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 Among
the many examples of Job’s steadfastness is this: “Behold,
He will slay me; I have no hope; nevertheless I will maintain my
ways before Him. This also is my salvation, That a godless man
shall not come before Him.” (Job 13:15 -16) The footnote
reads: “Though He slay me, yet will I wait for Him.” When
the going gets rough, we tend to seek a “scapegoat”— we
must put the blame on someone other than ourselves. But why do
those who have made such a show of trusting in God “take it
out” on Him? This indicates the shallowness of our faith. Job
did not have to enjoy good tines to realize the importance of
godliness. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” And
his reasoning was excellent. “A godless man shall not come
before Him,” i.e., there is no future in the opposite course.
Must
we “make a deal” with God? IF you will bless and prosper me,
I will toss you a few crumbs? When Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego were threatened with the fiery furnace should they
refuse to worship a pagan god, they replied, “We have no need
to answer thee in this matter.” (I.E., Our decision to serve
Jehovah has long ago settled any opposite appeal.) “If it be
so, our
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God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning
fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not
serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set
up.” That is to say, whether God sees fit to save us or not,
we will not doubt His power, nor cease to serve Him. Better to
die faithful than to trade our souls for a few years.
Paul
asked God to remove a “thorn” from his flesh (2 Cor. 12:7-9)
but accepted, without wavering, the answer: “My grace is
sufficient for thee.” And Peter got to the heart of matters
when asked if he would “go away;” he replied, “Lord, to
whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.”
“The
trying of your faith worketh patience —” (Jas. 1:3-f), if
there be genuine faith to try. “If thou faint in the day of
adversity, thy strength is small” (Prov. 24:10). Are they not
shortsighted who forsake the kingdom because of tribulations?
(Acts 14:22)
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Vol.11, no.12, p.8]
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