Too often when Job is taught or read, people like to skip this pivotal concept of relationships and go right to the happily ever after portion of the story where God restores Job and doubles his original blessings. To what concept or truth am I referring?
FORGIVENESS.
Let’s face it, Job’s friends were horrible. They made the testing season more painful than it had to be.
· They wrongfully judged Job.
· They gave bad instruction and advice.
· They put words in God’s mouth.
· They condemned Job.
How could these words and actions not hurt Job or his relationship with them?
Job 42:10, After Job had prayed for his friends… God had confronted Job’s friends and had instructed them to take a burnt offering to Job and ask Job to pray for them. One good point for Job’s friends, they listened to God and obeyed. They had to humble themselves and go to Job and ask for prayer.
In real life, do we always hear an apology from the person who hurt us? No. But does God deal with them? Absolutely. You may never see or know, but you can trust God to work things out.
In Job’s life, his friends asked for prayer. Job had a choice. Did he have to pray for them? No. Proverbs 15:21-22, If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. If your enemy/one-time-friend asks for prayer or forgiveness, give it to them.
Forgiveness is not for their benefit. It is for yours.
If you never hear the words, “I’m sorry” or “Please forgive me,” you are still commanded to forgive. In the Lord’s prayer, we are to ask for forgiveness AFTER we have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:9). Forgiveness does not mean it was okay what the other person said or did. Forgiveness is not a sign of weakness. As a matter of fact, the greater and deeper the hurt, requires greater determination and strength in order to forgive.
You live long enough on this planet, and you will be hurt. You will be hurt by a parent, sibling, friend, coworker, spouse, and/or child. What you do with your hurt shows where you are in your walk with God. If you hold onto your hurt, anger and unforgiveness which turns into resentment and hate, then not only is your walk shallow but you cease to grow in your faith. If you learn to turn over the hurt and person who caused the hurt over to your Heavenly Father, then He can begin the healing process in your heart. There have been times I was hurt so deeply I had to turn them over to God too many times to count, but I knew I didn’t want to swallow the poison of bitterness, hate and resentment.
Let’s look at the last word of that phrase in the verse: After Job had prayed for his friends… His friends screwed up. They weren’t the best of friends, but even still Job called them friends. Forgiveness does not mean we have to continue a relationship with the one who hurt us, but if God leads you to do so, then do it. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to pray for the person who hurt you, especially when that person is close to you. Obedience to God on your part can bring restoration to broken relationships. He had done it more than once in my life. Job 42:2, I know that You can do anything, and no play of Yours can be thwarted. There is nothing too big for God. He can help you forgive. He can show you how to forgive, and He can restore. Question is, Are you going to obey?
Let’s look at the rest of Job 41:10, After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his prosperity and doubled his previous possessions. The following verses read, All his brothers, sisters, and former acquaintances came to his house and dined with him in his house. They sympathized with him and comforted him concerning all the adversity the Lord had brought on him. The things Job craved from his friends when he was at his lowest, God provided in His timing.
God may have restored Job’s possessions, but Job would never have his children back. There was still grieving to be done, sympathy to be given, and comfort to be provided, and Job’s brothers, sisters, and others came to do just that. God did give Job more children, but it didn’t happen overnight. Restoration takes time. Healing takes times.
If you are going through a testing season, know God has not abandoned you. He will never leave you nor forsake you (Isaiah 42:16). But also remember restoration first requires you to forgive.