Job 3:1-12; 23

WHY?

Intro: Ill. On February 15, 1947 Glenn Chambers boarded a plane bound for Quito, Ecuador to begin his ministry in missionary broadcasting. But he never arrived. In a horrible moment, the plane carrying Chambers crashed into a mountain peak and spiraled downward. Later it was learned that before leaving the Miami airport, Chambers wanted to write his mother a letter.

        All he could find for stationery was a page of advertising on which was written the single word “Why?” Around that word he hastily scribbled a final note. After Chambers' mother learned of her son's death, his letter arrived. She opened the envelope, took out the paper, and unfolded it. Staring her in the face was the question “Why?”

        Life is filled with its “Why” moments. Why do children suffer? Why do terrible things happens to decent people? Why do the wicked prosper while the righteous seem to have more than their share of difficulty? The “Why’s” could go on forever! Our church is facing a “Why” moment today. One of our members, Sister Vivian Kincaid was taken from us by a senseless and selfish act of violence. “Why?”

        In the midst of his trials, that was Job’s question. Job’s “Why” revolves around why he was even allowed to be born when such tragedy was in his future. I am not sure that we can ever adequately address the “Why” question in this life. But, there is some help for us in Job’s trials.

        Let’s take some time today to retread some familiar territory. I want to preach on the question “Why?” I do not intend to answer the question, but I do want to show you that even our “Why” times have their place in our lives. I want you to see that even our “Why” times are designed to mature us and help us become more like Him. Let’s reconsider the ancient story of Job today as we consider the question “Why”.

       

I.             THE TRAGEDIES OF JOB’S LIFE

A. Job lost much: Family, Fortune, Fitness, Friends

B. Ill. Our Troubles - Job 5:7; 14:1; Eccl. 2:17, 23; John 16:33. None of us leave this life untouched and unscathed by trouble.

C. Trials will do one of two things in your life:

1.  They Can Drive you to God – If you understand that the Lord is in control of all of life, Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-6, then you can rest in the sure knowledge that God is in control of all that comes to pass in life, Rom. 8:28.

2.  They Can Drive you away from God – Some people react to their “Why’s” with anger. They become upset because God didn’t do anything to stop their “Why” moment from happening.

(Ill. Our troubles can make us or they can break us.)

 II.            THE TEMPTATIONS

                      OF JOB’S LIFE

(Ill. When these events occurred in Job’s life, he was faced with certain temptations. These are the same temptations we all face when trouble haunts us.)

A. He Could Have Faulted God - (On God - Job 1:11; 2:5; On Self - Job 8:1-5, his friends said it was his fault!)

 

(Note: One of the great benefits of suffering is that it reveals the true character of the people around you!  Ill. Job’s friends. The Bible says that they came to “comfort” him, Job 2:11.  All they did was level one attack after the other at poor, old Job. Look at what they said to him.

1.  Eliphaz - This is the man of Testimonial Experience. He has already been there and done that. No matter what you go through, this kind of person has had it worse. Know anyone like that? (Man will fail you, Jesus cannot - Pro. 18:24)

a. 4:3-4 He Flatters Job - Tells him what a blessing he has been, he really butters old Job up.

b. 4:5-11 He Flogs Job - He accuses him of Hypocrisy, v. 5,8; Weakness, 5-6; 10-11; Wickedness, 7-9.

c. 4:12-5:27 He Floors Job - Says that he is Self-righteous, 17; Not accepted by God, 5:1; Simply getting what he deserved, 5:13; Has a bad attitude, 5:17. In 15:2, Eliaphaz goes as far as to call Job and old windbag! There is more, but who needs a friend like that?

2. Bildad - This is the man of The Traditional Explanation.

a. 8:2 His Attack - He calls Job an old wind bag

b. 8:3-22 His Appeal - Bildad says that all these things happened to Job because he was a bad fellow.

3. Zophar - The man of the Total Estimation - He looks at the situation and simply tells Job that he needs to repent of his sins and get right with God, and then these things wouldn't happen. In fact, he tells Job that Job is getting far less that he deserves, Job 11:1-7.

4. Elihu - The man of Truthful Expression – Elihu is just mad at everybody. He says they are all wrong; Job 32:1-3. It takes this blabber mouth five whole chapters to tell us that God is good, great and fair. Still, he never does do Job any good.)

