Meet our first Biblical candidate for the Potter's process. Everybody knows him as Job but I just refer to him as "Joe". Don't panic. Changing someone's name is hardly unprecedented in scripture. My reason for this name change is simple. Nearly everyone who reads Job's story comes away amazed at his super-human levels of patience and faith during times of intense troubles. It is because of his faithful patience that most of God's people tend to lift Job onto a pedestal of unattainable spiritual superiority. I know I've done that with Job and many other men and women from scriptures. Unfortunately, to raise our hero to such lofty spiritual heights is to completely miss the point of the book of Job.
So, for the remainder of this post, I'd like to refer to Job as "Joe" as a reminder that he was not made out of any special dirt. He was just like me and you with the same inherent combinations of strengths, talents, weaknesses, and flaws that every single one of us have. Job was just your average 'Joe' whom the Potter chose for His vessel perfecting process.
If you've been in church for any length of time you've heard Job/Joe's story. He is the poster-child for suffering among God's people. At the surface-level, Joe's story appears to be a random series of unfortunate events that culminates into the absolutely worst day that a human being could ever have.
In the first chapter, we read of Joe's troubles through a series of messengers who, one at a time, bring Joe nothing but bad news:
In the first chapter, we read of Joe's troubles through a series of messengers who, one at a time, bring Joe nothing but bad news:
Messenger #1 told Joe about the Sabeans stealing his oxen and donkeys and killing his servants.
Messenger #2 told Joe about "fire of God" falling from heaven and consuming his sheep and his servants.
Messenger #3 told Joe about three bands of Chaldean raiders who stole his camels and killed his servants.
Messenger #4 brought Joe the bad news that all of his children died in a weather-related tragedy.
Wave after wave after wave of bad news slams into Joe until he is literally left with nothing. It should be noted that prior to these tragedies, Joe was a very wealthy man. All of that livestock represented the bulk of his financial holdings. Think of Joe as a very successful ox, donkey, sheep, and camel rancher and you can probably imagine how devastating these news reports were. But none of those losses could touch the last one.
Joe and his wife had ten children; seven sons and three daughters. Any parent worthy of the title could not imagine the pain associated with losing one child. Imagine losing ten children. Imagine losing them in a manner that even today's insurance companies would classify as an "act of God". Now imagine losing your ten children at the end of a day of loss that has left you literally bankrupt. How would you respond to these events? Would you pause to pray and thank God or would you lash out in rage and fury at Him? I already know how I handled my journey through Hell and it certainly wasn't with praises on my lips.
Job 1:20-22 are three of the verses that elevates Joe to superhuman faith status. After hearing all of this horrible news, Joe's immediate response is to worship God. Now, I don't know about you but if I've just lost everything I hold dear in strange and even supernatural ways, 'worshipping God' would not be the first thing on my list of things to do. Bombarding the throne room of God with questions starting with "WHY" would definitely take priority over worshipping Him.
But Joe's response is to mourn (the tearing of clothes and shaving of head) and worship. Clearly Joe is made of sterner stuff than most of God's people. But, the story doesn't end there...
The next day, Joe is struck with boils all over his body. These pus-filled sores put Joe in a permanent state of physical misery. In fact, the only source of comfort Joe could find was the coolness found in a pile of ashes and a broken piece of pottery (a fitting instrument, considering our subject) to scrape his sores with. Not only that but his wife, the only person he has left in his immediate family, turns on him. Finally, to add insult to injury, Joe's buddies show up to 'encourage' him with such sage tidbits of wisdom like "Gee Joe, you must've really messed up to have all of this happen to you."
When you look up the word 'misery' in the dictionary, the first two chapters in the book of Job should be the only reference you need. If anyone on earth deserved to throw themselves a pity party, it's our boy Joe. There is no one who knows Joe's story who would blame him for feeling sorry for himself (except maybe his three 'friends'). But, as the second chapter of Joe's story comes to a close, we are given one of the most faithful perspectives during times of trouble in the entire Bible. Even now, I am amazed at the Bible's description of Joe's faithfulness in the face of such overwhelming trials. Truly, Joe was an extraordinary human being...
...or was he?
Ok, I've set the stage. Now let's bring in the rest of the players. You've already met Joe and his supporting cast. But, there are two big name stars who feature very prominently in Joe's story. In fact, without them, this story does not happen. If you're familiar with Joe's story, then the two mystery stars shouldn't be too hard to guess.
It is important to put the spotlight on the conversation between God and Satan in order to get the full understanding of the Book of Job. Not just the book of Job, but most of the Potter's methodology in perfecting His vessels of honor.
I would like to point out a couple of observations in this conversation between God and Satan that are vitally important to our examination.
Observation #1: According to scripture, God introduces Joe into the conversation ("Have you considered my servant...?").
Observation #2: Satan cannot do ANYTHING to God's people without God's permission (all that he has is in your power...).
Observation #3: God intentionally sends Satan to put Joe's spiritual mettle to the ultimate test.
This last observation is, to me, the most important. I think the image most of us have of Satan is this rogue fallen angel roaming the Earth with unfettered freedom to kill, steal, and destroy anything and everything God is trying to accomplish. If the book of Job is any indication, Satan is hardly 'unfettered' and, in point of fact, is unable to do anything to God's people without Yahweh's express permission.
Please understand the phrase "God's people". It must be noted that those who do not fall under that category do not have God's protection from Satan. For those who have chosen to reject God and His Word, Will, and Ways, Satan has no restrictions. But for those who "love God and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28), The Potter is working things together for 'good'; by His definition of the word, not ours.
In the case of our hero of the faith, The Potter has a definite purpose for unleashing Satan on his "blameless and upright" servant and that purpose is...
...continued in part two...stay tuned.
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