Tested by Affliction

Day 13 of 365...


Job 35-37


Job 36:15-17,21 - "God rescues the afflicted by afflicting them; He instructs them by means of their torment.  Indeed, He lured you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and unconfined place.  Your table was spread with choice food.  Yet now you are obsessed with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you...Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity, for that is why you have been tested by affliction."


I'm pretty sure that I've already said some of things that I garnered from these verses, but some of them bear repeating.  First of all, Elihu is still delivering his diatribe to Job and all who will hear.  The first verse of this passage struck me.  You would think that the way to deliver someone from their suffering is to remove them from it.  However, this contradicts the way God works.  In order for Him to instruct us, He has to get our attention first.  I'm not saying that the only way to get our attention is through suffering and torment, but, it is one of the means He can use.  I don't know about everyone else, but I know that, when I'm suffering, I am more willing to listen and learn from God than when times are good.  This begs the question, "Why don't I listen better in the good times?"  Well, that's a valid question that I don't have an answer for.  It is comforting to know that God "rescues" me from my affliction through my affliction, though.  I have come to realize that I don't want to have to go through all the hard times in my life for no reason.  I want there to be a purpose behind the pain.  Thankfully, God uses the things I've learned through my pain and suffering to help others going through similar circumstances, which makes going through those things worthwhile.  It's worthwhile because God taught me something through it, and I was able to encourage someone with the lesson that God taught me.


Then, Elihu points out how God provided for Job.  God delivered him out of distress and filled his table with choice food.  Now, Job is complaining that all that God blessed him with was taken away.  Again, you can't have it both ways.  I have to be thankful for what God gives me, but I also have to be thankful for what He decides to take away.  In both cases, God deems it necessary in order for me to live up to my potential in Him.  Then, in verse 21, Elihu states, "Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity, for that is why you have been tested by affliction."  This is the biggest temptation during trying times.  The temptation is to turn to iniquity and not wait on God.  However, I've discovered that the best way to plan for trying times (because they will come) is to continue to be in God's Word and in prayer.  The reason being is twofold.  First, God wants to spend one on one time with me.  The second reason, which is just as important, is that through that time I spend with Him, I learn what His voice sounds like.  This is an important thing to remember, especially during those hard times.  If I know what my Heavenly Father's voice sounds like, then, when I cry out to Him in those difficult times, I will be able to discern His voice through all the noise.  It will also keep me from turning to iniquity, because His voice will guide me through barren lands.  It's my job to prepare for the hard times when times are good.  I have to put the work in ahead of time.  Otherwise, when affliction comes, and it will, then I won't do so well under the pressure.  God give me the discernment to know what Your voice sounds like, and give me the strength to endure the afflictions that will come my way.