IS GOD IN CONTROL? (5 OF 5)
by Tony Nester
Scripture: JOB 12:13-22, ROMANS 8:28-31
This content is part of a series.
Is God In Control?
Suffering and Faith: 5 of 5
Text: Job 12:13-22; Romans 8:28-31
Tony Nester
As bad as life became for Job he never surrendered this
belief in God. Satan had accused Job of being a self-
centered believer. "Sure, Job is a righteous man," Satan
told God, "but that's only because he gets so much out of
it. Look at all his blessings: property, wealth, family,
health. Let me take those things away from him and he'll
curse you to your face!" (1).
God allowed Satan to take everything from Job. Disaster
struck. His property was stolen. His children were killed.
His wealth was destroyed. His wife turned against him. His
friends misunderstood and criticized him. Satan waited for
Job to curse God. But Job never did so. No matter how bad
things became he never stopped believing in God. He never
turned away from God.
Job did not understand God. He did not receive answers to
his prayers. He was not given explanations for his
suffering. But Job remained a steadfast believer that God
was in control.
Look with me at Job 12:13-16:
(Job 12:13-16 NRSV) ""With God are wisdom and strength; he
has counsel and understanding. {14} If he tears down, no
one can rebuild; if he shuts someone in, no one can open
up. {15} If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he
sends them out, they overwhelm the land. {16} With him are
strength and wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
I am always humbled when I meet such a believer. I've
looked at people who have gone through terrible losses and
yet have such a strong and vibrant faith. I admire their
courage. I recognize the depth of their faith. I think to
myself, "Is my faith as deep as theirs? Would my trust in
God remain as strong if I had to go through what they've
gone through?"
In the last day of World War II, the body of an old Jewish
man was found in a bombed-out basement in Berlin. Before he
died, the old man had taken a sharp rock and ...
Suffering and Faith: 5 of 5
Text: Job 12:13-22; Romans 8:28-31
Tony Nester
As bad as life became for Job he never surrendered this
belief in God. Satan had accused Job of being a self-
centered believer. "Sure, Job is a righteous man," Satan
told God, "but that's only because he gets so much out of
it. Look at all his blessings: property, wealth, family,
health. Let me take those things away from him and he'll
curse you to your face!" (1).
God allowed Satan to take everything from Job. Disaster
struck. His property was stolen. His children were killed.
His wealth was destroyed. His wife turned against him. His
friends misunderstood and criticized him. Satan waited for
Job to curse God. But Job never did so. No matter how bad
things became he never stopped believing in God. He never
turned away from God.
Job did not understand God. He did not receive answers to
his prayers. He was not given explanations for his
suffering. But Job remained a steadfast believer that God
was in control.
Look with me at Job 12:13-16:
(Job 12:13-16 NRSV) ""With God are wisdom and strength; he
has counsel and understanding. {14} If he tears down, no
one can rebuild; if he shuts someone in, no one can open
up. {15} If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he
sends them out, they overwhelm the land. {16} With him are
strength and wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
I am always humbled when I meet such a believer. I've
looked at people who have gone through terrible losses and
yet have such a strong and vibrant faith. I admire their
courage. I recognize the depth of their faith. I think to
myself, "Is my faith as deep as theirs? Would my trust in
God remain as strong if I had to go through what they've
gone through?"
In the last day of World War II, the body of an old Jewish
man was found in a bombed-out basement in Berlin. Before he
died, the old man had taken a sharp rock and ...
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