As Pure as Gold
“But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10)
The Bible tells us that Job was a good man an upright man. He was a man who feared God and shunned evil. Infact, he was so good that God had to boast of him to Satan saying “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil (Job 1: 8). Being the person that he is, Satan was quick to say that Job served God only because God had built a hedge around him, his family, and his possessions and had blessed him. He challenged God to withdraw His protection and blessings, and that Job would curse God. God knowing the kind of man Job was gave Satan the permission to afflict him. Job lost all he had but throughout his period of trial, he never once said an evil word against God. In fact he continued to acknowledge God’s goodness and greatness.
In this verse, Job makes it clear that what he is going through is within God’s knowledge. He knew that there was nothing about him that was hidden from God. Job knew this because he had an intimate relationship with his God. Job confirms that God knows him and knows his ways even though man may not. He adds that the test he is going through will end and that he will come out of it a better person. We must not forget that at the end of his ordeal, God gave Job twice as much as he had before he was afflicted.
When we look at the life of the Apostle Paul, we see another man who God knew well and allowed to suffer. Even before he surrendered himself to God on the road to Damascus, God had it all planned and that is why in referring to Paul, He said to Ananias, “…for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear my name before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15a). God knew that the Apostle Paul would suffer many things for His name (Acts 9:15b). but He also knew that like Job, he too would come forth as pure gold. Paul too never questioned God but continued to bear the persecution and suffering knowing that God was with him. That is why he and Silas could praise and worship God while in prison. We must also remember that it is this same Paul that wrote approximately two thirds of the New Testament.
Friend, just as He knew Job and Paul, God knows us. Infact He said He knew us even before we were conceived in our mother’s womb. Even the Psalmist confirms that God knows our sitting down and rising up and even our thoughts (Psalm 139:1,2). Similarly, just as He knew everything that Job and Paul went through, He also knows everything that we go through. His desire is that as we go through these trials, we may be like Job and the Apostle Paul who did not waiver but kept their eyes on God and came out as refined as gold.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for saving me, for taking me out of darkness into your marvelous light. Thank you for the privilege of knowing that there is nothing that concerns me that you do not know. Lord, even as I go through the trials of life, help me to keep my eyes focused on you and cause me to learn the lessons that you desire me to learn. May I too come out of these trials as pure as gold. I love you and I bless you. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
