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The Job Syndrome

 

“JOB” as in the Old Testament, a servant of God—not “job” as in the work we do!

INTRODUCTION

The enemy of our soul is consistently engaged in his primary activity: stealing, with the intent to destroy anything that gives us joy. That includes our family, our sustenance, and our health. This is certainly nothing new. The difference between us today and Job of the Old Testament is that we know this destruction comes from the enemy. Jesus’ tells us: “The thief comes only to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, but I have come that you might have life to its fullness” (John 10:10).  It seems to me that Jesus is saying whenever there is theft, murder, or destruction, we can trace it to the thief—satan. Whenever there is joy, peace, and prosperity, we can trace it to Him, Jesus Christ. Keep that in mind.

THE JOB SYNDROME

Did you know that “Job Syndrome” is actually a medical term given in 1966 to a “disease name after the biblical character Job, whose body was covered with boils by satan ?”  It’s refreshing to know that the medical community got it right: Satan is the one who afflicts, destroys, and kills. 

The enemy comes to destroy. Jesus comes to give life!

WHAT HAPPENED TO JOB WAS NOT JOB’S FAULT                   

Most church-going folks know the story of Job. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion. He had seven sons and three daughters—a very close family who loved being together and had the money to put on a great party. He was wealthy, and was the most influential man in the entire East. He worshiped God, prayed for his children, did all the right things, and lived the abundant life. 

One day God was bragging to satan about his servant Job. He knew that satan was going to torment Job and told him he could not take Job’s life, but He said nothing about the lives of Job’s children or his livestock. (Job 1:8-9).

Then suddenly first one thing then another totally destroyed Job’s wealth and possessions. As if that wasn’t enough, before he could catch his breath from the losses, a tornado swept through the house where his children and their families were partying. While unaware of the catastrophe occurring outside, the roof fell in and killed them all.   

As if it wasn’t enough for Job to lose his wealth and possessions and all ten children in one day, it wasn’t long before his health was attacked as well. He was struck with ulcers and sores from head to foot. They itched and oozed so badly that Job took a sharp piece of pottery and scraped them. They were so messy, he had to leave the house. He went and sat on an ash heap. His distraught wife blamed God immediately and told Job, “Why don’t you just curse God and die.” Job responded: “You’re talking like an empty-headed woman. We take the good days from God—why not also the bad days?” (Read Job 2, Msg).

Job lost his houses, his lands, his businesses, his family, his health, and the loving support of his wife. And he didn’t do anything to cause it. What was Job’s response to the losses? He fell to the ground and worshiped.  (Read Job, Chapter 1.) Holy Spirit had not yet been sent to earth. He was truly ALONE WITH GOD.

THE PROGESSION OF JOB’S RESPONSE

Have you ever been at the point of losing everything? How did you respond? At first, Job remained strong in his faith, but eventually, the tragedy took its toll on him. The longer he suffered, the more depressed he became—to the point of having suicidal thoughts. Like David (and later Jesus), he was crying out: “My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Job 3; Psa.22; Matt, 27:46). He wondered if maybe he had brought this upon himself by crying out to God on behalf of his children—fearing they might have sinned (Job 1:5; 3:25). We know, from reading the author’s account of the story as inspired by the Holy Spirit, that this was not the case. But isn’t it true that we tend to look for something or someone to blame for the disaster. Many people believe that it was Job’s fear that brought on the disaster. However, those who have read the whole story know that it was satan. Let us not forget that satan is the one to blame.

JOB’S FRIENDS COME TO VISIT WHEN THEY HEARD ABOUT HIS PLIGHT

Job was known as a kind and caring man who spoke words of encouragement to people who were weak, falling, and wanting to give up on life (4:3-6). Thus it was only natural that his three closest friends would want to do the same thing for him. They sat silently with Job for seven days. Finally, their limited view of God got the best of them, and they felt compelled to speak.  

Some of the things they said lined up with God’s counsel; other things were definitely spoken from their own minds and not from God. For example, Job’s friend  Eliphaz says: “”Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” In some situations this would have been a “word of knowledge,” but we know what happened to Job was NOT the result of God disciplining him. We should never jump to conclusions nor be quick to put blame on the individual who is suffering. Most of the time, we don’t know the whole story. 

We cannot judge a person’s standing with God on the basis of his life circumstances. “For [God] gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike“ (Matt. 5:45, NLT).

In fact, in the case of Job, his plight had nothing to do with judgment and everything to do with satan wanting to destroy what God cherished. 

Job had no knowledge of satan’s work and thus assumed what happened was the will of God. In his heart of integrity and his love for Jehovah Jireh, the one true God, he declared: “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21) 

However, in retrospect, WE know it was NOT the WILL of the Lord, but the work of satan that brought about Job’s tragedies.

