The book of Job in the Bible is a gentle reminder to all of us that even during the worst times of our lives, God is there to comfort us and restore whatever we have lost.
We feel uplifted and encouraged to read that Job had a happy ending and we are introduced to God’s character and also how feeble and flimsy human beings can be.
Here are 5 lessons that we can learn from the book of Job in the Bible:
1. All of us will suffer in this world
“There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” Job 1:1
when we read this opening line in the book of Job we come to know that hardship is not always a result of punishment from God. Job had no moral failure in his life but many feel that it was because of His righteous walk with the Lord that he faced this tough test in his life.
In the book we read about Job’s friends who feel that he must have brought this upon himself through sin, but they were proved to be wrong. Job was a man of God and his suffering was not punishment but intended to prove his loyalty and faith in God.
“You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:6-7
2. Praise God in every situation
His wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:9-10
Even though our situations go from good to bad and vice versa, God never changes. He is always the same and we must worship Him in every circumstance. He sits upon His throne in splendor and absolute holiness. In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
We don’t worship God because of how good he has been to us but because He is our hope, our salvation, and our redemption.
3. Choose your words with wisdom
And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great. Job 2:13
We learn that Job was a man of few words and till the end he never opened his mouth to speak something against God even though his friends end up saying rash words. They underestimate the workings of God. We must be slow to speak and humble in our hearts.
4. God is always faithful
Yet he knows the way I have taken; when he has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold. Job 23:10
When Job was being tested like gold being passed through the fire, he never questioned the existence of God or the sovereignty of God. Job’s life shows us that we must always be blessing the name of God in our trials as our God can redeem, restore, and make us victorious in our battles.
5. Job knew he had a Savior redeemer
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last, he will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25 ESV
Even as he struggled to understand why he was being punished despite the fact that he was righteous, he knew this was not the end of his life.
Just like Job, we too long for a redeemer amid our crippling emotions, and we know that in Christ’s perfect obedience and personal suffering we find all our answers.