Topic: Transitions Produce Change

Text: Job 19:13-27

Key Verse: If one dies, can he live again? Through these days of toil and struggle, I will patiently wait until my situation changes. Job 14:14 VOICE

Transition is the process or period of changing from one state or condition to another. When life is disrupted, it will take some time for it to return to its normal course; the process can bring about change not only in the situation but also in the individual.

Job’s experience has a lot of lessons for us; you recall that Job was not suffering because of his sins; instead, it was a test of his faith. The VOICE translation captures the text in a way that gives better clarity.

Eternal One: Well, have you looked into the man, Job, My servant? He is unlike any other person on the whole earth—a very good man—his character spotless, his integrity unquestioned. He so believes in Me that he seeks, in all things, to honour Me and deliberately avoids evil in all of his affairs.

The Accuser: I won’t argue with You that he is pious, but is all of this believing in You and honouring You for no reason? Haven’t You encircled him with Your very own protection, and not only him but his entire household and all he has? Not only this, but Your blessing accompanies whatever his hand touches, and see how his possessions have grown. It is easy to be so pious in the face of such prosperity. So now extend Your hand! Destroy all of these possessions of his, and he will certainly curse You, right to Your face.

Eternal One: I delegate this task to you. His possessions are now in your hand. One thing, though: you are not to lay a finger on the man himself. Job must not be touched.
With that, the Accuser left the court and the Eternal\’s presence.
Job 1:8-12(The Voice)

You know what Job experienced, the loss of children, possessions, and his health. Our text today focuses on the loss of his social network; his family, friends, servants, and all those who once related to him with respect and honour. Apart from the physical pain he faced in his body, the torment made him scrape his body with pottery. And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes. Job 2:8

His wife was present but did not offer any comfort or hope; rather, she suggested he curse God and die. Even today, some people have friends and family who, during their trial of faith, give suggestions that might provide temporary relief but mortgage their soul in eternity, be careful who you listen to in your network.

The devil pushed Job to remember his past glory so that his pride would be crushed as they shame him. He recalled his good works and service to humanity, which had all been forgotten and replaced with an attitude of disdain. Job 17:6, 30:1

Yet Job did not curse God or man. The secret of his victory is contained in our key verse; he lived in expectation of change, and he had hope in God. The change that comes starts with you, then with your situation. Other versions of our key verse capture it in a way that confirms this statement.

If one dies, can he live again? Through these days of toil and struggle, I will patiently wait until my situation changes Job 14:14

If a man dies, can he come back to life? But I will wait for better times, wait till this time of trouble is ended. GNT

If a human being dies, will he live again? I will endure the entire time of my assigned service until I am changed. ISV

If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time, I will wait until my transformation comes. JUB

During the transition, you can focus on the past, pain, and people’s attitudes, but nothing gives you hope and relief faster than keeping your eyes on the Lord. Though He seems far away, he is near and has promised never to leave you nor forsake you.

Besides, I know my Redeemer lives, and in the end, He will rise and take His stand on the earth. And though my skin has been stripped off, still, in my flesh, I will see God. I, myself, will see Him: not some stranger, but for me, with these eyes. Toward this end, my deepest longings pine away within my chest. Job 19: 25-27

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have because He has said, “I will never leave you; I will always be by your side.” Because of this promise, we may boldly say, The Lord is my help. I won’t be afraid of anything. How can anyone harm me? Hebrews 13:5-6

As we turn our eyes on God, we find the strength to live a day at a time, knowing that better times are ahead; whether in this life or the next, we win. At the end of the transition, Job was restored and experienced God.

The transition is a season when God deals with false beliefs and wrong values in our lives. The Father sits as a potter to shape us into the vessels He wants us to become. Job had opinions about himself God had to change. Even his friends learned from the experience of Job how not to speak about issues they know nothing about.

What the enemy meant for evil became a testimony for future generations to draw wisdom from. May our lives and witness be an encouragement and source of hope to others in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Eternal restored the fortunes of Job after he prayed for his friends; He even doubled the wealth he had before. All of his brothers and sisters, along with those he had known earlier, came and shared meals with him at his house. They sympathized with him and consoled him regarding the great distress the Eternal had brought on him. Each guest gave him a sum of money and each a golden ring. Job 42:10-11 VOICE

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in my season of transition, I may not understand the cause of my pain; please help me trust your faithful love and focus on the change you want to produce instead; in Jesus’ name, amen.

Pastor Ada

Photo by SwapnIl Dwivedi on Unsplash