a little different tune than what we're accustomed to. We started singing that RUF version, and I saw that and wanted to sing that song because it had some good words that are applicable to tonight. Anyway, we did it, right? That was a good job. Tonight we're looking at Job chapter 1 verses 13 through 18. You have sermon notes available if you didn't get any. There's some on the table in the foyer. Before I do that, I'm going to chase a rabbit because last week I mentioned about how Satan's work would have his work to do away with the Lord Jesus Christ was thwarted by Christ going to the cross. If he'd known that, he wouldn't have performed that. And so if we chase a little rabbit, if you want to just chase a rabbit with me, I'm going to just get to this. Because it was brought up last week, and I'll just point out that last week I was just ready to cover that, and it was pointed out to me. Remember right in the middle of the sermon, or right near the end of the sermon, that all of a sudden we had a buzz, right? And then I got distracted, and then we didn't get it. So shame on me, I didn't get it. And I just point out that I'm very thankful. Rebecca does a great job back there, and she's kind of like keeping the Titanic together with twine. We don't have a real good board. We have an old board and an old system, and sometimes things don't record. And so I've been getting these notes from people all over the country and saying, hey, I missed your sermon last Sunday, and it's not online. What's going on? And I'm very thankful that this little church has pretty much an impact through sermon audio. Our audio sermons go out, and our video now sermons go out. And if you saw the report, it's really encouraging to see all the people. Well, sometimes they get it, and they're getting it, and then they don't, and say, hey, So anyway, very thankful for that. So just a little rabbit chase before we get started here And then I'll read our you know, I'll pray and I'll get our text But just don't point out in 1st Corinthians chapter 2 is this passage of scripture that I was talking about We have to understand and when you put it together with Revelation chapter 12 in Revelation chapter 12, it says the dragon, you know Okay, the dragon is of course Satan and he said picture is that he's going against the woman the Old Testament That's the the nation of Israel. Okay And he wants to stop this man-child that's coming into the world. Well, that was proclaimed in Genesis 3, verse 15, when God says that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent and he would strike at his heel. Okay, so we see that all through the Old Testament. that Satan is trying to do away with the seed of the woman, okay? And including the fact that once David is made king, then the seed of David, after there was many struggles and trials upon the kings of Israel, okay? And what it was doing is Satan was trying to wipe things out. And he couldn't do it. He couldn't do it because Christ came into this world, right? And he wanted to do away with him, and thought he had the upper hand when he had Jesus crucified. The rulers of this world. So I want you to just read this. This is from the second chapter of 1 Corinthians, and beginning in verse 6, it says, yet among the mature, we do not impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. In other words, we're not doing worldly wisdom when we talk about the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he says, he goes on and says, we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. God does things not in open, but in secret. He works in our hearts. We understand the scriptures. People are blind to the scriptures. Our eyes are open to the scriptures. And the Spirit of God opens us. Now we have some understanding here. And he says, we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers, watch this, of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. Now, there you go. If they would have understood what the crucifixion was going to bring out, they wouldn't have done it. Satan wouldn't have been behind it. And what I was pointing out is the connection to Job here, that if Satan understood the good that was gonna come out of all the affliction upon Job, he wouldn't have done it. He wouldn't have brought it up, but God allowed him to bring it up so that God would allow him Sifted through God's hand, bring affliction upon Job, which is what we're going to look at tonight, for God's glory, because Job is going to be matured in his faith. His faith is going to be more precious than gold that perishes. It'll be refined in the fire that he's going through. Like Job, like us. It's not in the Bible by accident. Romans 15 and verse 4 says, the things that are written aforetime are written for our learning that we, through the patience and the comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. That's what we want to give to you tonight as we look at the affliction, the magnitude of the first test on Job as we look at Job chapter 1 verses 13 through 19. So I've chased a rabbit and I've kind of set things up, so let's pray. Father, thank you for this time in your word. I thank you for this precious book of Job that you have given grace to enlighten us and help us to understand. I pray that you would use this time tonight to encourage everyone here that we would leave from here encouraged to know that when we are afflicted, It's good, because