Blessings. What do blessings look like? Where do they come from? Who guards them? Have you ever thought about blessings? I don’t know that I really ever have until I listed Job’s blessings.
· 10 grown children – 7 sons, 3 daughters.
I remember studying genetics in college, and I remember being amazed that any child could be born without major defects because even if the slightest gene was altered there were ramifications. If the mother became ill, some diseases could be passed to an unborn baby. And Job and his wife had 10 kids! From someone who couldn’t get pregnant with one, I am at awe when a baby is born. And Job had 10 miracles walking around on two legs, and probably each one had their own personality, their own strengths and weaknesses, and their own gifts.
· Then these 10 children had their own homes. None of them were living with Job and his wife. His kids were standing on their own two feet and handling their own business. Can I get an AMEN? That’s my goal for my two miracles.
· Not only did he allow his children to live through puberty, but his children actually LIKED each other. They would have banquets at each other’s homes. There was harmony among them. That is no small miracle! If we were to stop right here, would you agree Job was very blessed? I would. But we can’t stop here because there’s more.
· Job owned 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. Keep in mind he didn’t win the lottery. His kids are grown which means Job is a mature man. He’s worked for these things. He invested wisely and bought wisely. He employed wisely.
· He had a large number of servants. He employed wisely, and I bet he had a good reputation as a boss otherwise it would be difficult to maintain good servants who cared about doing a good job making sure the flocks were safe and well-fed.
· God had a hedge of protection around him, his household, and everything he owned. As my daughter would say, mic drop.
If you notice, the blessings listed in Job 1 come AFTER a description of Job’s character. I don’t think that is by accident. Job was looking to up to Yahweh. Job was a righteous man. Job feared God, and God blessed Job. Praisin’ goin’ up. Blessings comin’ down.
When you look at the people and things in your life through the filter of each being a miracle it can help to change what you thought of as a curse into a challenge. A challenge can be overcome. Psalm 18:29, For by You I can run through a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. It would definitely be a challenge for me to get over a wall of any height. There are hurdles in life that are challenges not curses. If you start looking for the miracle, for the blessings, be sure to show your gratitude to God. Tell Him so because we know every good and perfect gift comes from Him (James 1:17).