He was a poor little bird who had a hard day. He never saw the problem coming. One second, he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up and blown over.
The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She’d barely said hello when “Ssopp!” Chippie got sucked in.
The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum and opened the bag. There was Chippie-still alive but stunned.
Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do . . . she reached for the hair dryer and blasted with hot air.
Poor Chippie never knew what hit him.
A few days after the trauma, the reporter who had initially written about the event contacted Chippie’s owner to see how the bird was recovering. “Well,” she replied, “Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore-he just sits and stares.”
Job knew the sudden shock Chippie experienced. Understanding the grief he endured defied explanation. He could be defining grief for generations for come.
Grief is the state of dealing with loss. Wayne Oats, Christian counselor, defined grief as, “the aftermath of any deeply significant loss.”
Others have defined five kinds of grief.
- Anticipatory Grief. This kind of grief is long in coming. It is expected but has not arrived. An example would be the grief of knowing a sick loved one will pass.
- Sudden/Traumatic Grief. This grief has provided no such warning. There is no time for preparation. It strikes like lightning. It is accompanied by shock. An individual is hit with a blow, assaulted by reality.
- No End Grief. This grief goes on and on. There is a perpetual sorrow.
- Near Miss Grief. This grief comes from a disaster averted. It still results in grief.
Grief does not have a nice little ending. It defies explanation and does not follow nice little steps. No one can tell you about your grief.
You might feel like one person described, “Why do the birds continue to sing? Why does the sun shine? It is unpredictable, uncontrollable, terrifying, unnerving. It causes sadness, despair, brokenness, and overwhelming.
Understanding Job’s grief demands looking at the first two chapters of the book. They confront the reader on several levels.
Background into the life of Job (1:1-5)
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. 4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
First understand a little about job:
- His fortune. Job has wealth that is above and beyond of any in his world. Thousands of animals belong to him. His large estate is run by numerous servants.
- His family. His progeny includes seven sons and three daughters. This large family enjoys the wealth their father provides. They are a close family, looking for opportunities to come together.
- His reputation. He is the greatest in the east. People respected Job and listened to his words of wisdom (4:3-4)
The cause of Job’s Suffering. Satan’s attack. (1:6-12)
6 One day the angels r came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan s also came with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” 8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
- The scene shocks people. God is on the throne. Satan is…? The answer surprises us. He is among the angels called before God. He roams the earth but also to be called into the great courts of heaven.
- The angels are called before God to give account. They serve at God’s whim. Each is held accountable for their actions. Even the archdemon himself appears before God.
- The enemy speaks accusing Job of being devout because God has provided a hedge around him. Satan’s accusation is that if Job had not enjoyed God’s blessing Job would not have followed. While that may not be the charge brought against us, we can know with certainty that Satan is still the accuser of the brethren.
- The challenge is laid out. “God if you take your hand off Job, he will curse you.” We might wonder why God would allow this attack, but He does. In His sovereignty God does allow His servants to be tried.
Satan’s Painful Attacks (1:13-21)
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
- With dizzying speak Job learns of the great loss of his property. That might have been enough to give Job pause, but the last messenger must have dropped him to his knees. His children, all ten of them, are gone. A disaster has instantly wiped out Job’s family.
- The loss was so painful. While they were yet speaking… Again, and again the messengers came.
- Job’s response defies explanation. He refuses to turn on God. He did not sin against God.
Round Two
1 On another day the angels z came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” 3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” 4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 6 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
- Again, God assembles the heavenly beings. Again, Satan appears. Again, God points out the faithfulness of Job. How God delighted in reporting Job’s faithfulness!
- Round two begins. Job says that Job’s faithfulness is due to God’s protection. If only Satan could touch the servant, Job would surely fall.
- In rapid fashion Job is again attacked. This time he is inflicted with painful sores all over his body. We have no idea what specific malady struck Job, but the result was Job being relegated to the ash heap. Sitting day after day with the only relief coming from his scraping the sores with a piece of broken pottery.
- Into the scene comes Job’s wife. Unnamed she is noted only for this one speech. “Curse God and die. It would be easy to join the throng of people who condemn her. In truth she is expressing the hurt that she feels. She grieves, as does her husband, the loss of her children. Does she think he would be better off to go home. Perhaps. But her words do not speak of kindness.
JOB’S RESPONSE (2:10)
10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Job still refuses to curse God. He will not sin regardless the suffering. He will not turn on
God despite the pain. Nothing will cause Job to lose his focus.
SPIRITUAL REALITIES
How do we manage seasons of great pain. The remainder of the book will demonstrate their struggle. We offer no simple answers. The struggle is real. We will spend multiple weeks seeking to understand the struggle. For today I offer five truths.
- Satan has access to God. He still speaks to God. He still accuses us.
- Satan is accountable to God. He can do nothing apart from God’s allowance.
- Satan walks back and forth on the Earth. He is NOT omnipotent; he cannot be everywhere. But he does have access to the world. He has an army of demons at his disposal.
- God sometimes allows Satan to attack us. Do not confuse this with the chastening He gives those He loves. (Heb 12:5-6) God’s discipline of His children is different from the hand of Satan on us. We will try to understand with Job and his friends the “why.” For today we must accept the fact that God does allow His people to face trials.
- God is greater than Satan and walks with His people. We can trust Him even when we do not understand.
