Title: Faith to Hear and Faith to See
Contents
As Paul Tillich said, “The depth of pain is the only door to the depth of truth”.
The pain you endure with God is that you discover the deep truth of life.
And he said, "God draws us into the deep waters, not to drown us, but to make clean."
Ex) Frank Vanter Maaden / Hwia Lee
C.S Lewis said, “Suffering is God’s megaphone that makes even the deaf hear.”
In the text, Job goes through various hardships.
Considering the sufferings of Job, I would like to convey two facts.
First, faith matures through suffering.
Verse 5: “I have heard of you with my ears, but now my eyes see you.”
Job's sufferings include the loss of all of his possessions in one day, the death of all ten children, the complete collapse of the family due to his wife's run away, the fall of disease, and the wounds caused by harsh words from his friends.
In general, if these things happen at the same time, resentment and complaint will come out unfiltered.
But Job said, “The Lord has given me. It is the Lord who takes it, and I will praise the Lord.”
After going through the tunnel of suffering, he had matured from the faith to hear to the faith to see.
It is not a life that someone hears, but a firsthand experience of the greatness, love, and grace of God.
Hardship is something everyone wants to avoid, but once you pass through it, your faith will become stronger and more mature.
Ex) Kim Min-woo (I sell hope)
Ex) Spaford's Confession
Second, suffering discovers the bitter root of sin and leads to repentance.
Verse 6: “Therefore, I forgive myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
After suffering, Job's faith was strengthened, and he found the bitter root of sin in him and repented.
In fact, Job did not receive double blessings because he overcame hardship, but because he discovered and repented of his sins through suffering.
In Job 19:25-27, Job desires to meet God directly to claim his integrity and righteousness.
In verse 31:16 and below, he boasts of his work.
“When did I block the wish of the poor, and let the widow's eyes disappoint?
Wasn't I the only one who ate the food and fed the orphans?
The truth is, from my youth I raised orphans like his father, and since I was born I have led widows.
When I saw that a man died without clothing, or that the needy had nothing to cover,
Have I not covered him with my wool, so that he may bless me?
Did I raise my hand to the orphan when I saw someone helping me at the gate?
If I had, my shoulder should have fallen off the shoulder blade and my arm bone should have been broken.
I am very afraid of the calamities of God, and I can do nothing because of their majesty.
When did I make gold my hope and say to pure gold, You are my trust?
When did you rejoice in the abundance of riches and the abundance of your hands
When I see the brilliance of the sun and the merry movement of the moon
Was my heart seduced quietly and kissed your hand?
This too is a sin punishable by the judge. If I had done so, I would have betrayed the God who is above.
When did I rejoice in the destruction of those who hated me, and boasted of my strength in his calamity encounter?
For the truth is, I cursed him with the words that begged him to die, so that my mouth did not sin.
Didn't the man in my tent say, "Who is not satisfied with his master's meat?"
I did not let the stranger sleep in the streets, but I opened my door to passersby.
When did I remain silent, and not go out to the door, because I was afraid of a great crowd, and I was afraid of the contempt of the people, and I hid my iniquity in my arms like a stranger, and covered my transgressions.”
Job is now listing what he has done in an argument with his friends.
“I am… this kind of person!”
Unknowingly, he is digging out and uncovering the roots of pride and bitterness that he claims to be righteous, hidden deep within him.
Eventually, with the appearance of God, Job discovers his own faults and sins in the preached word and tells God.
Job 40:4-5 “I am lowly; what can I say to you? I cover my mouth with my hand.
I have said it once or twice, and I will not add to it again, nor will I answer it.”
And repent in verse 6.
After repenting, God gives exactly double the blessing.
Verse 10, “Job prayed for his friends, and the Lord restored Job’s plight and gave him twice as much as he had before.”
Pastor Arthur Pink said, “Suffering makes me realize how weak and incompetent I am. It also makes us realize how great and great God is.”
That's right.
Are there difficulties in your life?
Are you so tired that you don't even have the strength to stand up?
God knows.
Remember that your faith grows and matures through suffering.
And when your relationship with God is restored by discovering the bitter root of a sin you don't know, when you are cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross, the double blessing God gives you will be yours.