"The Lord Gives, The Lord Takes Away"

Click on this SoundCloud link to listed to an audio recording of today's blog.

"[Job] said, 'Naked I came from my mother, and naked I will return. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken away! May the name of the LORD be praised.'" Job 1:21 God's Word to the Nations

Job makes this affirmation of faith after his first round of suffering; that's right, after his first round. A second round of pain is coming. Satan is permitted by God to take away everything from Job's life, but not to touch his body.

First Job loses his wealth. His oxen, donkeys, sheep and camels, along with his servants, are killed. Last of all, his children die when a house collapses on them. War and natural disasters have taken everything away from Job.

In the loss of everything, Job affirms his trust in God. He realizes that he brought nothing into this world and that he will take nothing with him when he dies. In the midst pain, God can be trusted. The Lord's name is praised even in the tragic loss of everything.

Job speaks to us. His story forces us to consider our expectations of God. Is it in the nature of God that he must provide us with things? Is it in the nature of God that he must protect our loved ones from experiencing pain and even death? Is it in the nature of God that he must make life a "happily ever after"?

As we experience loss, is it possible for us to sing with Job, "May the name of the Lord be praised"?

Join the conversation on our Facebook group: Praying With the Eyes

You can listen to the Praying With the Eyes broadcast on The iB Network Internet radio station every Sunday at 8:00 & 11:30 am, as well as, 1:00 & 8:00 pm MDT (www.ibnetwork.us). You can also listen to the show using the Tunin app on your mobile device.  

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2015 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.