you're doing work in us. And our response in holding fast to the Lord Jesus Christ will actually be a detriment to Satan and his world. So give us grace, O God, to understand this and understand what you have written here in Job chapter 1, verses 13 through 19, as we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. OK, this is good stuff. I have to admit. God has just blessed me some really good studies on these things and I get real excited and I just hardly contain myself. I couldn't wait till tonight to bring this out, okay? So tonight we're looking at the blessing of knowing that God is in control. I think it's a blessing to know that, isn't it good to know as you go through the time that afflictions await us out there, isn't it good to know that he says in Psalm 34 that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and he delivers them. Isn't it good to know that you do not have a guardian angel, you have guardian angels, and God is in charge of surrounding you. So nothing comes your way but is sifted through the hand of God. If he didn't sift it, you would be blown over, okay? So we have to understand that. This account that we're looking at in Job demonstrates the need we have of facing Satan's rage against us in a proper way. And that, of course, along with being helped by God, we need to take on the full armor of God. And that's what is no joke when you read Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10 through 12. It's no joke when he says we need to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Okay, because we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness, against of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. So I want you to notice tonight that Job lost everything. All right, but I want you to notice how he lost everything. We'll notice the various means that God allowed into his life, enemies, lightning, whirlwind, all which were Satan's tactics to induce bitterness towards men and God, okay? And the point is that all this came through God's screening and he allowed the degree of anguish in Job's faith, but he does that to try Job and to bring out the pure gold. So tonight, We're looking at the setting in verse 13, the first round of bad news in verses 14 and 15, second round of bad news in verse 16, the third round in verse 17, and the fourth round of bad news. verses 18 and 19. That's where we're going and so you can follow along on the sermon notes or just follow along with us there in Job chapter 1 verses 13 through 19. It's appropriate if I read it to you first before we talk about it, so follow with me in God's Word as it's recorded here about Job's affliction. There was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and there came a messenger to Job and said, the oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabians fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you. While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, the fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you. And while he was yet speaking, there came another and said, the Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone am escaped to tell you. While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house. And behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead. And I alone have escaped to tell you. You probably have heard that, remember, I think it's an old wives' tale that things come in threes or, you know, they always say things come in multiples. I want to point out to you tonight that this is not really, the way that it happened here was quite a blessing to Joe. And I'll explain that, what I mean. But let's just first of all look at the setting here. I think it's very important to have the setting because it says it was the day when the sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house. Now, first of all, let's understand, first of all, Job's attitude when the first test took place. Job's attitude was seen in what God said about Job in verse 8. If you look back there, it says, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. So we look at Job, first of all, he had that account with God. Secondly, when you talk about the scene as his sons and daughters are eating and drinking that they did, I think it was on a monthly basis or something like that, that whenever that would happen, it says in verses 4 and 5, He used to go, when they would do this, in verse five it says, the days of the feast had run their course, Job would sin and consecrate them, and he would rise up early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, it may be that my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts, thus Job did this continually. So that indicates, that indicates right there when that little verse in verse 13 says, okay, he's fixing to really spend some time with God on behalf of his children. Okay, so what I'm getting at is Job had this account that he was a righteous man, he was right with God, and that doesn't happen by nature, that's a supernatural act of God. But secondly, he had the custom in his mind, he wanted to make sure that his children were consecrated, so he's getting ready to do that. They're up there drinking wine, they're having a feast, and he's getting ready the next day, here's what he's gonna do. So that sets the scene. Why is that important? Because what happens when we have trials, and this is what happened to Job when his friends popped in