Special Edition

I want to dedicate this post to Meskerem Begna, a woman of faith whom I came to know recently. A few years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo surgery and chemotherapy. I visited with her and her family the night before she was admitted to a hospital. As we were praying and worshiping the Lord, she praised God as if nothing had happened. Through the years I followed her life closely and found out that she was not faking it. She meant it. She is as thankful, as cheerful, and as faithful as she was that night. She also continued to support her local church's mission work in Ethiopia even when she had enough reasons to pull back her financial commitments. Meski, thank you for embodying a life of faith, integrity, and compassion. You are an inspiration for those of us who know you well.

An Unusual Worship

Last week Americans here at home and elsewhere celebrated Thanksgiving. As usual most people ate turkey. My wife and I also had our share of turkey with a lovely American family. It was yummy. Thanksgiving is more than turkey eating tradition. It is a time when individuals and families count their blessings and be thankful.

The holiday made me think of a character in the Bible who had nothing to count for. His name is Job. The author of the Book of Job describes him as perfect, upright, one who fears God and turns from evil. These are not ordinary testimonies. He was the wealthiest man in the east (wherever that is). If a man has the kind of wealth Job had and is described in such a manner, he must really be perfect.

The first two chapters of the Book narrate the calamities that descended upon the perfect, upright, God fearing, evil shunning Job. He did not deserve them. I do not believe anyone deserves them. The story has puzzled generations of devout men and women. Why did a just God allow this to happen to Job? Some have suggested that Job is a fictional figure of patience and perseverance, not a real person. But I have not found any reasons to doubt the historicity of Job. I believe he was a real person whose story serves as a source of inspiration for those suffering.

As the story continues Job is set to lose everything he had worked for. When his servants brought one bad news after another, they cared less to wait for their turn. While one was speaking, another rushes in with yet more bad news. Before Job had time to assess his loss, he received the most dreadful news – the death of his nine children. Nothing could be more shocking, horrifying, and devastating.

What struck me most was not the barrage of disasters that fell upon Job. It was rather his response. Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped (1:20). That was not what I expected. First I thought his heart would stop beating. It did not. Then I felt he would collapse. No, he did not. He must be a tough person. What he did next defied my expectations. He tore his clothes, shaved his head, and worshiped. What!? Worshiped!? That is unbelievable! Extraordinary! Stunning!

I barely see people worship God for their loss. But Job did. That is why I found him to be a unique character in the Bible. He worshiped and said

Naked I came from my mother's womb,

and naked I shall return there.

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.

Blessed be the name of the LORD.

Some “teachers” slapped Job for uttering these words. Because his words could not concur with their image of God. Some of them even blamed Job for his loss. They claimed that he lived in fear and not by faith. Really!? I would rather have Job's faith than theirs. I would rather have a faith that makes me prostrate before YHWH and bless his NAME, even in loss.

Job uttered those words in the context and spirit of worship. Paul in 1 Tim 6:7 echoes these same words “for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” He said it in the context of godliness and contentment. Paul is saying that godliness is not a means of gain, nor is gain a proof of godliness. Job lost his family and wealth, but not his godliness. Satan accused him saying that Job is godly because God guards his wealth. Satan said Job's godliness is not a permanent virtue. It vanishes away with his possessions. Misguided teachers in 1 Timothy 6:5 echoed this same theology. They claimed that godliness is a means of financial gain. For them godliness is not an end in itself. Satan too said that Job's godliness is tied to his gains.

God and the hosts of heaven were watching. Job's servants were watching. Satan was watching. Generations of God fearing men and women are watching. Will Job bless God? Or will he curse him? The author of Job says, “in all these (losses) Job did not sin nor gave folly (inappropriate words) to God.” (v. 22). These are the last words in Job 1. Job passed the test. He blessed YHWH. He was perfect in v. 1 and stayed that way in v. 22. Any attempt to portray Job as a faithless man betrays the intent of the author of Job, and of God. He is a man of unusual problems, a man of unusual faith, and a man of unusual expressions of worship.  

Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

James 5:10-11

On the next post I will publish the follow up article of "the concept of heavenly citizenship."