Dining with Job

Good evening fellow FEASTERS!!!

Someone asked me to post my reading schedule, in the event anyone wants to read along with me...here is what I've read thus far, and what I plan to read tomorrow (i don't have my schedule beyond that, but I'll work on it in the coming days)

Day 1: Isaiah 1-33 & Matthew 1-7
Day 2: Isaiah 34-66 & Matthew 8-15
Day 3: Job 1-42
Day 4: Daniel 1-12, Revelation 1-22 & Matthew 16-20

Today is the 1st Sunday after Easter, and, like any good pastor who has preached on doubting Thomas for 3 years in a row, I tossed this Sunday's service over to my faithful colleague and took the week off. I hear he thanked me for this by using me as a sermon illustration. What does a pastor do on their Sunday off? Why go to another church, and read the entire book of Job, of course!!! After watching "This Week with George Stephanopoulos (which is no longer hosted by George) we piled the family into the trusty Toyota Yaris, grabbed a Starbucks and headed over to a Baptist church near our kid's daycare. The service was lively, spirit filled, and, at 2 hours, a bit longer than my kid's 70 minute church attention span. Between walks in the hall with restless kids, I listened to the preacher share a message on Job.

The preacher commented that people always focus on the first two chapters and the last few verses of the book. Job's faith is found throughout the book, but we are comforted by 1:21 and similar verses "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." When our lives are in Job 1, we may still praise God's name in the face of suffering. But, what about living in Job 14? When suffering not only knocks, but comes to FEAST with you? What is our response? In chapter 14:13, a faithful Job asks God to "if only you would hide me in the grave and conceal me till your anger has passed..." Job wants to be dead! And who can blame him? How much harder it is for those who FEAST with suffering.

When have you FEASTED with suffering? Was it the month you buried 6 beloved congregation members and friends? When you had to go home and tell your wife that you were laid off? When your home was destroyed by flood waters? When you lost your child? I too turn my nose up at my personal feast of suffering, passing it back to the waiter, asking for a new dinner. I don't have answers to your questions--I'm to full from my personal feast to start picking away at your plate. I was struck by the number of questions throughout the book of Job. One chapter was simply a list of questions about suffering. The salty taste of suffering and anger surrounded Job and his friends.

But, in the midst of a plate of questions, this OLD TESTAMENT book contains Job's NEW TESTAMENT hope: "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. (19:25)" Even in the Old Testament, when we're only half way through the FEAST of Job's pain, we find our redeemer, alive. As we gather around broken tables, filled with spiritual indigestion, our plates are overflowing with the world's painful food. But, our hope and redemption is found as we push our chairs away from the broken table and gather around a new table, where the kingdom's food is served.

Let us live with Job's hope, knowing that our redeemer lives.

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Pastor Tracy