Nothing stretches our faith or our knowledge of God more than when tragedy strikes. That is what Job and his friends were about to learn. Amid the tears, it may appear that God is silent for a time; as our hearts yearn to find Him. We want to hear His answer; yet, we cannot see the truth that He is there in the center of our tragedy. It is hard to see His hand of love; because, we somehow think that He should answer us with the answer we want. Instead, He is wiser and knows the answer is found only as we grow to know Him better. God sees the very depth of our heart and knows what we need. Hidden within, He has a blessing.
As I pointed out in How Can Suffering Be God’s Divine Purpose for Good; hidden deep within the heart of Job was a thread of pride. It had not yet caused him to sin; but, combining that with his belief in the doctrine of retribution, it would have been only a matter of time. Knowing this, God allowed Satan to bring tragedy into his life. The pain and sorrow forced Job to rethink all he had believed of God and to ultimately recognize God’s Divine Purpose, His Sovereignty, and His Grace poured out upon this broken world. Not only did God use Job’s suffering through tragedy to transform his life; but, also the lives of his friends who needed to discover the truth. Let’s look at his friends and how their theology failed. We often face the same false theologies today.
Eliphaz-The Prosperity Gospel
Eliphaz urged Job to repent of his sins that he might be blessed by God. He believed that righteous living and faith, always brings blessings. Therefore, if you are facing a tragedy in life it must be punishment from God. Never could it be anything else. If only you would do what is right and trust God, everything will always be good. We see the phony smiles that urge us to just claim before God our desires for riches, cars, and health; He will provide whatever we ask of Him. But what if those riches, cars, and health would lead us down a path of destruction, away from Him? Would those things be a true blessing? No; because, the greatest treasure we can find is God, Himself. Often, He comes in the midst of the whirlwind.
Job had perhaps believed this; until, he faced tragedy himself. Then, he is faced with the reality of looking around him. It is easy not to see the depths of tragedy around us; until, we too face tragedy. Job knew that God was good and just; but, now he was forced to deal with the problem of evil in the world. Before that, Job did not think much about it. Now, he would need to gain a new perspective in order to see aspects of God’s character that he had never seen before.
As Jonathan Edwards points out (see my post: 3 Powerful Defenses Facing the Problem of Evil) our true happiness is proportionately dependent upon our knowledge of God, in all His Splendor and Glory. I cannot know the depth of His Love and Grace; if I do not know His Righteousness, His Justice and His hatred of evil.
Bildad-Legalism
Another false ideology that limits God use of tragedy for blessing is the legalist. Bildad pressed the thought, all tragedy comes as a result of sin. He insisted that Job’s trials came; because, he had sinned against God. Although, it is true that God disciplines his children in order to guide them; it is not always true that every tragedy is a result of sin. Sometimes, He allows tragedy to bring his children closer to Him. Also, He may use tragedy in the life of a believer; in order to open the eyes of another. When He does that, He is graciously sharing a part of His Glory with us. How?
God does not need me to bring an unbeliever to Christ; however, when He uses my life story to present Christ to someone, He has shared a part of His glory with me. One of His most glorious acts is the eternal salvation of a soul. If somehow, He uses my tragedy to open the eyes of another; then, He has shared that glory with me. This is dealt with more fully in Chapter 14: Ascending to the Edge of Glory in my book, Abiding, Steadfast Joy.
Zophar-The Righteous Bigot
A third “friend” of Job, enters the scene with name calling. He, too believed in a form of the doctrine of retribution; however, even harsher than Eliphaz and Bildad. Resorting to harsh name calling, he proclaimed that Jobs only hope was to “do as I say do”. Otherwise, you are a hopeless sinner, whom I will not even waste my breath on. He had no empathy for Job’s situation; only, harsh words of criticism. We have all met a Zophar somewhere along the journey of life. The one who proclaims that they have the moral high ground and if you disagree you are beyond help as a “racist, bigot, etc.” Whereas, the truth is Zophar was the righteous Bigot.
Tragedy is Really the Blessing
When we consider the tragedy of Job; remember, that God’s Divine Purpose was to bring Job into a deeper understanding, communion, and knowledge of God. God knew that Job feared Him and went about everyday working hard to stay in God’s good graces; however, he did not really know the depth of His love. Tragedy brought Job the blessing of knowing God as his friend, his Father, and his hope in this broken world. As Job struggled, he gained a knowledge of God and a communion with Him; greater than He had never known before. Having faced such tragedy, his joy in God overflowed. One cannot truly know the splendor of a new sunrise; unless, one has confronted the darkest night.
Concluding Thoughts:
Whatever tragedy you face today, trust God. Don’t let the prosperity gospel folks, the legalists, nor the righteous bigots push you into despair. Know this: “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:28). If it is a tragedy that conforms me to look more like Jesus; well, bring it on! I know that God will use it for His Glory, and I can trust Him to turn a tragedy into a blessing for me and for His Kingdom.
Then we shall sing as David.
“Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper. Thou has turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou has put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever” (Psalm 30:10-12).
Concluding Tweets
[bctt tweet=” One cannot truly know the splendor of a new sunrise; unless, one has confronted the darkest night” username=”effiedarlene”]
[tweetthis]Whatever tragedy you face, you can trust God to turn it into a blessing[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]Just wait and see, God will turn your mourning into dancing with joy[/tweetthis]
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ABIDING, STEADFAST JOY
A labor of love, this book provides you with 3 foundations of truth from the scripture which once known will provide you with abiding, steadfast joy. Undaunted by the storms of life; your joy will overflow.
WHEN INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE REIGN:
Through a study of Nahum, Habukkuk, and Zephaniah; I brought their message into our modern times. Answering the questions of “Why, God?”
Providing a foundation of faith and hope; even, as we see so much evil in the world and in our nation. With so much sorrow and despair, this book I wrote to guide you into discovering God’s Perfect Plan of love; amid this chaotic world filled with life’s storms.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
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Credits and Footnotes
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