God's Scales

Poor old Job, what did he ever do to deserve all the trials and sorrows he suffered through?  Has there ever been anyone as scrupulous in keeping a solid, balanced relationship with God, as this man?  In fact he went overboard, making it a regular custom to offer extra burnt sacrifices, just in case his children had sinned. Job, in this passage, realizes something is unbalanced as he runs through a mental checklist, asking God to put his life on the scales.  He never lusted after women; was never unjust or veered off the path of righteousness, and certainly held God in the highest esteem.

In the case of Job, the tragedies that befell him, were allowed by God.  If you recall the story, a group of angels came to present themselves to the Lord, one day, and Satan tagged along. God bragged on his man Job, but our crafty enemy convinced God to give him the authority to test him.  God agreed,  giving Satan the right to touch everything Job had, but not the man himself.  The rest of the tale of woe is sadly familiar to us.  He loses everything, children, flocks, and servants, but never his faith.  Finally, Job was subjected to sores in his own flesh, but still he held on, praising God through it all!!  His so-called friends, and even his wife told him to curse God and die - but he couldn’t and wouldn’t.  In the end, God intervened and restored to this precious man all that he had lost, and more.

 Let’s face it, there are times when we feel kind of like Job.  We’re living our lives in a god-pleasing way,  and whammo out of nowhere comes sickness, death, loss of employment, even a tornado.  Does that mean God is angry with us, and this is our punishment?  Take heart, if he wants to straighten you out, he will, but this is different.  Like Job, and countless others who have lived though trials, God has a blessing in store for the faithful.  His scale will not only tip in our favor, but in abundance.  Remember, no one gets through life unscathed, not even God’s own son.  “Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.” Proverbs 16:11.

This is my 300th blog!!  Woo Hoo!! Hope they are as much a blessing to you, as they are to me!!