Job’s Wealth Restored

Job’s Wealth Restored

Q: God’s voice is like ______.

• a. lightning
• b. wind
• c. thunder

God is almighty and powerful. Perhaps Job’s acknowledgement of this is why he accepted what happened to him without turning his back on God. Although Job was discouraged, his faith held strong.

No one likes to suffer, and people handle suffering differently. Suffering makes some people turn their backs on God and become bitter and withdrawn. They believe it’s unfair that they’re going through a difficult time when their friends or family aren’t. They refuse to take a close look at their lives and ask what they can learn from the situation.

Other people draw closer to God in order to claim his strength to get through hard times. They seek out help with their problems and use the difficult time to make changes in their lives or learn something from the pain. Once they’ve come through the suffering, they’re ready to help others.

Even though Job suffered through no fault of his own, he was in the group of people who draw closer to God during hard times. After the time of testing was over, God gave Job double the herds he’d had before and new children. They didn’t lessen the pain Job felt losing his first children, but Job knew he’d see his children again in heaven one day.

Following God leads to inner joy and peace, but it’s not a guarantee of an easy life. Job went through great suffering, but he came out with his faith still strong.

For You

As long as we live in this imperfect world, people will suffer. Often God uses that to accomplish good, although we may not know at the time what good might come from the suffering. If we could understand God’s ways, then he wouldn’t be God. It’s better to accept that we don’t have all the answers and continue to trust.

Answer: c

Then comes the roaring of the thunder— the tremendous voice of his majesty. He does not restrain it when he speaks.   Job 37:4

(The Whole Story: Job 37–42)