I know that You don’t abandon your child - no matter how dark the night. Now I know, that even though life may be in pieces … it doesn’t

You can go from the highest heights - to the lowest lows … in one second flat.

But if that’s where you are right now .... that doesn’t mean this is where you will stay. Are you walking through the valley of the shadow of death?

When the foundation for all my security drops out beneath my feet, I see that I am not plunged into a bottomless pit - no - I see that I fall into the outstretched arms of my heavenly Father - who loves me.

Don’t assume that this is the end for you. Don’t take for granted that there is nothing but sorrow ahead. We don’t know what tomorrow holds. In an instant, without warning - your life has been hit by a storm - a phone call from the doctor, the impact of an oncoming car,

The hurt you have suffered will never be erased. That’s not how God works.

… but as instant as the storm hit .... so instantly can the sun bust through and things change again.

RAVI ZACHARIAS .... Reader’s Digest … lovers

Nothing will ever undo the pain - lost loved one .... abuse, rape … wounds caused by the family member you trusted,

September 1985, READERS DIGEST ran a story titled, “Letter in the Wallet”, written by Arnold Fine.

Why did God allow your pain? As I’ve said before in this series: “I don’t know.” “I don’t know.” But the point of this ending is that the hurt is not the end. God will vindicate you, Christian. Maybe on this side of the grave, maybe across the Jordan … but He will vindicate you and your relationship with him – your life – will be RICHER!

Fine tells how one bitterly cold day he stumbled upon a wallet on the street. It had just three dollars in it and a crumpled-up letter that obviously had been carried around for many years. The letter was dated sixty years earlier and began, “Dear Michael”. The beautifully written, sadly worded letter ended a romance because of a parent’s demands. The last line promised, “I will always love you, Michael,” and was signed, “Yours, Hannah.”

[Arnold] Fine tells how one bitterly cold day he stumbled upon a wallet on the street. It had just three dollars in it and a crumpled-up letter that obviously had been carried around for many years. The letter was dated sixty years earlier and began, “Dear Michael”. The beautifully written, sadly worded letter ended a romance because of a parent’s demands. The last line promised, “I will always love you, Michael,” and was signed, “Yours, Hannah.”

Notice the name of the daughters, in v. 14, “And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah ,and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. (16) And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters.”

Fine decided to try to track down the owner of the wallet. Using Hannah’s address, still legible on the letter, he finally retrieved a telephone number. But when he called it, he was disappointed (though not surprised) to learn that Hannah and her family had long ago moved out of the house. The person on the other end of the line, however, knew the name of the nursing home to which Hannah’s mother had gone. So Fine called the nursing home and learned that Hannah’s mother was no longer living. When he told them what he he was trying to do, however, they gave him the address and telephone number they had on file for Hannah. He called the number and found out that Hannah herself now lived in a nursing home. Fine asked for the name of the home and found the phone number. Soon he was able to confirm that, yes, Hannah was a resident there. As soon as he could, Fine decided to visit the nursing home and try to talk with Hannah.

Jemimah - ‘Dove’

Keziah - ‘Cinnamon’

The director met him at the door and told him that Hannah was watching television on the third floor. An escort quickly took Fine there and then left. Fine introduced himself to Hannah and explained how he had found a letter in a wallet. He showed her the letter and asked if she was the one who had written it.

K-H - ‘Container of eyeshadow’.

“Yes,” Hannah replied, “I sent this letter to Michael because I was only sixteen and my mother wouldn’t let us see each other anymore. He was very handsome, you know, like Sean Connery.” Fine could see both the twinkle in her eye and the joy on her face that spoke of her love for Michael. “yes, Michael Goldstein was his name. If you find him, tell him that I think of him often and never did marry anyone. No one ever matched up to him,” she declared, discreetly brushing tears from her eyes. Fine thanked her for her time and left.

So at the end of the book – this picture of Job’s restored life – paints a Beautiful picture of family life and a man who is overflowing with delight in his daughters. Wealthy in finances, wealthy in love.

As Mr. Fine was leaving the home, the security guard at the door asked him about his visit. He told the story and said, “At least I was able to get the last name from her. His name is Michael Goldstein.”

“Goldstein?” repeated the guard. “There is a Mike Goldstein who lives here on the eighth floor.” Fine turned around and went back inside, this time to the eighth floor, where he asked for Michael Goldstein. When directed to an elderly gentleman, he asked the man, “Have you lost your wallet?”