Job and his friends argued back and forth about “why” this had happened to him and tried to ascertain the characteristics of God. From the end of Chapter 2, when his friends arrived, all the way through Chapter 39, there is a continuous litany of questions, complaints, and accusations from the friends toward Job and from Job toward God. In the middle of one of the speeches, with all that was within him, Job makes this famous statement, “Though he slay me, yet will I serve him (KJV), or as The Message says, “Because even if he killed me, I’d keep on hoping. I’d defend my innocence to the very end” (13:15).  Even while questioning, in the depths of his heart Job had trust in God.

As the rather heated discussion continued, Job held to his conviction about Almighty God: “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and He will stand upon the earth at last; and after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see Him for myself. Yes, I will see Him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! (19: 25-27, Msg).

Job and his friends had neither the indwelling Holy Spirit nor the written Word of God to help them process what had happened.

HOW DID IT END?

Job repented for his babbling against God, and God forgave him.  However, God was not happy with Job’s friends. He said to them: “I am angry with you … for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has” (42:7, NLT). He then commanded them to make a sacrifice for the way they had been talking and told Job to pray for them. 

“When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!” Obviously some grief would remain as he didn’t get back his children, but on a lighter side, his wife must have forgiven him as they had ten more children! “Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life” (Job 42:10-17). 

Some losses can never be reclaimed or restored; but often God gives us “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isa.61:3). 

Although our bibles are printed to begin with the Old Testament book of Genesis, Job was actually the first book as it came before satan was cast out of heaven, before Jesus was born, crucified, died, arose, and ascended, then sent Holy Spirit back to us on earth. 

We  who are now privileged to live under the New Covenant, have come to understand Luke 10:19: “You have been given authority over ALL the power of the enemy and nothing by any means can hurt you” (NLT). “Now you understand that I (Jesus) have imparted to you my authority to trample over his kingdom. You will trample upon every demon before you and overcome every power satan possesses. Absolutely nothing will harm you as you walk in this authority” (Luke 10:19,TPT).

My dear brothers and sisters, “In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We need not doubt or panic knowing Holy Spirit is present with us every minute of every day, and the peace that is within Him is in us and will give us great confidence and joy as we trust in Him (See John 16:33 TPT).

 

JOY in my heart! 

Life with my Daddy.

Zachariah 4:10 – Do not despise small beginnings…

Daddy was born at home in a “holler” in Roane County WV on St. Patrick’s Day 1915,  the 6th of 8 children, into a “Hard Shell Baptist” church family. His mother died from pneumonia at age 33 and his dad married a 17yr old girl named Fanny to help care for his younger children. The family moved in and out of town and school attendance was only occasional, nevertheless Daddy managed to finish 5th grade and learned to read the bible and memorize scripture.  

When Daddy was a teenager, he attended tent meetings held by a Christian Baptist Evangelist, A.W. Baldridge, who believed God had called Daddy to preach, ordained him, and had him preaching at the tent meetings. Before long,  Daddy got a job in a small town as janitor at Nitro High School and there he met my Methodist mother. She accompanied him to the meetings which she enjoyed and sometimes played her Hawaiian guitar.  In the middle of her senior year, Daddy convinced her to marry him. It was 1937. She was 17, and he was 21. Soon, he got a full-time job at American Viscose, and I was born three years later, June 9, 1940. When I was two years old, in September 1942, my mother gave birth to a baby boy that they named Charles Ray. He only lived 19 hours as a result of Rh Factor problem.

Also in the early 1940’s, Evangelist Earl Hissom came to Nitro and held meetings. When not out preaching in the country, Daddy and Mother attended his services and got acquainted with the Hissoms—even had them over for Sunday dinner on several occasions. Eventually, however, it was Daddy’s sister and brother-in-law, Sylvia and Joe Leshon, who encouraged them to attend the Church of God (Anderson) in Nitro that had been started earlier by the Pauley Sisters – Sidney and Delsie. From then on, when Daddy was not out preaching, the family attended the Nitro Church.

During my first five years, my parents were youth directors at the Nitro Church of God. Mother loved to direct the seasonal plays and after practice the characters were treated to a popsicle from Valley Bell. When Pastor Harvey Burchett resigned in 1947 to take a pastoral position in Toledo, Ohio, his daughter Joyce stayed with us in Nitro to finish her senior year of high school. That was fun for me. I had a baby sister, Virginia, born  in April 1945, but I now also had a big sister Joyce. When Joyce graduated and went to Toledo, I was very sad. She married soon after high school and later named one of her daughter’s “Yvonne” after me. I felt so loved. Many years later, I took my husband to Toledo to spend some time reminiscing with Joyce.

Off and on, daddy still went to preach out in the country, and our family always went along. Church service was different in the country and my first 10 years were the most impactful years of my life. I was surrounded by godly country people, joyful church services, and lots of testimonies about the goodness of God. I especially enjoyed hearing the shouting as my daddy preached. The words of many of the hymns were sealed in my memory during those years. 

