Blessed Curses

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In a Book with names like Cushan-rishathaim and Mahershalal-hashbaz, there was a man named Job.

Talk about a bad day at the office! The book begins with Job losing his wealth, his children, and his health. To compound his agony, his wife opines, “Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9) In other words, either there’s no God to help, or He doesn’t care about you. But those who’ve read the book of Job know a secret. What appears to be God’s curse on Job is nothing of the kind.

One day, God pointed out His servant Job to Satan. Job! spat out the villain. I know why he’s loyal to You. Look at all his blessings! But give him a rough time, and he will “curse You to Your face!” (1:11) Strangely, God gave the devil permission to put Job to the test.

It’s scary when your wife sounds like she’s in cahoots with the devil! She mustn’t have known her husband very well. What did he do when the news rolled in? “He fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said:…‘The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’” (1:20-21) Three cheers for Job!

Some so-called friends showed up to help straighten him out—just what you need in that situation, right? They didn’t agree with Job’s wife; they thought it was all Job’s fault.

When all seemed bleak, and Job wondered if it would have been better if he’d never been born, God spoke out. He did have some straight talk for Job and his friends, and never explained the mystery of suffering, but reminded Job in the most eloquent ways that He had not lost control of the universe.

Then Job got it: God was letting the devil turn up the heat, but controlling the outcome: “When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” (23:10)

Here’s a Bible theme often overlooked. About Balaam’s attempt to destroy Israel, “Our God turned the curse into a blessing.” (Neh 13:2) Or as Joseph told his brothers, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good” (Gen 50:20)

What’s the chief example of a curse turned into a blessing? “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us…that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:13-14) God took the worst thing that ever happened—the murder of His Son—and turned it into the best, offering salvation through faith in Him!

God loves happy endings. He doesn’t micromanage our lives, neutralizing our choices. But for those who trust Him, He turns groans into prayers, burdens into blessings, and tragedies into triumphs. As Jesus said to Peter in a similar situation, “Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Lk 22:31-32) Even our failures can blossom into ministries!

Don’t be surprised, Christian, if at the end you agree “that all things work together for good to those who love God.” (Rom 8:28) You would plan your life just the way He’s planning it—if you knew as much as He does!

Article by Jabe Nicholson first published in the Commercial Dispatch, Sunday, March 27, 2022.

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