Dr. Lawrence Butler, The Bridge Church, Pembroke.

So much has happened to Job that it is difficult for us to fully understand. He has lost ten children because of a windstorm, some of his animals were stolen by enemies, fire came from above and burned his sheep, and most of his servants were now deceased. His health was broken because of a maddening itch of some sort, and now finally his wife has turned on him, encouraging him to curse God and die. When you’ve lost all that mattered, and then your spouse wishes you to die, you are on bottom, my friend. The only thing left was his trust in God.

Typically, families in this period of time tended to be large as children were needed to help farm, tend flocks or participate in other forms of work which were required to survive in the dry land in which they lived. Something that is rarely mentioned is Job’s family outside of his own wife and children. Did he have siblings, uncles and aunts, cousins? No one is ever named, and apparently no one ever came to his rescue, at least not of which we have knowledge.

There are a couple of scriptures that present the possibly of Job having more family members than his immediate family. “He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me” (Job 19:13-14). It is not known if the “brethren” spoken of here were actually Job’s blood brothers or not, but neither is there anything to preclude this. These words were spoken by Job, not those who were criticizing him. He speaks of brothers and kinfolk, but points out they were not helping him but were estranged (alienated) from him. In addition, kinfolk had failed – meaning they had turned away also. It’s always amazing how people, whether kin or not, are attracted to wealth and success, but turn away from those in distress.

The Lord is just the opposite of that. He is always attracted to those who are in need and cry out to Him for help. When others turn away, He turns toward. Eventually the Lord delivered Job. It just wasn’t time yet and He wanted Job to wait patiently while trusting God’s goodness. Are you feeling alone and forsaken? You are neither, friend. God desires to bless and prosper you. Can you wait and trust Him when things are difficult, when you don’t understand?

Believe the Lord, believe His word, and see what God can do!