Oh - how life can change in a moment, Christian.

“Oh, yes, I lost it when I was out for a walk the other day,” Michael answered.

You can go from the highest heights - to the lowest lows … in one second flat.

Fine handed him the wallet and asked if it was his. Michael was delighted to see it again and, full of gratitude to the finder, proceeded to thank him for returning it when Fine interrupted him.

But if that’s where you are right now .... that doesn’t mean this is where you will stay. Are you walking through the valley of the shadow of death?

“I have something to tell you,” Fine admitted. “I read the letter in your wallet.”

Don’t assume that this is the end for you. Don’t take for granted that there is nothing but sorrow ahead. We don’t know what tomorrow holds. In an instant, without warning - your life has been hit by a storm - a phone call from the doctor, the impact of an oncoming car,

Caught off guard, Michael paused for a moment and then asked, “You read the letter?”

… but as instant as the storm hit .... so instantly can the sun bust through and things change again.

RAVI ZACHARIAS .... September 1985, READERS DIGEST ran a story titled, “Letter in the Wallet”, written by Arnold Fine.

“Yes, sir, and I have further news for you,” Fine continued. “I think I know where Hannah is.”

Fine tells how one bitterly cold day he stumbled upon a wallet on the street. It had just three dollars in it and a crumpled-up letter that obviously had been carried around for many years. The letter was dated sixty years earlier and began, “Dear Michael”. The beautifully written, sadly worded letter ended a romance because of a parent’s demands. The last line promised, “I will always love you, Michael,” and was signed, “Yours, Hannah.”

Michael grew pale. “you know where she is? How is she?”

Fine decided to try to track down the owner of the wallet. Using Hannah’s address, still legible on the letter, he finally retrieved a telephone number. But when he called it, he was disappointed (though not surprised) to learn that Hannah and her family had long ago moved out of the house. The person on the other end of the line, however, knew the name of the nursing home to which Hannah’s mother had gone. So Fine called the nursing home and learned that Hannah’s mother was no longer living. When he told them what he was trying to do, however, they gave him the address and telephone number they had on file for Hannah. He called the number and found out that Hannah herself now lived in a nursing home. Fine asked for the name of the home and found the phone number. Soon he was able to confirm that, yes, Hannah was a resident there. As soon as he could, Fine decided to visit the nursing home and try to talk with Hannah.

“She’s fine, and just as pretty as when you knew her.”

“Could you tell me where she is? I’d love to call her. You know, when that letter came to me, my life ended. I’ve never gotten married. I never stopped loving her.”

The director met him at the door and told him that Hannah was watching television on the third floor. An escort quickly took Fine there and then left. Fine introduced himself to Hannah and explained how he had found a letter in a wallet. He showed her the letter and asked if she was the one who had written it.

“Come with me,” said Fine. He took Michael by the elbow and led him to the elevator and down to the third floor. By this time, the director of the building had rejoined them. They came to Hannah’s room.

“Yes,” Hannah replied, “I sent this letter to Michael because I was only sixteen and my mother wouldn’t let us see each other anymore. He was very handsome, you know, like Sean Connery.” Fine could see both the twinkle in her eye and the joy on her face that spoke of her love for Michael. “yes, Michael Goldstein was his name. If you find him, tell him that I think of him often and never did marry anyone. No one ever matched up to him,” she declared, discreetly brushing tears from her eyes. Fine thanked her for her time and left.

As Mr. Fine was leaving the home, the security guard at the door asked him about his visit. He told the story and said, “At least I was able to get the last name from her. His name is Michael Goldstein.”

“Hannah,” the director whispered, gesturing toward Michael, “Do you know this man?”

“Goldstein?” repeated the guard. “There is a Mike Goldstein who lives here on the eighth floor.” Fine turned around and went back inside, this time to the eighth floor, where he asked for Michael Goldstein. When directed to an elderly gentleman, he asked the man, “Have you lost your wallet?”

She adjusted her glasses and looked at the man as she searched her memory bank. Then with a choked voice, Michael spoke up. “Hannah, it’s Michael.” She stood, as he walked over to her. They embraced and held on to each other for as long as they could stay steady on their feet. They sat down, holding hands, and between their tears they filled in the story of the long years that had passed. Feeling as though they had intruded on a sacred moment, Mr. Fine and the director slowly slipped away to leave the two alone to enjoy their reunion.