As a child, at home the popular Egermeiers Bible Story book was read aloud every night. At age eight, with my child-like faith and daddy by my side, I made the decision to follow Jesus. Three years later at age 11, I confirmed that decision when we gathered with others for baptism at Coal River just outside St. Albans. My little sister, who was six years old at the time, still remembered that the top layer of ice had to be cracked on the Coal River that November day. Among others, my two friends, Gloria and Shirley Dobbs and I were baptized by our Dads, with our arms wrapped around each other. 

Times were different in those days and it didn’t bother me that my daddy’s grammar was really, really bad, and obviously it didn’t bother those congregations either. I just knew that people loved to hear him preach out in the country churches where he was often invited to hold “revival meetings” that lasted two or three weeks. The churches were packed and in warm weather, church windows would be open so people could stand outside and look in at the services. There were no microphones, nor were there fans—except those occasionally given by a funeral home. Sometimes we would have to stay till midnight for someone to “pray through.” I remember some of the saints praying long for a man at Alum Creek. At midnight, he finally put his pack of cigarettes on the altar and those who remained joined in the shouting. He was saved! I loved the country churches! 

When Daddy wasn’t serving as interim pastor or otherwise preaching on a Sunday, we attended church in town and participated regularly. Daddy had no education beyond fifth grade and no theological training. One time he was interrogated by some Church of God ministers who had been asked to consider ordaining him in the CHOG, but it didn’t happen as there were several negatives. Daddy couldn’t answer questions about the millennial reign or other doctrinal issues. He was a simple man who stuck with the simple things of the bible: “You must be born again! You must follow Jesus to end up in heaven.” The second issue was that my parents did not handle their finances well, which was no doubt their main weakness over the years. Surprisingly, ordination was not important to the country churches, and they continued to invite Daddy to preach.

My sister Virginia Ruth was born April 8, 1945, and my little brother Rich came along on February 5, 1950. Today, my family would be considered “poor,” yet my Daddy still had a job but he had been moved to working shifts. During the evening shifts, Mother would prepare the supper and drive us to the factory where Daddy would come out to the car and eat with us. The precious folks at the Institute CHOG prayed that he would get back to working days, and God answered their prayer.

During my last few years of high school, although Daddy was still called to serve in an interim situation from time to time, he no longer spent as much time in the country churches. He was still daddy at home – cheerful, telling jokes, making us laugh—and my life was full with school classes and clubs.

In May 1958, at the end of my senior year, I went to the altar and Pastor Haynie, whom I dearly loved and who knew I loved Jesus, asked why I was there. I said I really don’t know… I don’t “feel” saved so I guess I want to get saved again. That very wise pastor prayed for the Lord to RESTORE unto me THE JOY of my salvation! Ah! That’s it! No matter the climate or the problem or the family life, Daddy always had “joy!” 

That was it! Over time, I had lost my joy– not my salvation! That did it! Never again have I felt “lost” — Nehemiah 8:10 has been my reminder … ”The Joy of the Lord is my strength!” It’s not my joy that’s my strength …. it’s HIS JOY.  It was not joy of being in the city or in the country … it was not my daddy – though I loved  him dearly and he exuded joy. 

After finishing college in three years, then teaching at my high school for three years, I left my home, my daddy, my mother and siblings, my home church as well as my home town to go to graduate school at Michigan State University. Life was often complicated, and there were times I had to search for JOY, but ultimately I could always find JOY. “The old account was settled long ago.” 

Upon completing an MA Degree, at age 26, I was invited to teach at our church college in Indiana. In spite of everything being new and me feeling so inferior … the Joy of the Lord rose up in me as a major encourager. It was there that God gave me the perfect husband whom my daddy fully approved, and we went to Indiana University for more degrees. 

Right after my daddy retired from his Viscose job, Alzheimer’s began to invade his mind. However, throughout the years that followed, we all knew that he never let go of  the “Joy of the Lord.” On a visit, I would start a hymn and he would sing along—knowing every word. He would quote scriptures, one after another (“Holiness without which no one will see God”). His roommate, a retired Army guy, would cuss up a storm, and my dad would call out from his bed: “Praise the Lord!” No bad word came from his mouth. He did not know who I was—he would just say “I think I know you….” He didn’t know my mother, his wife of 58 years. But he knew Jesus … and he was full of JOY! I will always remember a song of my childhood: :  “It is joy, unspeakable, and full of glory and the half has never yet been told ….” My daddy had that joy! I shall forever be grateful of those early years when I was introduced to the Joy of the Lord at home and church by my Daddy, then by my pastor.! 

“Do not despise small beginnings for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” Zachariah 4:10. “The joy of the Lord is my strength!” Nehemiah 8:10.

Below: Nitro Church of God, 1946. I’m the first little girl from the left with my white purse.