 

B.  He Could Have Forsaken God – Job could have adopted the attitude of his wife - Job 2:9. Ill. Many people react with bitterness toward the things God allows in their lives. The deaths of loved ones, illnesses, tragedies, etc., all have the power to create bitterness within our hearts, if we do not maintain the proper perspective. Ill. David’s reaction to the death of his child – 2 Sam. 12:13-23! (Ill. It would do us well to remember that God’s purpose in trials is not to destroy us, but to perfect us, Rom. 8:29; Eph. 4:13-15. Just as pressure, heat and time are needed to create a diamond; the same things are needed to produce saints!)

                (Ill. Never give up on the Lord! - Gal. 6:9) (3:1-19; 6:8-9)

 

III.           THE TESTIMONY OF JOB’S LIFE

A. He Worshiped - Job 1:20 - Renewed his commitment. (Ill. This is not the reaction most people exhibit.)

B.  He Witnessed - 1:21 - Declared his faith in God.  (Ill. God shouldn’t have to please us to get us to serve Him!) (Ill. We love it when the Lord gives.  We do not like it when the Lord takes away! But, the same God Who gives is the same God Who can also take things away. Ill. Elijah and his dry brook, 1 Kings 17:1-7. Sometimes trouble comes because you are in the will of God.

C.  He Wondered - 1:22; 2:10 - Didn’t accuse God.

        1.  He declared confidence in God purposes - 42:2; Rom. 8:28

2. He realized his limited perspective - Job 42:3

D.  He Waited - 42:5 - He knew that he didn’t understand it all.  Therefore, he placed his eyes on God.  Ill. Heb. 12:1-3

 

IV.        THE TRIUMPH JOB’S LIFE

A.  His Realization - 42:5-6 - That victory lies in God - 1 Cor. 15:57. Job finally saw that this thing was bigger than Job. It finally dawned on Job that all these things happened not because of his sins, and not because of all the things he was accused of by his friends.  He came to understood that all this happened for the glory of God! If we could ever get a handle on that it would help us greatly! All of life is about God getting His glory from us, 1 Cor. 10:31. (Ill. Job won the victory in 1:21; planted the flag in 13:15; and marched home in glory in 42:6)

B.  His Restoration - 42:10b-17 - (Ill. Twice as much!)  God can give you better things than those you might have lost, or are worried over losing!

C.  His Reflection – 42:14 - We are told that Job and his wife had 10 more children. Three of them were daughters. We are told their names, and the names Job gave to these girls revealed the condition of his heart.

        1.  Jemima - (Day or dove) - This name indicates that God had given Job day in place of his night and peace in place of his turmoil.

        2.  Kezia - (Fragrance) - Indicating that God had replaced Job’s sorrow with the sweet smell of His grace.

        3.  Keren-Happuch - (Box of eye-paint) - This word was also used to refer to Moses when he came off the mountain with his face aglow with the glory of God. It refers to glory, or brightness. The idea here is that Job is praising God for the fact that God has replaced his wretchedness with glory!

                When restoration has been achieved, look for a way to praise God for the time you spent in your valley. Thank Him for your Jemima, your Kezia and your Keren-Happuch. Regardless of how dismal and dark the valley, He was always there with you as you traveled through, Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20. Trust God and He will allow you to taste the sweetness of victory - Psa. 30:5.

 

Conc: The bitter news of Dawson Trotman's drowning swept like cold wind across Schroon Lake to the shoreline. Eyewitnesses tell of the profound anxiety, the tears, the helpless disbelief in the faces of those who now looked out across the deep blue water. Everyone's face, that is, except one - Lila Trotman, Dawson's widow. As she suddenly walked upon the scene a close friend shouted, “Oh, Lila, he's gone. Dawson's gone!” To that she replied in calm assurance the words of Psalm 115:3, “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased”

        All of the anguish, the sudden loneliness that normally consumes and cripples those who survive did not invade that woman's heart. Instead, she leaned hard upon her sovereign Lord, who had once again done what He pleased.

        Are you looking at a “Why” situation today? Why not bring your “Why” to the Lord? Why not let Him have your “Why”?