Hardships of Job and Paul
In the ninth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Teth, in Psalm 119, we see an amazing thing. Most of us like to believe that God does not inflict anything on us but that everything that happens, especially negative, is caused by others or the evil one. We saw in Job that Satan visited God one day and the rest is history. He allowed him to bring affliction on Job but did not allow him to take his life. If you want some encouragement while going through a very difficult trial or affliction, go make Job your mentor.
And what about Paul in II Corinthians 12? The thorn in the flesh that he begged God to take away from him. But after God convinced him that his grace was sufficient for him to endure this, even to prosper, Paul was more than ready to face the future with his affliction because he knew that in his weakness, God would show himself strong. Bringing glory to God. And what about Jesus, the Son of God? “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; He has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt” (Isa. 53.10).
All glory to God
Job was restored and blessed doubly. Paul used his thorn to motivate him to glorify God. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of his Father ruling and reigning over God’s kingdom. And the Psalmist gives glory to God for his afflictions, even going on to say in verse 71-“It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” And then in verse 75, he seals it. “I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.”
God only wants the best for his sons and daughters, even bringing or allowing affliction to come into our lives. Rejoice, He is faithful!!
