Job 2:7-10
So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with
sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. [8] And he took him
a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
[9] Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity?
curse God, and die. [10] But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of
the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of
God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his
lips.
Christianity demands a level of caring that far surpasses human tendencies.
As we consider Job's wife, let us not underestimate how hard it is to
be thoughtfully concerned for one another... Compassion is challenging
because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to the place
where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, broken and even agitated. On
the contrary, this is not our spontaneous response to suffering. What
we desire most is to do away with hardship by fleeing from it or finding
a quick cure for it. Job's wife proves that. As her husband was raising
his hand to scrape a raw, swollen, painful boil, her insensitive words
gouged at his heart, exceeding even his physical pain…
Ezekiel 34:4
The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which
was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have
ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that
which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
Self-interest further torments the oppressed. Many stressed individuals,
slighted by those who should be their friends, end up being cared for
by a stranger... Be careful ladies, when you slight your husbands where
they are weak and sickly; you could be making it easier for a strange
woman to come along and tend to his oozing wounds!
Luke 10:30-33
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded
him, and departed, leaving him half dead. [31] And by chance there came
down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the
other side. [32] And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came
and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. [33] But a certain
Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he
had compassion on him,
The Lord would use suffering to perfect our character, not ruin it! Making
a wound is sometimes part of a cure… Rather than developing her understanding
in the midst of a family difficulty, Job's wife found it easier to persuade
her husband to quit on God, thereby relieving her of the pressure and
duty that was hers as his wife. Hence, she quickly and conveniently belittled
her husband's distress. She declined to stand by her man!
Job 16:1-2
Then Job answered and said, [2] I have heard many such things: miserable
comforters are ye all.
We all know Satan wanted Job to curse God and die. In other words, he
wanted Job to become annoyed with the Lord for his difficulties, become
highly inflamed and give up. Our enemy possesses a malignant power! The
devil's first plan of attack worked best - he used the person closest
to him! Hence, the devil was able to use Job's wife to speak the counsel
of hell to his heart! Ladies, Satan can work through people that are dear
to us and the temptation to adhere to what they say is strong because
we love them so much! As was the case with Job, our love for God must
be strongest if we would see through opinions that have been darkened
with evil strategies...
Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor
standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
In times of severe testing, our first question must not be, "How can I
get out of this?" but "What can I get out of this?" Job's wife thought
she had the problem solved in one easy step; but if Job had followed her
counsel, it would have only made things worse. In reality, she was encouraging
him to commit spiritual suicide! Therefore, her suggestion was blasphemous.
It was insulting to God's character and it tore Job down…
Col. 3:8
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy
communication out of your mouth.
A person ruled by Christ and led by the Spirit will put off verbal habits
reflecting defamation, via slurs and slanders. Ladies, don't use twisted
logic like Job's wife did. Faith is living without scheming. It is obeying
God in spite of our feelings, our circumstances, or our consequences,
knowing and trusting that He is working out His perfect plan in His way
and in His time. When life is difficult, it's easy to admit defeat; but
giving up is the worst thing we can do!
Are you in the habit of maintaining your integrity - your decency of heart?
What is one thing you can change about how you respond when bad things
happen? How do you deal with the "sore spots" in your husband's life?
His sore spot could be the pastor, the church, a boss, personal finances,
his personal sin - or even YOU! What direction do you point your husband
in at the peak of his struggle - one that would carry him nearer the Lord
or force him to go the opposite way? Does your attendance add to the pressure
of his difficulties or lift it?
Young ladies, what do you do with the "sore spots" in your parent's lives,
those throbbing, sensitive issues where your Mom & Dad experience personal
complications and grow to be preoccupied or distressed? Have you ever
considered your role in their lives as a comforter? Do you attempt to
build their faith in the Lord or work against it?
Psalm 34:13
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
As a helpmeet, God made it a woman's responsibility to bind her husband
closer to Christ, not drive a wedge between the two! It is far better
for us to persist in cheering people on in times of great trial and tragedy
rather than abandoning them for our own ease and comfort! Here is some
alternative, uplifting guidance Job's wife could have given to her troubled
husband:
Job 5:18
For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
Psalm 103:3
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Hosea 6:1
Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal
us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
Does this tie in with the advice you usually apply to painful, tender,
uncomfortable times? Ladies, don't shrink from the sore spots you have
identified in your loved ones (even church family). You must abide with
people to know their problems and abide with God in order to solve them.
Suffering is an instrumental part of our perfection, no matter who we
are. Don't respond to it as one of the foolish women would and whimper
in consciousness of your own soreness. Improve your integrity - devote
yourself to ministering wisely and gently to the areas where your family
hurts the most!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2002 Pamela A. Iannello
