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| Consider Job's End |
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Consider Job's End
I write this little blog today for the purposes of offering some comfort to those of you have lost loved ones, specifically children, before their God appointed time.
Many of us are familiar with the story of Job. Job suffered through some tremendous trials, yet never once turned his heart away from the Lord. It is so easy for us to relate our lives, the trials and afflictions, to those that Job so faithfully endured. However, as we think upon the many hardships which did in fact come upon him, the scripture encourages us to not think only of the beginning or the middle of Job's life, but to consider above all those things, Job's end.
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. We see that through all of the painful losses that Job endured, the Lord to him remained faithful.
And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. For the purposes of this discussion, I ask that you pay particular attention to that last statement. "the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before."
Let's take a look at some of the possessions Job held prior to this testing period he endured.
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
His substance also was seven thousand sheep,
and three thousand camels,
and five hundred yoke of oxen,
and five hundred she asses,
and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
As the story goes, Job, because of the trials brought unto him from the devil, lost everything you see in the above list, and suffered much, much more. But as we can see in verse 10 above. Most of these things were restored at Job's end to the extent that they now doubled what they once were.
Verse 12 speaks of this as such:
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning:
for he had fourteen thousand sheep,
and six thousand camels,
and a thousand yoke of oxen,
and a thousand she asses.
As you can see, Job's possessions were indeed double what they they had originally been. But notice how above I said that most of what Job had was restored to twice as much as he originally had. Let's not forget that Job also lost his children.
The truth, and the point that I am trying to make here today, can be revealed by what follows in verse 13: He had also seven sons and three daughters.
But didn't the Lord promise Job that he would have twice as much as he did before? Didn't Job originally have seven sons and three daughters?
The answer to to both of those questions is a resounding, yes! You see, Job didn't lose his first set of children forever, only on a temporal basis. Scripturally speaking they were not dead, but merely sleepeth. So therefore, the addition of seven more sons and three daughters as depicted in verse 13, only leads to confirm that Job's children were in fact doubled. Job would be spending eternity, the timeless and wonderful eternity, with all of his children. All fourteen sons and all six daughters. Family restoration is one of God's forte's!
My friends, I offer these truths from the word of God today so that you may be comforted during those times when loved ones in Christ, that have gone on to be with the Lord, seem to be forever absent from your life. In the twinkling of an eye, like the wisp of the wind, you shall be with them again. God's promises are as true to you as they were long ago to our brother Job. Remain faithful in Him because He is a faithful God!
For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God.
First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.
Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Then we will be with the Lord forever.
So encourage each other with these words.
In love,
Michael
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| To add a comment to "Consider Job's End" |
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| January 03, 2009 |
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Great blog! You beat me to your own punch line as I sat reading...I LOVE that distinction the Lord gave by giving him the same number of children again....BUT to me the other assumption we have to make is that each one of Job's children that followed (the second set) served the Lord, each one of them! See they probably went on to live adult lives....I think there was a hidden hope and promise to Job that all of his second set would serve God and find their way to eternity with him...Now, to me that is one of the coolest things!
I honestly don't think I could bear it if my children did not serve the living God, but I just have 2 that I have been made the parent of...to have 20 and have them all serve the Lord...what a testimony! |
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| January 03, 2009 |
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Hi again Lori!
This was a great blog, even if I do say so myself. Not because of the way it was presented, but only because the entire story of Job is one that I find fascinating.
I suppose we do have to make some pretty strong assumptions about the lives that Job's second set of children lived. I, like you, want to believe that they served the Lord with all their heart. One thing is for sure. You can bet Job himself was chaperoning each and every one of their parties! I bet he watched over those kids like a hawk!
Being the wonderful mother that you are Lori, to the two children that you have, is a powerful testimony all in itself. Don't you ever forget that! I am quite proud of you!
You know that book on the life of Paul I loaned you by Charles Swindoll? Well, I also have his book on the life of Job, and after today, I may in fact find the motivation to read it!
Thanks my friend! |
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| January 03, 2009 |
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I saw you had Job, it is the next one I want to read, I have been reading Ester over again this weekend, it is just full of stuff...If you don't read Job before me I might snag it from you so you better get crackin!
That is funny about the party comment...LOL
Thanks for the compliment Michael always means something coming from you!
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| January 03, 2009 |
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| Michael, this is fantastic! I had never noticed that the number of children stayed the same. What a comfort to those who are grieving! 5 stars! |
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| January 03, 2009 |
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Amen Kathy!
Isn't that a wonderful nugget from God's word?
Thanks so much for the comment and the stars, all five of them! |
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| January 03, 2009 |
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Thank you, Michael.
Love,
Joey |
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| January 03, 2009 |
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No, thank you Joey!
Bless your heart! |
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| January 04, 2009 |
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| Thanks Michael, this had really helped me. 5 stars. |
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| January 04, 2009 |
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| I am glad to hear that W.S.C. - Peace be unto you! |
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| January 05, 2009 |
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I am so very happy to hear that Carrie Ann!
Bless your heart! |
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| January 06, 2009 |
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I am laughing...THIS is my walk in life. I have lost many children, one murdered and my last daughter injured beyond comprehension. God has restored her and daily is building her. God will restore every drop of my life.
If you are reading Micheal's blog, I encourage you, if you don't have a relationship with Jesus...please message Michael or any one of us and ask about this peace and restoration you can have in your life...it is REAL!! |
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| January 06, 2009 |
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I am hearing you loud and clear Cheryl!
I know only bits and pieces of your story but I can attest to the fact that you have lived, and in a sense are living, the Job experience. I am ever so sad to know of your lost loved ones but I am at the same time delighted to realize your understanding of the true meaning of temporal.
Bless your heart my sister and thanks for being you!
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| January 07, 2009 |
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Please do pray for Jodi, Michael. She does know Jesus, hallelujah, but is grieving Jordan so much, of course.
http://www.mychurch.org/blog/372879/jordan She has a huge bill for the funeral, has no income, no husband (divorce?) and is struggling as any of us would.... all prayers appreciated. |
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| January 07, 2009 |
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| Of course I will pray for your friend MB. I know, in an experiential way, that Jesus can make a way when there seems to no way! For He is the Way! |
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| January 08, 2009 |
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| WOW thank you so much for the hope. |
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