Adversity: Part 1

Without a doubt, we all have, and all will, face adversity. It is not unlikely that this will start in our younger years, and last until our last breath. A hard reality, but true!

There are several people in the Bible who experienced what you and I would believe were insurmountable moments, and periods, of adversity. Pastors like to refer to them as, "trials and tribulations", as those words, coupled together, appear many times throughout the Bible.

When I think of adversity, my immediate thoughts turn to Job. Though struggles seemed to be endless, Job was able to "weather all storms", praising God all the way.

Job's story is unique. Satan placed a bet with God that Job would eventually curse His name, if to much emotional and physical pain was applied. Let's examine some of the losses that Job endured. He is perhaps our greatest example as an example for those who suffer.

Job was stripped of his possessions. Though he had wealth in the form of herds and flocks, an unmistakable love for family, and a recognizable level of admire-ability among others in the lands, it was his faith, devotion, and finally perspective that would be mightily challenged. The Lord called him, "blameless and upright.", Job 1:8; also saying that there was, "no one on earth like him."
Three times in verses 13-18, we see three messengers who barely escaped annihilation by the way of swords and fire, reporting to Job that he had lost his oxen and donkeys (1), sheep (2), and camels (3). All of his wealth in the form of livestock that were used daily to provide for his family were gone in an instant. The servants in the fields were killed by the sword, burnt, and only three survived to tell the tale.

A fourth messenger appeared to tell Job that his family had been killed, Job 1:18. The house where his sons and daughters were "feasting" collapsed due to a mighty windstorm from the desert. I think the important note in all of this, is that the four messengers appeared in succession, only minutes apart. Each verse; 13, 16, 17 and 18 start the same; saying, "While he [the messenger] was still speaking [before finishing], another appeared to report another grim calamity. All would have been hard "pills" to swallow, not to mentioned that each message was separated only by brief minutes, and perhaps seconds.

Job lost all of his possessions and all of his family in a matter of minutes; in the blink of an eye. How would you have reacted to such news, had the shoes been on your feet?

What did Job do? "At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 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.' "

How is that for a response?

Not satisfied with Job's integrity in faith toward the Lord, even in his loss, Satan was once again allowed to plague Job. This time, he afflicted Job with "painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head", Job 2:7. Even at the encouragement of his wife to retract his integrity, curse God, and die, Job 2:9, he remained in his stance of devotion. He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we good from God, and not trouble?", Job 2:10. Verse 10 continues reporting as recorded, that Job, "did not sin."