“Oh, yes, I lost it when I was out for a walk the other day,” Michael answered.

Three weeks later, Arnold Fine received an invitation to attend the wedding of Hannah, seventy-six years of age, and Michael, seventy-eight. Fine closed his story by saying, “How good the work of the Lord is.” 

What a story! It’s got many deep lessons. The greatest one, of course, is God’s sovereignty and providence. It was indeed a match made in heaven. He works the little threads of our lives and weaves it to His will. While it is being weaved, it is often difficult to discern the pattern, but God knows and He works everything beautifully and sweetly.

Fine handed him the wallet and asked if it was his. Michael was delighted to see it again and, full of gratitude to the finder, proceeded to thank him for returning it when Fine interrupted him.

“I have something to tell you,” Fine admitted. “I read the letter in your wallet.”

The faithfulness of Hannah and Michael to their love to each other. Hannah loved Michael faithfully but chose to honor her parent’s wishes, too. Michael also loved her and honored her desire to please her parents. God honored that and gave them a sweet and really heavenly romantic reunion, through Arnold Fine who was willing to trouble himself to learn the story.

Caught off guard, Michael paused for a moment and then asked, “You read the letter?”

Oh Christian, God is good and faithful.

“Yes, sir, and I have further news for you,” Fine continued. “I think I know where Hannah is.”

Michael grew pale. “you know where she is? How is she?”

John Piper:

Behold the mercy of our King, Who takes from death its bitter sting,

And by his blood, and often ours, Brings triumph out of hostile pow’rs.

“She’s fine, and just as pretty as when you knew her.”

And paints, with crimson, earth and soul

“Could you tell me where she is? I’d love to call her. You know, when that letter came to me, my life ended. I’ve never gotten married. I never stopped loving her.”

“Come with me,” said Fine. He took Michael by the elbow and led him to the elevator and down to the third floor. By this time, the director of the building had rejoined them. They came to Hannah’s room.

Until the bloody work is whole.

“Hannah,” the director whispered, gesturing toward Michael, “Do you know this man?”

What we have lost God will restore - That and himself, forevermore,

She adjusted her glasses and looked at the man as she searched her memory bank. Then with a choked voice, Michael spoke up. “Hannah, it’s Michael.” She stood, as he walked over to her. They embraced and held on to each other for as long as they could stay steady on their feet. They sat down, holding hands, and between their tears they filled in the story of the long years that had passed. Feeling as though they had intruded on a sacred moment, Mr. Fine and the director slowly slipped away to leave the two alone to enjoy their reunion.

When he is finished with his art:

The quiet worship of our heart. When God creates a humble hush,

Three weeks later, Arnold Fine received an invitation to attend the wedding of Hannah, seventy-six years of age, and Michael, seventy-eight. Fine closed his story by saying, “How good the work of the Lord is.”

SEE- God’s sovereignty and providence. It was indeed a match made in heaven. He works the little threads of our lives and weaves it to His will. While it is being weaved, it is often difficult to discern the pattern, but God knows and He works everything beautifully and sweetly.

And makes Leviathan his brush,

The faithfulness of Hannah and Michael to their love to each other. Hannah loved Michael faithfully but chose to honor her parent’s wishes, too. Michael also loved her and honored her desire to please her parents. God honored that and gave them a sweet and really heavenly romantic reunion, through Arnold Fine who was willing to trouble himself to learn the story.

It won’t be long before the rod

Oh Christian, God is good and faithful. He is weaving together every strand of your life – your greatest joys, your deepest heartaches, the most vicious attacks against you – even your most painful disappointments with yourself …. He’s taking it all, and weaving all the seemingly isolated strands, into one glorious tapestry that will prove to you, Christian – that He is wonderful beyond comprehension and His plan for you is greater than anything you could have ever designed for yourself. HE IS THE GREAT TREASURE.

Becomes the tender kiss of God.

So trust Him.

Finish this series with the ending of John Piper’s book on Job:

Behold the mercy of our King, Who takes from death its bitter sting,

And by his blood, and often ours, Brings triumph out of hostile pow’rs.

And paints, with crimson, earth and soul

Until the bloody work is whole.

What we have lost God will restore - That and himself, forevermore,

When he is finished with his art:

The quiet worship of our heart. When God creates a humble hush,

And makes Leviathan his brush,

It won’t be long before the rod

Becomes the tender kiss of God.