The Restoration of Job
Open Your Bible
Job 42:1-16, Psalm 40:10-13, Lamentations 3:19-26
BY Melanie Rainer
I’ve always been afraid of the book of Job.
I’m afraid of Job’s story, the way I’m afraid of Abraham’s, and Mary’s, and the disciples’. I’m afraid the cost of following Jesus will be too much for me—unlike Abraham, who obeyed God and prepared his son for sacrifice; and Mary, who was willing to face scandal as an unwed mother; and Jesus’s first disciples, most of whom died as martyrs. I’m afraid that, when faced with the sharp rock of suffering, my faith will shatter like glass. I don’t trust my flesh, which I know will fail. I’m afraid to live fully, to love completely, and trust wholly. I am afraid to suffer.
Of course, I have suffered a variety of wounds, as we all have. If there is a more common thread to humanity than suffering, I’m not sure I know it. And so Job’s story is, naturally, my story. And your story, and your neighbor’s story, and every member of your family’s story, and that person who served you coffee this morning’s story too. In chapter 42, Job’s story ends with the same stunningly beautiful conclusion we are all offered: repentance and restoration.
Job cries out, “I know that you can do anything.… I reject my words and am sorry for them” (Job 42:2,6). He knows that God is just, merciful, and mighty to save. Job doesn’t expect to be made whole, to have everything and everyone he’s lost restored. It is enough for Job to know that God is God and he is not, and to repent of his own pride.
In chapters 38–41, God speaks. He proclaims His power, His justice, His righteousness, and His sovereignty over all things. It’s a “mic drop” moment, one that needs no punctuation, no follow up. But after Job’s cry of repentance, God responds once more to Job in a manner so kind and lavish that we are compelled to react with just as much awe and wonder as we did when we read that He breathed all creation out of nothing. Yes, God is mighty, unrivaled in power. Yes, God is sovereign, unrivaled in His commitment to justice. But also, Yes, God is good, and He promises us bountiful restoration.
Job received restoration in his lifetime—his fortunes returned, his flocks and herds multiplied, his home filled with new children. Our suffering may not, and often does not, end with restoration in this life. Death wounds us, sickness steals from us, broken relationships limit our ability to trust, and tragedy on a global scale haunts even our happiest days. Our hope is not in the here and now. Ours is a future hope, formed and grounded in God’s Word, molded by His mercy, and secured by His Son.
We will experience the restoration and renewal of all things, as promised in Revelation 21:3–5. It is the only ending that makes sense to our stories of suffering, the kind and lavish response of a loving Father who promises, one day, to wipe every tear from our eyes.
44 thoughts on "The Restoration of Job"
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I have to say this…When SRT said they were going to do a study on Job, my first thought was WHY!!!!! Not because I can’t learn anything from Job, but selfishly I thought…”I don’t want to walk around depressed and hearing about suffering.”
But as usual I was wrong. The very things that made me upset or cringe were the very things I needed to remind myself. Especially this last devotional, part of why I didn’t want to go through Job was because I feel beaten down, like I am being bypassed. And I know deep down I have no business questioning God or his plan. My impulsive and quick behavior needs to stop, and focus more on God’s will than mine.
In short, this devotional was amazing! -
I love the fulfillment in 42:5-6 of Job’s declaration in 19:26-27. He said he believed he would see God, his Redeemer, with his own eyes. In this last chapter, he says he had heard of God, but now he truly saw Him. And his response? To repent and recognize the awe and majesty of God and his small, finiteness. It reminds me of Isaiah 6:5, where Isaiah’s response to seeing God was “Woe is me! I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips. And my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts!”
Praise God that because of Jesus our mediator, we can be made holy and able to “look full on his wonderful face” that “the things of earth shall grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” Amen. -
Amen to this study. Was so good and sooo personal to each of us.
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I have enjoyed this study very much. But it has occurred to me that I’ve got a problem. I have made it to the other side of my own season of suffering. God got me through it and I’m thankful for the journey every day. But then I catch myself…. thinking that this must have been my one season of suffering and now I’m good. Whew, got that over with! As if that is how God operates. As if I can KNOW how God operates in this life.
I need to repent of my pride.-
I completely relate to this feeling. I want to submit to Gods will, and trust him even in my suffering. But it is hard not to see what I’ve gone thru as a reason for my abundant blessings. I need to remember that the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Not because of my good works or built up credits for past suffering. But because he is sovereign and holy and his plan is always perfect. Whether I can see it in present circumstances or not.
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I find it so interesting that Job 42 names Job’s 3 daughters but not any of the sons! And it continues to say that Job granted them an inheritance with their brothers. I imagine this was revolutionary at the time.
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I noticed that too. Good to remember
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Yes! Brought tears of surprise to my eyes.
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Scripture is clear that all of Job’s wealth was restored to him, as was his health (he lived another 140 years!) and he was blessed with a new family. What is unclear is the extent of his healing. Did he still bear the scars in his flesh? Were they a daily reminder of his direct encounter with the Creator of the universe? This is something I have been pondering as we have read Job. Did his scars become a standing stone for him? Telling his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren the story behind the scars? When we suffer do we hide our scars in shame? Or do we use them as a way to tell others what the Creator has done in us and for us.
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This series on Job has been one of my favorites in the 5-6 years that I’ve been using these studies. Awesome job SRT and writers!
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What strikes me is Job’s focus on God. In his suffering, he searches for God wants God’s answers, to hear God’s voice. Yes, he challenges God as we all do, even when we feel something small is unfair. He is sure of who God is and the truth of all that the Lord has been to him in his life and in it all the greatest suffering amidst the loss, disease and mistreatment of Job is God’s silence and the abscence Job feels of God’s presence. I feel such relief for Job when God finally speaks. Job’s focus on God helps restore his relationship, allows him to ask for forgiveness. For that which he has longed for and his faith and love for God allows him in turn to forgive his friends and brings restoration for them as well. It is a beautiful thing when God speaks. Lord help my focus to be on you Jesus, the Way, the Truth,the Life. Help me to trust you with everything to lay it all at your feet. Help my words to be full of grace and bring you glory and bless others. God be near to these hearts you created. Bring your joy for the morning. I love you Lord.
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