It was the worst day of her life. It was far more terrible than anything she could have ever imagined. One after another, the blows had come quicker than crashing waves. The animals, all taken. The servants, the shepherds, and the workers in the field, all dead. Every source of income, gone. And the final blow, all of her children, seven sons and three daughters, never to be seen again. Her future, her hopes, her dreams, her plans, everything in her life was shattered. It was too much. The weight of it all was unbearable. How could she go on after so much loss in just one day? To make matters worse, her husband, and only means of financial survival, sat in a heap of ashes scraping his plagued skin with a broken piece of pottery. As she watched in pitiful helplessness, I imagine her thoughts raced, “Will things ever be good again? Will life ever be normal again?”
We don’t know much about this woman, but we do know that she had fortune and prestige. Her husband was the wealthiest man in the region and was respected in the community. She had a husband who loved and revered God and who prayed for their children. There was peace in their family, as the scripture indicates that their children spent time together and enjoyed that time. They were blessed by God, and everything they had was protected by Him. As this woman who had once been so blessed and protected watched her husband scrape his wounds, she was overcome. Her words in Job 2:9 seem harsh and callous, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”
Though we don’t know much about her, we do know that she lost every bit as much as Job had lost on that horrible day. It makes sense that she would have also experienced the same heart-wrenching pain and anguish. She was there with him in the grief, the pain, and the loss, not exempt from the inner turmoil. She had been struck by the same blows. Job is commended for his response to the suffering he faced, while his wife is condemned for hers. Perhaps her statement revealed the condition of her heart, or maybe, just maybe, she was at the lowest point of her life and had a moment of weakness. It would be possible for any human to have a similar reaction to the agonizing events she had just endured.
Perhaps her statement revealed the condition of her heart, or maybe, just maybe, she was at the lowest point of her life and had a moment of weakness.
Breana Henry
The integrity she asked her suffering husband if he planned to retain is also translated as “innocence.” “Will you stay innocent, Job? Won’t you just give up? Won’t you just curse God and die?” She didn’t care much for innocence in that moment. From where she stood, all was lost. There were no better tomorrows on the horizon. It was bleak and wretched. It was hopeless. There seemed to be no future beyond her anguish. Why not get it over with, and just curse God and die? She had no promise of restoration, only the great, gaping hole of her present condition. She was broken, and she was honest. Job remained innocent before God, but she was guilty. She was guilty of forgetting who God was.
She was broken, and she was honest. Job remained innocent before God, but she was guilty. She was guilty of forgetting who God was.
Breana Henry
Though Job faced great pain, he was able to see that God had blessed him, made His face to shine upon him, and had been so gracious to him. Truly, he had lived in the goodness of God. In the midst of it all, he was able to say, “The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21 KJV). Though his life was crumbling before his eyes, he remembered goodness. Like his wife, he also had no promise of restoration, but he chose to see the Lord’s sovereignty rather than to be angry or charge Him foolishly (Job 1:22).
Even if God never restored anything and things had been left as they were, Job still could have said that he had been blessed. His current circumstances did not change the fact that God had been good to him, had provided for him, and had protected him. Job was able to fall down and worship Him because of their relationship.
Though his life was crumbling before his eyes, he remembered goodness.
Breana Henry
Job had his dark thoughts and low places, but he understood that when it was all over, he would come forth as gold. His wife couldn’t see the gold for the darkness of the grave her grief had dug. But, like Job, we must remember who we serve even in our most desperate moments, when it seems all is lost. Our God knows the way that we take (Job 23:10), and His thoughts are far above our own (Isaiah 55:8-9). Life may not always be “good,” but He always is, and He is capable of working all things, even the worst of days, for good.
Life may not always be “good,” but He always is, and He is capable of working all things, even the worst of days, for good.
Breana Henry
No matter our circumstances or the condition of our lives, even if we lose everything, we will never lose access to His goodness. In our weakest moments, when we want to curse Him and die, His goodness is available even then. He waits for us to turn into his loving arms and find comfort in His embrace. He knows our frame, that we are made of dust. He is aware of our weaknesses and loves us still. He doesn’t turn His back when we are weak, instead, He pulls us close. His goodness outweighs our sorrows, and it prevails in the darkest of nights. His goodness is ever-reaching. Paul said in Romans 2:4 that it’s His goodness that leads us to repentance.
In Psalm 23, David briefly discussed his journey through the valley of the shadow of death. He declared that he would fear no evil because the Lord was with him. He wrapped up the psalm by saying, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” We may travel through the valley of the shadow of death, but we’re never there alone. We are followed by the goodness and mercy of a good and faithful God.
No matter our circumstances or the condition of our lives, even if we lose everything, we will never lose access to His goodness.
Breana Henry
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