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February 8 Daily Devotional

Worshipping While Being Tested

Peter G. Feenstra

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.... In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. (Job 1:20, 22).

Bible Reading

Job 1:13–22

Devotional

When trials come in rapid succession our tendency is to become nervous or even paranoid. Frightened by our loss we desperately cling to the people and things that are precious to us. Job is hit with the most devastating news in a short period of time. In one day he lost all his children. All he possessed was taken from him. It’s hard to imagine the wave of emotional stress and upheaval Job must have felt.

During each catastrophe Satan makes sure he keeps one survivor to tell Job the news. He himself remains hidden in the background. The devil wants Job to think God is turning against him. Satan sits back and watches, waiting for the moment Job will curse God.

How does Job react to all this adversity? Is he totally shattered and at a loss for words? Does he become angry with God? No! Reeling under the impact of these successive strokes of financial loss, deprivation of his servants (many of whom must have been dear to him as well), and above all, the loss of all his beloved children, Job is led to an expression of mourning characteristic of the Ancient Near East. By the grace of God he rose up in great grief, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground and worshipped (1:20). Job doesn't hide his emotions in fear that it might be wrong or sinful to grieve. He does not receive the devastating news in a robotic, stoical or mechanical fashion—as if loss does not touch those who believe in God.

There is no shame in grieving. Also today, children of the Lord are allowed to cry and grieve when faced with calamity and adversity. Job, a servant of the Lord, grieves, but so does the Servant of the Lord, our Saviour Jesus Christ. During His earthly ministry Jesus sees the distress of His own people and He is deeply moved. Confronted with the death of his dear friend Lazarus, Jesus weeps. To complete our joy and to obtain for us the glory of eternal life He goes to the cross as the Man of Sorrows, as one thoroughly acquainted with grief.

What Jesus would do made it possible for Job to take his grief one step further. He worshipped! Job’s grief is not out of control. He prays and worships the Lord. Job behaves as a man of faith. The strength to react in this manner does not lie in himself but in the very God from whose hand He had received these gifts in the first place.

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