Job 30:1-31

Job has discussed how he used to be respected and honored in the previous chapter.  Now he contrasts that with his present reality where he is scorned and rejected by those who once sought him out for wisdom.  Job has had a complete reversal in fortunes.  He went from riches to rags, from being surrounded by family to being alone and from healthy to sick.  However, perhaps the greatest difficulty he faced through this time of testing and trials was the loss of respect that he suffered from the people around him.  It is hard to go from being respected to being ridiculed, but that was Job’s reality.  That coupled with the fact that Job felt abandoned by God truly left him in a state of desperation. 

JOB FEELS RIDICULED BY MEN: As a respected elder in the community, Job was used to being treated with honor.  The young and the old would stop and listen to him or come to him for advice.  Now all of that respect and honor is gone.  He has become a mockery before these men.  Nobody wants to listen to him anymore and those who Job would not have trusted to watch his sheep with his dogs are now making fun on him.  These worthless men who are despised by society are now looking down on Job.  People are very quick to judge one another, and it is hard to be disrespected when we are used to be honored.  It is a good lesson to learn to not put too much stock in the opinions of others.  We must be very careful not to live in fear of men to the point that we become people pleasers. 


JOB FEELS REJECTED BY GOD: Without a doubt, the hardest trial that Job has been called to face involves his relationship with God.  He has had to go through all of this pain and suffering without the benefit of hearing from God about what is going on in his life.  Job does not understand why God is allowing all of this and every time he asks for answers Job feels that the Lord has abandoned him.  This is a very hard place to be in and Job is struggling to stay alive.  He trusts that God will do what is right, but he honestly thinks that his best hope is death.  When we are in distress the best thing that we can do is simply cry out for help from the Lord and then trust that no matter how dark the days may seem, God is in control and He is always faithful to do that which is right.

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