This week God brought to my mind the words of a scripture “the thing I greatly feared is come upon me.” I must admit that I had to search to see who spoke these words and it was Job in 3: 15 who said: “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” I began to take a look at the book of Job in a new light and truths were revealed that I had never seen before. Most biblical scholars agree that the book of Job is most likely the oldest book in the Bible and the author is unknown. It is believed that he lived during the patriarchal period since he lived to be 140 years old and both Ezekiel (14: 14, 20) and James (5:11) refer to Job as a historical person. We live in the midst of fierce spiritual battles, and fear is one of Satan’s favorite weapons. The trials of Job can teach us valuable lessons as we walk by faith and not by sight. Peter assures us that the testing of our faith through trials proves the genuineness or authenticity of our faith: “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:6–7, NLT).
Let us examine the context of the words of Job 3:15. Verse 1:1 describes Job’s character. He was blameless and upright and feared God and shunned evil. The word “feared” in the Old Testament is an expression meaning reverential trust in God, including the hatred of evil. Verses 2-4 gives us insight into Job’s family and prosperity which is a backdrop for his statement in 3:15. He had seven sons and three daughters and a bounty of livestock and possessions greater than all the men of the east. The next clue is given in verse 4 about the customary banquets of his sons and daughters as they ate and drank wine together. We learn that Job was obsessed with fear over these gatherings. “When the round of banquet days was completed, Job would send for them and consecrate them. He would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings, according to the number of them all. For Job said, ‘Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus Job did everyday.” Job was consumed with fear; He was afraid his children were going to curse God. He was afraid he was going to lose everything as a result.
We must then ask the question: Was it Job’s fear that caused God to remove His hedge of protection around him and allow Satan to test him? God looks upon the heart and knows our thoughts and intents so could it be that God did not lift the hedge; Job’s fear did. His fear became a magnet that attracted the very thing he dreaded the most. It is not hard to see how this could be. When Job allowed a stronghold of fear to take root in his life, he was wide open to whatever the devil wanted to do to him, and God was honor-bound to let it happen! This happened because it was Job’s choice to live in fear rather than faith in the promises of God. God will never override our will. He will respect our choices. Peter’s words indicate that trials reveal if our faith is genuine as it is impossible to please God without faith.
Just as the force of faith goes to work to bring about the good things God has promised, (“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Rom. 10:17); fear—when activated—goes to work to bring about the very thing of which we are afraid. How does fear come? Fear comes by hearing, and hearing by words of the devil. The god of this world—the prince of the powers of the air (or should I say airwaves) has inundated my generation beginning in the early 50’s with his language—his dialog and has conditioned and brainwashed society to believe his lies over God’s truth. It is important for Christians to realize that our enemy the devil is a speaker. He accuses, he engages us in dialogue of temptation, self-pity, pride, anger, with thoughts or words. It is time for us to disengage—treating the fake media and news as gibberish that has no place in our life and get into the Word and declare it! Romans 10:10 says: “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Just as heart-belief and mouth-confession of God’s Word brings about the blessings of salvation, when we have fear in our heart and speak it out loud with our mouth, it brings about destruction. In order to hear God’s voice, we must release all our worries and fears into His care and spend time in His Presence and in His Word. This clears the way for us to seek God’s Face unhindered and cancel fear hidden deep inside us!
Even though Job spoke words of faith initially—“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the Name of the LORD.” (1: 21) “Should we accept the good from God and not accept the bad? Through all this Job did not sin with his lips.” (2: 10), he digressed as the trials intensified. He plead to God for justice (Chapter 6); he sought to vindicate himself (Chapters 9-10); he challenged God (Chapter 13); he reproved his friends (Chapter 16); he had a pity party (Chapter 19); he argued with God (Chapter 23); he remembered his better days and bemoaned his suffering (Chapters 29-30). Finally, God spoke to him out of the whirlwind and humbled him (Chapters 38-41). Job is brought to the end of himself and in Chapter 42 he said: “I know You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted…I spoke without understanding, things too wonderful for me which I did not know…I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye has seen You. Therefore, I despise myself, and repent on dust and ashes.”
Like with Job, restoration and blessing come only as we humble ourselves in the presence of God in full surrender and trust. According to Proverbs 3:5-6, it is important to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not to rely on our own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge the Lord, and he will direct our paths. This verse emphasizes the importance of trusting in God and not relying solely on one's own understanding. It also emphasizes the importance of fearing the Lord and departing from evil, as it will bring health and marrow to your bones. Several years ago Dr. Jeremiah made a statement that is prophetic today: “When we look at our world today, we’re apt to wonder who’s in charge—wars raging, morality collapsing, infections (viruses) spreading, weapons proliferating, economies faltering, hearts failing. Is anyone in control? We can rest assured that however, chaotic things appear on earth, God is still in charge, ruling and overruling, moving this world toward its pre-appointed end. The Bible declares, ‘The Lord is in control…Yours is the might, power and glory and victory and majesty. Everything in the heavens and earth is Yours, O Lord, we adore You as being in control of everything” (1 Kings 20:13; 1 Chronicles 29:11) Regardless of the headlines we read or the heartaches we feel, we can rest assured that the Lord is our stability and peace.” “God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.” (Ps. 47:8) We must trust God and not be fearful, thank Him and rest in His sovereignty.
May we learn from Job and take steps to eliminate doubt and fear from our lives. The center verses of the Bible are Psalm 118: 8-9: “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.” We as brothers and sisters in the Lord are to be living in the abundant life Christ came to give. We must examine ourself to see what worries, anxieties and fears consistently occupy our thoughts and dictate our choices. When Job got his thoughts and motives aligned with God’s, the latter part of his life was greater than the first! (42: 12) We feel God’s love most keenly when we are focused on His will and have devoted ourselves fully to His praise and purpose for our lives. We are instructed to abide in God, which means that we should live and move to worship His Name. The word “abide” carries with it a sense of habitation; we are commanded to live in the presence of God. God is present in us and desires to bless us! Psalm 22:3 alludes to this fact when it says, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” In the days that are near remember God is here! Trust God and don’t be afraid! Read Ps. 46: 1-11.