Though he slay me. Those are not words you will hear often. They imply action as a result of great pain. Have you ever thought of how you will react to tragic, gut-wrenching pain, or sorrow? We tend to try to block out pain, to move on, and ignore anything that may consume us in sorrow. Yet, there may be times in life where it tracks us down and camps out where we live. There is a great chance each of us will one day feel like we are being slain. Have you thought about how you will react?
Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”
Those are the famous words of Job. Job had been through terrible tragedy, but he was determined to be true to God. He was determined to defend and uphold his character. Job loved God more than life itself. Job had been blessed by God greatly. Others saw the external blessings of great wealth, large family, and good health. They didn’t see the inward relationship with God or the peace and strength he drew from his relationship with God. Look how God describes Job in Job 1:1. He was perfect or complete. He lived an “upright” or righteous life. He was in right standing with God. He feared God. He understood who God was as the creator, the provider, the sustainer, the captain of his soul, and he loved God so much he wanted to please him in all he did.
Job 1:1 “ There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.”
When Job spoke the words of verse 15, “Though He slay me,” it wasn’t just words from a lofty idea. He had lost all his family except his wife, his servants, his animals, all of his earthly wealth was gone. Now, he is suffering physically. He also suffers because no one but God understands what is happening. His own wife tells him to curse God and die. What an ignorant thing to say to someone. If he were about to die and stand before his creator, why would you curse or renounce the one who holds your eternity in His hands?
Job 2:9 “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”
Job didn’t understand what God was doing, but he never turns his back on God. His response to the horrible news of losing everything is found in chapter 1 verses 20-21. He, through great pain both physically and mentally chooses to worship. He understands a great truth that all of us should grasp. Everything we have is a gift from God. If God gives or takes away it is His right to do so, and we are to be grateful for all things. Does that mean we will be happy with all things? No, but even in sadness we understand that God loves us, and He is there for us. We look at the big picture of eternity. We don’t allow our circumstances to control our relationship with Him.
Job 1:20-21 “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
How do we handle tragedy the way Job did? We must determine our response in advance. Job had built a strong relationship with God long before these circumstances occurred. That’s why God said in Job 1:1 that Job was perfect and upright. This kind of commitment is determined and nurtured out of a love for God and a grateful heart. I have often told Christians they need to make up their minds how they will respond to sin long before they are tempted. If they wait until each situation comes there is a 50/50 chance, they will make the wrong choice.
How will you respond to tragedy? Will you say, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him”? Make up your mind and don’t bring it up for review! God’s word has not changed, God has not changed, and He never will. Be a Job, determine by the grace of God you will grow in Him and by this show others who He is.
