In Job chapter one we read about the many calamities that came upon Job. Certainly, Job would not have considered what remained of his life as a “life.” There are some things in this world that are worse than death. Job was as a walking dead man—brokenhearted, lonely, and afflicted day-and-night.
God allowed Satan to afflict Job, and he did. Job lost his health and was afflicted in much pain. Job lost all his wealth. Job lost all his children to death. Job lost his agriculture and servants. Job's own wife discouraged him and suggested that he go kill himself. Job's so-called friends ridiculed and wrongfully judged him.
In Job chapter one Job couldn't say, “I know that my redeemer liveth,” for his faith had not yet been shaken. Job couldn't say, when his children were suddenly taken in a deadly accident, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Job's faith had never been shaken like this before. Job had never suffered like this before.
We read in Job 1:5 that Job “rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.” Job was a good father and worried about his children (as is in the nature of any good father). Job prayed to God on behalf of his children, just in case one of them perhaps had sinned against the Lord. Job loved his children dearly and didn't want anything bad to happen to them, which is exactly why Job 1:5 tells us that Job prayed and made offerings to the Lord on their behalf.
It is heartbreaking that Job's worst fears came upon him. Job's children, whom he loved dearly, were all suddenly taken away from him, torn from his presence. Poor Job! At this tragic time in Job's life he couldn't proclaim as he did later in Job 19:25, “FOR I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” By chapter 19 we see that Job's faith has been SHAKEN, and now he has UNSHAKABLE faith!!!
In Job chapter one when Job's wealth was all suddenly stripped away from him, and his health took a sudden turn for the worse, Job couldn't proclaim as he could later in Job 13:15, “THOUGH HE SLAY ME, YET WILL I TRUST IN HIM: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”
Job couldn't have UNSHAKABLE faith until he first had his faith SHAKEN... terribly shaken!!!
The Bible teaches in James 1:2-4 that unshakable faith comes from having our faith shaken, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Faith is like film, it develops in the dark. Faith is like a muscle, it gets stronger when worked.
My pastor this Sunday morning preached about Abraham's faith. Before Abraham was saved in Genesis 15:6, his name was simply, Abram. In Genesis 12:1-3 God told Abraham to “get thee out of thy country.” This was approximately in the year 1900 BC. That's quite a big thing to ask a man to do. Abraham was wealthy, popular, religious and had a big extended family in Ur where he was originally from (Iraq today). God told Abram to leave his homeland and go into a distant unknown land. Abraham had no idea where he was going. It was by complete faith that Abram obeyed the voice of the Lord. From Abraham's life we learn that understanding often doesn't come until after obedience. Oftentimes we cannot comprehend why things are happening the way they are, but we can have blessed peace in trusting God Who knows all things. I don't know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future!
Oh listen my friend, whatever your burdens may be at this moment, God loves and cares about you, and you can rest assure in the PROMISES of God that the shaking of your faith will result in an UNSHAKABLE FAITH that all the hordes of Hell cannot rattle when it's work is through. HAVE FAITH IN GOD!
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” —1st Peter 1:7
