-August 20, 2022-
Good morning, happy Saturday,
“Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly” (Job 8:7).
“Now the Lord blessed the latter days more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. And after this Job lived one hundred forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So Job died, old and full of days” (Job 42:12-13; Job 42:16-17).
Job had a great beginning but it was small compared to his ending. He was struck with a multitude of trials, testings, and troubles. As good as his beginning was, it was pale in comparison to his ending. Job’s three friends were Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zohar. They all meant well, but they all missed the mark by saying that these afflictions came on him because he had sinned and needed to repent. In actuality, Satan was behind them. He had to get God’s permission to strike Job. At the end the Lord rebuked them, saying, “Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job will pray for you. I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has” (Job 42:8).
Of all their words to Job, this statement was true for it turned out just this way for Job. His beginning was small, His ending was big. God actually doubled all that he lost. He also replaced his sons and daughters. Job lived one hundred forty years more and enjoyed his children and grandchildren to the fourth generation. Not only that but Job is mentioned in Ezekiel along with Daniel and Noah as having righteousness that would deliver themselves, though even they could not deliver the Israelites for their sin and going into captivity.
Job shall forever be remembered for his patience, and what he endured. James wrote of him, “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11). As believers our end will be in heaven forever. It doesn’t get any better than that.
God has plans for us as He did for Job. He wants to bless our latter days and make them more increasingly abundant. The older we get, the more we see it and appreciate all that He has done for us and will do for us. It is also best to be better at the end than at the beginning in our spiritual lives. In this case Bildad got it right.
May the Lord help us to draw near to Him, walk in obedience to Him, and serve Him more and more as we grow older. Stay safe and healthy.
Serving faithfully to the end,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 