and sought to comfort him, you know, Job was not doing this. Okay, this did not happen to Job because of Job's failings. How many times have you said that when something has happened in your life? What did I do to deserve this? Okay? The point is, you never have done anything Well, first of all, let's understand what we deserve, right? Anything we have in life that's not hell, it's better than I deserve, right? That's grace, that God has graced us. But things don't happen, that's not how this happened to Job. So we can look at this and say, okay, let's put ourselves in here. Job was a righteous man, he was righteous before God. this was not happening because he had failed God or done some kind of illicit activity, for God saw Job's faithfulness and he proclaimed Job's faithfulness. So if Job was not a faithful man, God's a liar. Okay, so let's get that straight. Secondly, this gets rid of the, what did I do to warrant this, or I must not be his child because this has happened. Now we understand, okay, as soon as we open up chapters three and four and onward, We're going to open up the can of worms where the friends are there, and they're accusing Job of all kinds of things. They took some biblical principles. I want to point out, as you read that, sometimes they're biblical principles that they're using, but they're stretching them really far, and they keep coming back to the fact that, Job, you have this because there's sin in your life. You need to get your life straight. Now, we understand also that God has a higher purpose than to punish us. Are y'all with me on this? Because God does not punish us. Are you with me on that? He chastens us, rebukes us, changes us, but he doesn't punish us. Punishment is death, eternal death, the second death. The Lord Jesus Christ took our punishment, right? He chastens us, but he does not punish us. Okay? But what does he do? I'm going to just read to you from Hebrews chapter 12. Have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord or be weary when you are reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastens every son whom he receives. For it is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. But what son is there whom their father does not discipline? He says, if you are left without discipline in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and you're not sons. Okay, so God disciplines us. He's not a child abuser. He doesn't take delight in your suffering. He has a purpose for everything. And so when we look at Job, God is not out to get Job, Satan is out to get Job. God allows Job, or excuse me, God allows Satan to move, but what he's going to do is thwart Satan, and Job is gonna come forth as gold, refined gold, to the detriment and the anger of Satan, walk away because he's been defeated. Are you with me on that? Okay, follow with me then. Besides this, Hebrews says, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good that we may share in his holiness. For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant. but later yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. In other words, just as it says in John chapter 15, that Jesus says every branch that does bear, does not bear fruit, he takes away every branch that does bear fruit. He prunes it that it may bring forth more fruit. So God is therefore using Satan and his accusations to develop fruit in Job's life. And he does that with you too. All right. So the scene, The scene tells us Job is not involved in illicit activity. The scene is saying that he's getting ready to really spend some time with God on behalf of his children. So he's drawing close to God and so all of a sudden this happens. All right, the first round. There came a messenger to Job and said the oxen were plowing and the donkeys beside them and the sabians fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword and I alone have escaped to tell you. Now we need to back up to chapter 1 verse 3. Notice it says that what he owned was 500 yoke of oxen and 500 female donkeys. I take that if there's a yoke of oxen that says there's at least two. So he's talking about a thousand oxen. I never have seen a thousand cattle. Have you all ever seen that? I have never seen that. I've seen my buddy down when I was in Arkansas, this guy that was a farmer, he had I think 80 head of cattle. That was a pretty big field full of cattle. He'd ask me over, Brother Ted, would invite Pastor Bob and Jan over for lunch on Sundays, and we'd be sitting out on the rocking chairs. It was one of those country scenes that you had to be there, right? Every time I think about that, it was so restful on that Sunday afternoon, even though I had to preach on Sunday night, he would say, Brother Bob, you wanna go out and see the cows with me? And we'd drive over in his truck and see the cows, right? And make sure they were, it was something relaxing about seeing all those cows, right? But what I'm saying is he had 80 head of cattle and it was just a field full of those things. Can you imagine a thousand head of oxen and 500 donkeys? Okay, so that's the beginning of that. That's no wonder it says he was counted as the greatest of all the people in the land. He had so much stuff, okay? So here we go. I bring up this, Luke chapter 12 says, take care and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist of the abundance of possessions. It says in the first Timothy, but godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into the world, we cannot take nothing out of the world. If we have food and clothing, let us be there with content. Well, here's the deduction that we would draw from this, that Job does not consider his possessions more than God. How do we know that? Well, then we have to look at if he has, if his possessions mean more to him than God, then God has made the wrong assessment in verse 8. Okay? So God has made the assessment. So nevertheless, just like Abraham was instructed to take his son, his only son, Isaac, and offer him as on the altar to make sure that it was a demonstration, as we pointed out this morning, that he was not, the son was not an idol to him. Okay? God was his all in all. And so here we have that with Job. But I want you to notice something. You know, sometimes we look at this one after the other, after the other, after the other, after the other. Okay, we said, man, that must have been hard. He just gets one, and the guy says the messenger no sooner finished, and boom, the second messenger is there. That's grace. Let me point out why. The Sabians came, okay, and Job ran a big outfit, and he had many servants. And just like Abraham, remember when he got the word that a lot had been taken by the foreign army, and Job rounded up his servants and said, let's go get them. They have to be like that. It wasn't fenced in land. And people wouldn't have respected that anyway. There's too much going on out there. So the tendency would have been if the Sabians came and got these oxen and these donkeys, boys, it's time to round up. Let's go fetch them. We'll teach them a thing. He doesn't have a chance. He doesn't have the chance to take vengeance by himself. because next thing we have the second round. While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, the fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you. Well, the sheep, he owned 7,000 sheep. Again, I've never seen that many sheep in one field. It's hard to even conceive of that, 7,000 sheep. But we know that sheep are dumb. Okay? Sheep will follow one another. I don't know if you've, you know, I was a bad boy when I was young, and there was this farmer that had some sheep, and if you ever toss a rock at a sheep, that sheep will start running, and when that sheep start running, they all start running. They all take off. Now, let's just look at the complete havoc of this situation. We get a little feeling of that by seeing the pictures from California of the wildfires. Okay, the fire would have been in a field, and maybe a lightning bolt from heaven started a little fire, and next thing you know, the brush and everything else comes up, and now you have a fire. Now you have sheep that are running probably right into the fire. They just will start running after one another. They always say that you can lead the sheep to go off a cliff. If one goes off the cliff, they'll all just follow. So here we are with the fire and the sheep and the servants are consumed. And we can't understand it except we look at, again, those pictures from California. When that wildfire starts, it goes. And when the wind is blowing, it just picks up and it's like a blowtorch everywhere it goes. So just stop and think, 7,000 sheep and servants gone. Now, I'll just point out, again, it says in Luke chapter 12, take care and be on your guard against all covetousness for one's life does not consist in abundance of possessions. I think 7,000 sheep is an abundance. Would you all say that? Yeah, okay, here, let's follow this. A couple of deductions here. Job could have been proud of what he had, but as he tries to get his mind wrapped around the first loss, he gets news of this second loss. Now let's understand, a lot of people, when things like that happen, get mad at God, right? How could God allow that to happen? Well, instead of getting angry with God, that he has no time to fret or become bitter because here comes the third messenger. Here we go, third one. While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, the Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants at the edge of the sword, and I alone am escaped to tell you. I'm not exactly sure what 3,000 camels look like, but that's what he owned, 3,000 camels. I can't even imagine. I've seen a camel. I've never seen more than a number of camels, but can you imagine 3,000 camels? Can you imagine the worth of that? And so here he lost his camels. Well, once again, Maybe look at that, that it says in Matthew, do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust does corrupt or thieves break in and steal. That's what happened. