What Comes From the Hand of God
We can always take joy or sorrow from the hand of God, trusting in His sovereignty and goodness.
James Hudson Taylor preaches on the story of Job, highlighting how Satan questioned Job's motives in serving God, insinuating that it was for selfish gain. Despite the trials and calamities brought upon Job by Satan, Job recognized that it was ultimately the Lord who allowed these tests and remained faithful, acknowledging that both blessings and losses come from God's hand. Taylor emphasizes the importance of discerning God's sovereignty even in the midst of trials, knowing that Satan is a servant under God's control, and that ultimately, all events are permitted by God's determined counsel.
Text
"...the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21).
The great accuser having no fault to find with Job's character or life, insinuates that it is all the result of selfishness. "Doth Job fear God for nought?" Indeed he did not, as Satan well knew! Nor has anyone, before or since. There is no service which pays so well as the service of our Heavenly Master: there is none so royally rewarded. Satan was making a true assertion, but the insinuation--that it was for the sake of the reward that Job served God, was not true. And to vindicate the character of Job himself, Satan is permitted to test Job.
And soon Satan shows the malignity of his character by bringing disaster after disaster upon the devoted man. But God who sent the trial gave also the needful grace, and Job replied: "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord".
Was not Job mistaken? Should he not have said: "The Lord gave, and Satan hath taken away"? No, there was no mistake. He was enabled to discern the hand of God in all these calamities. Satan himself did not presume to ask God to be allowed hirnself to afflict Job. He says to God: "Put forth Thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to Thy face". And again: "Put forth Thine hand now, and touch his flesh and bone, and he will curse Thee to Thy face". Satan knew that none but God could touch Job, and Job was quite right in recognising the Lord Himself as the doer. Oftentimes shall we be helped and blessed if we bear this in mind--that Satan is servant, and not master, and that he, and wicked men incited by him, are only permitted to do that which God by His determined counsel and foreknowledge had before determined should be done. Come joy or come sorrow, we may always take it from the hand of God.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Character of Job
- A. A man of integrity and faith
- B. Served God for His own sake, not for reward
- II. The Test of Job's Character
- A. Satan's attempt to accuse Job of selfishness
- B. God's permission to test Job's faith
- III. The Hand of God in Trials
- A. Job recognizes God's hand in all calamities
- B. Satan is servant, not master, and only does God's will
- IV. The Lesson for Us
- A. We can always take joy or sorrow from the hand of God
- B. God's sovereignty and control in all circumstances
Key Quotes
“The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” — Hudson Taylor
“There is no service which pays so well as the service of our Heavenly Master: there is none so royally rewarded.” — Hudson Taylor
“Satan was making a true assertion, but the insinuation--that it was for the sake of the reward that Job served God, was not true.” — Hudson Taylor
Application Points
- We can trust that God is sovereign and in control, even in difficult circumstances.
- Our service to God is not motivated by reward, but by our love and devotion to Him.
- We should view Satan as a servant, not a master, and recognize that he only does God's will.