Re: Sermon: Focusing on "Who" rather than "Why” (Job 42:7-17)

Trusting God in the midst of trials is never easy. Some people may experience great trials (terminal illness, broken relationships, financial hardship, etc), while others may experience comparatively small trials (sickness, misunderstanding with friend, car breaking down, etc). Regardless of how great or small our trial may be we all struggle with trusting God at one time or another.

So often, in the midst of trials, we ask “Why?”  In my last entry, I wrote of importance of learning to ask “What?” in the midst of a trial, as in “what can I learn from this trial?” rather than becoming consumed with finding out “why.” Another question that is important for us to learn to ask in the midst of trials and suffering is “Who?” as in “Who knows every aspect of my life? Past, present, and future.” “Who is in control of all things and sent His Son to die in my place?” The answer: God.

As we finished up our series on the book of Job this past Sunday, we find God rebuking Job’s three friends (Job 42:7-17). God declares that His wrath is kindled against Eliphaz and the other two friends in verse 7, yet in verse 8, rather than reading of how God pours out His wrath upon the three, God tells them to offer a sacrifice and have Job pray on their behalf so that God will “not do with [them] according to [their] folly,” because they had sinned against God. What an amazing picture of God’s mercy! Yet when we stop and think about this some more in light of our own lives, we see how God has been so merciful to us in spite of our own sin. To better see this, it is helpful to view yourself in light of this passage:

It came about after the Lord had spoken these words, that the Lord said to _Your name here_ “My wrath is kindled against you, because you have _sins that you are currently struggling with_. (adapted from Job 42:7)

God, being holy and just, has every right to follow this sentence with a declaration of your punishment and judgment. Instead, the following verse would read something like this:

Now therefore, repent of your sins and place your faith in Jesus Christ, who died the death you should have died, so that you may receive forgiveness of sins and new life in Christ. For I have accepted His sacrifice on your behalf so that I may not do with you according to your follow, because of your sin, which My Son Jesus died for. (adapted from Job 42:8)

As I stop and reflect on that, I realize that though I do not always know “Why” certain things happen, I do know “Who” is watching over me in the midst of my trial: God who is rich in mercy!

Job 42 gives a beautiful picture of “Who” is in control of every detail of my life: God who is all-powerful (Job 42:2), all-wise (42:3), rich in mercy (42:7-9), and rich in grace (42:10-17) and as we better know the answer to the question of “Who?” the less we worry about “Why?” and learn to trust in God. In light of this understanding of God, it is still very difficult to trust in God sometimes and God in His grace has placed loving brothers and sisters around us to encourage us during these times.

Are you seeking to renew your mind and remind yourself of God so that you are prepared for current or future trials?

• If so, how? If not, how can you be active and intentional in seeking to fix your eyes on Christ rather than your current circumstance? (prayer, time in God’s Word, reflecting on instances of God’s grace and mercy in your life).

Are you in the midst of a trial and having difficulty trusting God?

• Are you seeking to renew your mind and remind yourself of God? If so, how? If not, how can you be active and intentional in seeking to fix your eyes on Christ rather than your current circumstance? (prayer, time in God’s Word, reflecting on instances of God’s grace and mercy in your life).
• Share your struggle with a fellow brothers and sisters in your fellowship, so that they can encourage you and remind you of the grace and mercy of God.
• If you aren’t in the midst of trial, do you know someone who is that you can encourage? Make a plan of how you will encourage this brother or sister.

God, who is rich in mercy and grace, calls us to be merciful and gracious to others (even to those who are not merciful or gracious to us, i.e. Job's friends), just as He is merciful and gracious (Lk 6:

• How would you define mercy? How are you seeking to be merciful towards others?
• How would you define grace? How are you seeking to be gracious towards others?
• Are there any people in particular that you have difficulty practicing this? Pray and have others pray for you in this area.