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys nor thieves break through and steal. So I would say that's exactly what Job's life was like because that's why when we find this deduction of what went on just as the first two messengers, Job's being tested for possible idolatry of his possessions. But does he love God or does he love, as Satan made the assessment, that he's simply following God for what he could get? Rather than gather his troops, though, again, the Sabians or the Chaldeans or whomever, instead of getting his troops together and going out, we're left, we don't know what would happen because God's the one who says, vengeance is mine, says the Lord, but nevertheless, here comes the fourth messenger. Fourth messenger says, he was yet speaking, there came another and said, your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house. Behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house and it fell upon the young people and they are dead. And I alone have escaped to tell you. seven sons and three daughters, ones of which he made intercession for on a regular basis whenever they would get together. First of all, I pointed out when we were on that section of Job chapter one, what a blessing to know that their sons and daughters liked each other. I mean, that's a blessing in itself. How many families have family feuds? You know, children don't talk to parents or parents and children don't talk to one another. What a blessing, okay? What a blessing that he would consecrate them. That means they were participating in the activity after their, time that they had together that he was praying for them and making intercession for them with God. Okay, so this is what's going on. Job could have made an idol out of his children, but it's obviously he didn't. Obviously he cared about their spiritual status, but this is where Satan strikes. God allows us a test to increase our faith by purifying it. Many times it hits those places that are really close to home. Four tests. Two from outsiders, basically two that would say it's an act of God, the fire and the whirlwind, okay? So when you look at this, Job lost everything. Now, we are, the schedule of preaching here doesn't get me back to the book of Job until February the 2nd. In the next two weeks, Cheekay is gonna preach next Sunday night and Pastor Heath is going to preach on the following Sunday night, and then so February 2nd, we're gonna get back. So quite frankly, after reading the testing of Job, I have to give you a sneak preview of verses 20 and 22, okay? Now, let's understand. One messenger after another, another, and another. Four messengers came in very quickly. And again, the time was when the sons and daughters were having their time together. And so Job is probably preparing for the consecration that's going to take place in the morning. Boom! Here they come. Okay. Here's how Job responds. We'll just read it and allow you to think about that. I thought about, if I didn't read this, I'm leaving you for three weeks to think about Job. I don't want to leave him there. Okay. Here we go. Verses 20 and 22 says, then Job arose and tore his robe, shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. What that tells us right there is that he just punched Satan in the nose, big time. And that's where we come in, too. When things come, instead of getting mad, getting bitter, wanting to get even, We turn and worship God. We recognize He's the one who gives, and if He sees fit for it to take it away, blessed be the name of the Lord. Okay, so let's just back up and draw out some lessons. Number one, Job was prepared for this. God prepared Job for this time. God prepared Job for this time, as it says in verse 1, he was a man who was perfect and upright, one that feared God and eschewed evil. He was prepared in the fact that he was disciplined in his walk with God, he sought God regularly. He pushed away evil out of his life, he was conscientious about it. Secondly, he was focused on his family, but not in an idolatrous way, but rather he concerned about them spiritually. And so he was praying for them. That's why it says in verse five that he would rise up early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, it may be that they've sinned. And no doubt, he's teaching them that it could be that you curse God in your heart. And so then it says, Job did this continually. It wasn't just a one-time act. It wasn't an act until they got old enough to know better. It was an act all the time. He was concerned about his children. And so he was a man who drew close to God, and he drew close to God because of his children. So here's a man. First of all, God prepared him for that. We're prepared for activities to come. That's why it's no joke, and again, from Ephesians 6, that we wrestle not against flesh and blood. We need to be prepared. We need to put on the armor of God, and that's daily activity. That is, we're prepared for things to happen in our lives. We're not just blown over. When I read this, I'm blown over, aren't you? I mean, whoa, okay? But Job was not blown over. I'm sure that in some places he might have felt like he was blown over, but again, we find him being driven to worship. Secondly, if Job didn't need this testing, stop and think about it. If Job didn't need this testing, he wouldn't have been tested, would he? If he didn't need it, but God thought enough of him, and saw, Job, what he could be, that God allowed him to be afflicted for his benefit. I know we read it often, but 1 Peter 1, verse 6 says, greatly rejoiced, though now for a season, if need be, you're in heaviness through manifold or many temptations or trials, that the trial of your faith being more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto the praise and honor and glory and the appearing of Jesus Christ. Okay, so when your faith is improved, your faith is drawn, is purified, again what that does is tell Satan, get away. You lost in this one. And that's why Jesus over and over and over calls for churches, for individuals in the book of Revelation to be overcomers. We overcome not by taking a sword and going after people, we overcome by finding ourselves more and more dependent upon the Lord Jesus