“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
When we consider the person of Job in the Old Testament, if ever there was a man who experienced “captivity” it was he. Imprisoned by the loss of wealth, family, friends, health, and liberty, he was a captive with little or no hope of escape. However, by the grace of God, Job resolved in the midst of such suffering, and the misguided judgement of friends and family alike, that he would seek to be faithful to God. Job’s road to walk was arduous, difficult, and tortuous, as he was increasingly captive to that which warred against his soul, spirit, and body. There is no mention in Scripture that Job understood that Satan had a very significant role in his suffering, but there is the mention, even the dominate theme of God’s sovereign intervention in his life. Though Job’s suffering was long, there was one thing that he would not lose, except God will it. It was his life, a life that was held intact by a very thin, yet eternal, thread of power, that of God. There remained throughout Job’s ordeal the response of faith in the One who held his life, kept him in life, and gave to him thus, a hope, though seemingly very small at times. That glimmer of hope seemed to be increasingly narrow and small with the limitations of his existence closing in around him, making his “captivity” ever so small. And yet, the God of Job knew the heart of Job His servant and sought by allowing Job to be put into such trying, narrow circumstances, to be brought to the place of utter dependence upon his Maker and Sustainer in life. The faith of Job most certainly was nurtured on the remembrance of the God who had blessed him before, giving him life. It is to Him that he would certainly commit himself again and again until the reason for which God had allowed his captivity was accomplished.
When God had allowed Job to come to the limit of his small knowledge of Him, remaining faithful according to that knowledge, God revealed Himself to him in a particular way. He began to ask Job questions about his knowledge and understanding of God. One of those questions was: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding.” (38:4) He continued by asking, “Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, and spread its wings toward the south? Does the eagle mount up at your command, and make its nest on high?” (v. 26,27) It is in the context of God’s infinite wisdom and care that He reveals to Job that He is so much more than Job can possibly understand. And yet, with that understanding He desires to take Job much higher, and deeper in his experiential knowledge of Him. Why then the suffering, and captivity of Job? Why must he be deprived of all that would seem good and wholesome? It is because there is an infinite difference between knowing about God, worshipping Him according to that knowledge, and then knowing HIM by the Spirit. As flesh and blood cannot enter into the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power, so the true and increasing knowledge of God is only received and grasped as the Spirit of God reveals it.
Job is called upon to not contend with God, but to look heavenward to his only Hope, and certain Help. God comes to Job, deals with Satan who had been oppressing him, to bring Job to the point where he confesses: “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You, Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (42:5) It was at that time that God released Job from his captivity, bringing him into the liberty of the everlasting love, goodness, and mercy of God.
Dear Father, Teach us Thy love, In Jesus’ name, Amen.