The Test Can Hit Close To Home

"He has the patience of Job."

Have you ever heard anyone use that phrase?

What they mean is "He sure is patient while enduring some really tough times."

Why was Job so patient?

He trusted and loved God.

Job 1:1 (ESV) "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."

He feared God.

He was awestruck by the holiness and mercy and power of God.

He loved God.

That's why he "turned away from evil".

Sometimes he messed up.

He was a sinner just like us.

But God had his heart.

Satan can't stand that.

He asked God for permission to strip Job of his wealth and his family.

Job 1:8-11 (ESV) "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?"

Then Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason? 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. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face."

And God allowed it.

Job 1:20-22 (ESV) "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 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." In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong."

He didn't curse God, like Satan said he would.

So the test continued.

Job 2:3-5 (ESV) "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? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason."

Then Satan answered the Lord and said, "Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face."

And God allowed it.

Job 2:7 (ESV) "So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head."

The temptation to be angry and curse God was huge.

At that very moment his wife spoke:

Job 2:9 (ESV) "Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die."

Sometimes those closest to us can cause us to fail the test.

It's here that I see the size of Job's spirit.

And the depth of his commitment.

Job 2:10 (ESV) "But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips."

Fear God.

Turn away from evil.

Love Him more than anyone else.

You'll pass the test too.