Christ, turning to him in prayer and worship. That's why Job even says later on in the book of Job, when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. And he did. That's why God blessed him immensely at the end of this book. But I also want to bring up before we end tonight, and that is that God knows how much we can take. He knows he's the one who provides help that we need and will provide the grace and power to apply that help when and how we need it. I brought it up on Thursday night at our Bible study. In 1 Corinthians 10, verse 13, there's a scripture that is often misapplied in this area, where it says, no temptation has taken you such as is common to man. God is faithful, who will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but will with the temptation also provide a way of escape that you may be able to endure it or may be able to bear it. Too many times I've heard people say, well, God knows how much I can take. He won't give me more than I can bear. Well, that's not what that scripture teaches us. That scripture teaches us you can't bear anything. You are totally weak. You can't do anything. I can't. That's the way we approach that. So first of all, there's no temptation taking us. There's something that never happened when things happened to us. It happens to other people, too. So God is not picking you out and saying, Okay, Satan may apply things and you feel like you, okay, understand it's come through the sifting hand of God. And if God didn't sift it, it would be much worse. Okay, but he says, there's no temptation taken you but such as has come to man. Point, God is faithful. God is faithful. Is that an amen? Yeah, God is faithful. Okay, so he's not wishy-washy, he's faithful. He said the same yesterday, today, and forever, Jesus Christ, our great high priest. God is the rock, so he's faithful. So first of all, when things happen, you're not picked out, you're not having something that somebody else has not ever had. God is faithful through this. He says that God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. Your ability by nature is nothing, right? But the last part of that says, he will with the temptation provide a way of escape that you may be able to bear. Guess what? Now you can bear anything that God calls you to because he's going to be right there by your side and help you through it and provide a way to see you through that. Is that good stuff or what? That is good stuff because God is faithful. He will not let you down. He's not putting you out there on an island and saying, see what you can do. He's out there with you. And he has sifted everything that comes there to begin with. And that's why it says, finally be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. And put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. So, what is your test tonight? Are you keeping a loose hand on things or things or people in your life become idols? So easy, isn't it? To look and trust to those things. Sometimes we have to just put ourselves in the shoes of Abraham. Abraham was promised a son of Isaac. promise he wanted to look for. Remember, God had made him this promise. His seed would be as the stars of the sky and sand of the sea. And he kept asking God, is this going to come through my servant Eleazar? No, no, you'll have a son. OK, well, I'm just having a hard time with this, Lord. OK? And remember, the promise came when God spoke that. And as we mentioned this morning, that Sarai heard that, and she said, Yeah, right. She laughed at that. Well, he has the promised son. And then God says, offer him as an offering. Boy, that would have been tough, wouldn't it? Except Hebrews gives us insight as to what happened. Abraham truly believed his promised son was a a work of God. He was a miracle son. And if God provided a miracle son, God will raise him from the dead when I offer his life. So I'll do it because of his faith in God. So we have a loose hand on things, our stuff, our families, our children, our careers, whatever it is. We have a loose hand and said, Lord, it's yours. and he takes it, he has a purpose. If he takes it, he's with you through that time. If he allows it to be taken, he'll see you through and make a way of escape. It's not just like you're getting out of it, but he'll see you through. Remember it says in Isaiah 43, when you pass through the waters, I'll be with you. And through the rivers, they'll not overflow you. when you walk through the fire, you see, you're walking through the fire. You'll not be burned. Isn't he good? Let's pray. Father, we thank you for this passage in Job. Our minds just, our hearts just go out to Job, as we know your heart did, because here's your servant, Job, going through much affliction. And yet you were with him to cause him to worship in that, as we'll see the next time. But even so, Father, we thank you for your goodness that reminds us, if we go through trials, even if it's on the magnitude of Job, although we don't own that much stuff, but nevertheless, whatever we have could be taken from us. But we know that you'll be with us. And as Corey Tenboom said, When Jesus is all that you have, you know that Jesus is all that you need. May we learn that, Father, in a practical way and seek your presence and your power every day of our lives and thus be ready for any affliction that comes. Thank you, Father, for this passage. Thank you for your goodness in Jesus' name, amen.