The Case of Job by G. C. Tenney

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Oct 18, 1883

The Case of Job.

By G. C. Tenney

THE patriarch Job, as an example of suffering, affliction, and of patience, is perhaps without a parallel. Speaking of that affliction the apostle says, "Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end [or purpose] of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." At first thought we would hardly choose this experience as an example of pity and mercy. But we cannot always judge of the character of an affliction by the affliction itself, but by its intended purpose. The infliction of pain or loss for idle or vindictive reasons is cruelty. And if God's purpose in afflicting Job was simply to gratify Satan, or show him how much a man could stand, it would be more difficult to reconcile this treatment with the idea of pity and mercy. If these kind qualities were the object they must have been contained in the purpose rather than the infliction. An illustration of this may be had in the case of the surgeon who, in order to save life, imposes pain and loss upon his patient. His motive cannot be discerned in the use of the knife and saw. If these only were considered, we would rank the operator with the assassin. The merits of a surgeon are always estimated by his skill and his purpose. So with the Lord in the case of Job, and in all our cases.

A difficulty in this case may still present itself, as the Lord said that Job was a "perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil," before these afflictions were brought upon him. What, then, was their use? By studying his character as it is afterward brought out, we discover that Job's heart was clean and his intentions were right. He earnestly endeavored to make his life right. So well did he succeed, in his own estimation, that he was willing to be "weighed in an even balance." But there existed a fatal flaw in his character, which was pointed out by Elihu and confirmed by the Lord as the sin of self-righteousness and self-sufficiency. God would have Job feel his dependence upon him who alone can save.

It was a difficult lesson. He suffered the rending of affection's strongest ties, the loss of all his wealth. His earthly honor and friendship were sacrificed. His wife turned her influence against him; and when no more could be done, affliction laid its hand upon his body till he cursed in bitter anguish his day. Human sympathy sat seven days in silent astonishment at his grief. His heart maintained its integrity to God, and from the depth of his suffering, come those grandest of words, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." Still he adds to this saying, "but I will maintain [argue] mine own ways before him." He evidently realized that God had an object for his good, as he says, "I shall come forth as gold." And he did. At last, from his deep humility, he cried out, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee; wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

O what a blessed result. God always loved him, but the increase of his love is only faintly expressed in the increase of his blessings over those of former years. Christ says, "Ye are the branches," and "my father is the husbandman." "Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." The husbandman uses his knife on the fruitful vine. We may be sincere in our purposes and endeavors to glorify God, and be unconscious of our faults till the pruning-knife reveals them to us. "The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." God does not willingly afflict nor grieve his children. He chastens us "for our profit that we might be partakers of his holiness." Every affliction may be sanctified to a good purpose, and produce a good result. It is while in a humble position that we best learn what God's will and our duty are. We should not receive our afflictions, crosses, and trials as a matter of fact; but should try to learn what are the faults they reveal, and then by repentance to put them away.

G. C. TENNEY.