T. E. BOWEN by T. E. Bowen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 28, 1912

T. E. BOWEN

By T. E. Bowen

Job’s Experience---No. 3

T. E. BOWEN

Job is often spoken of as the most patient man who ever lived. All that the Scripture says upon this point is: “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5: 11. The emphasis is upon the tender compassion of the Lord, how he dealt with Job at the end, rather than upon Job’s patience. While Job was patient, he was not altogether so. Considering what he endured, he bore it well.

When his friends had exasperated him, he said some very cutting things in reply. “Ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. O that ye would altogether hold your peace!” Again, “No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?”

There is danger now that those who are seeking to do God’s will by keeping all his commandments, may manifest this same spirit. It was not that Job had been unrighteous, but that, having done the right thing,—fed the hungry, clothed the naked, helped the widows and orphans,—he contended for himself for having done right. This led to trusting in his own works rather than giving God the glory. He said, “If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; if his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; if I have lifted up my hand against the

fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: then let mine arm fall from my shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.” A whole chapter is devoted to recounting the things he had done. But what of it? Did not God know? What had Job given that he had not received from God? And how is it with us? If God has especially blessed us with both temporal and spiritual blessings, for what purpose are they given? Is it not that they may be passed on to others? But whose is the glory always? Ah! here is where we are so likely, all of us, to fail. We are so liable to think that we have done something great, something demanding special notice or praise, instead of giving the glory to God, to whom it belongs.

During Job’s contention with his friends, he challenges God to bear witness to his righteousness. He thought if only God would speak, then his cause would surely be vindicated. It is a point to be noticed in this connection that nothing more is said about the foe after Job and his three comforters began talking. We may well infer that Satan was standing by pleased at the way things were shaping. In this tendency of Job to justify himself, Satan well knew that Job was coming over onto his ground. For no one knows quite so well as Satan how to contend for his own rights.

In answering Zophar, Job said: “Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.” Chapter 13: 3. Then later, in answering Eliphaz, he said: “O that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered forever from my judge.” Chapter 23: 3-7.

To show that the people of God will yet be brought to a similar place in their experience where everything apparently is against them, and even God seems removed, let us read from “Early Writings,” old edition: “I saw the saints leaving the cities and villages, and associating together in companies, and living in the most solitary places. Angels provided them food and water, while the wicked were suffering from hunger and thirst. Then I saw the leading men of earth consulting together, and Satan and his angels busy around them. I saw a writing, copies of which were scattered in different parts of the land, giving orders that unless the saints should yield their peculiar faith, give up the Sabbath and observe the first day of the week, the people were at liberty, after a certain time, to put them to death. . . .

“Soon I saw the saints suffering great mental anguish. They seemed to be surrounded by the wicked inhabitants of earth. Every appearance was against them. Some began to fear that God had at last left them to perish by the hand of the wicked. . . . It was an hour of fearful, terrible agony to the saints. Day and night they cried unto God for deliverance. To outward appearance, there was no possibility of their escape. The wicked had already begun to triumph, crying out, Why does not your God deliver you out of our hands? Why do you not go up, and save your lives? But the saints heeded them not. Like Jacob, they were wrestling with God.”—Pages 143, 144.

Here is manifest the patience of Jesus, rather than the patience of Job. The people of God are come to that place where they will not heed the taunting remarks of the wicked. When that wicked Roman soldier smote Jesus, then challenged him to tell who it was that smote him, Jesus understood that Satan was trying to provoke him to say something he should not. He therefore made no reply. Job failed at this point to hold his peace. Peter exhorts: “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9. “And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads.” Matt. 27:39. “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” 1 Peter 2:23.

Here the patience of Jesus is depicted. Before the Saviour takes to himself his people, they will be thoroughly tested. Satan will still do his part. His activity to afflict the people of God just as far as he is given permission will continue unto the very last.

But God still limits the enemy. So far he may go, as in the case of Job, but no farther. Therefore in every fiery trial that comes to us, we must count it as one of God’s permittings. The trial has been weighed. God has entrusted us with it, that we may bring to him a little more honor and glory, by enduring it for him. As in the case of Job, he may not inform us beforehand; but when it comes, it should be to us another call for loyalty to our God. In the end, we shall see there has been a wise purpose, if not to us to some one else, which led God to permit the test to come.

Washington, D. C.