Job's Wife

“Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

Such were the shocking words uttered by an unnamed woman in the Bible that have throughout centuries stirred up a myriad of emotions from the readers. Some frowned at the mere thought of her and many shook their heads in disapproval whenever the story of Job is told. Some have casually called her the “devil’s advocate”, while some dubbed her with disgracing names such as “the second Eve” or the “tool of Satan”. She was depicted in many sermons as a striking contrast to her most patient and faithful husband, and many suggested that she was purposely spared by Satan in the series of unfortunate catastrophes in order that she could be used as a powerful weapon against her spiritual husband. She, in short, was none other than an “Adjutant of the devil” in the eyes of many.

Yet I could not help but to wonder whether we have been too quick to form our judgment against this unnamed woman based merely on a single statement she had made. Bear in mind that this was not a woman who was tempted by any greedy desire to be equal with God, nor was she in any way attempted to challenge the sovereignty of God in order to acquire any “knowledge of good and evil”.

This was the woman who had endured the excruciating grief of the deaths of ten children all in a day time. A string of dramatic occurrences then cruelly took away all her family livestock, once again, on the very same day. As if such unusual encounters were not tragic enough, her husband then contracted the terrifying disease of leprosy, in which she was compelled to witness the strange development of infected boils all over Job’s body, from the “sole of his foot to the crown of his head”. While she silently watched the completely worn-out Job scraping his sores with broken pottery and ashes in his almost futile attempt to alleviate the pain, she slowly recalled those strange calamities which befell her God- fearing husband, till she reached the point that she could withhold her anger no more but to scream out her unbearable anguish- “Curse God and die!”

In the Old Testament, we read that “Through the Lords mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). In the New Testament, we learned that God is “longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Like a prodigal son and a lost sheep that went temporarily astray, I believe that on the day when God restored their fortunes and bestowed them with blessings more than the beginning, Job’s wife must have truly regretted her lacking of trust in the time of adversity, and subsequently renewed her faith in the ever-merciful and all-knowing God.

I pray that on that future day when we are to meet Job’s wife in heaven (which I verily believe that we will), instead of looking at her despicably or pointing an accusing finger at her, we can just gently shake her hand and tell her how much we can relate our own earthly experiences to her sufferings, and how, we too, have thousand reasons to give thanks to the God of all wisdom for every tribulation and trial that He has allowed us to endure.

An Update @ Things to be Thankful for

(1)

In view of the fact that I have quite a serious directional dyslexia problem and my parking skill seems to be a little ‘too extraordinary’ to be accepted by common standard, it’s just amazing how my little Myvi still remains unscratched (yet?) till this date. Hence, this is the first reason that I must give thanks to the Lord!

(2)

The time has come again for the church library to have our ‘stock- taking’ cum cataloguing works done. And after two consecutive Sundays of typing frantically in my laptop after the breaking of bread meetings, I finally completed the book list for the Junior Sunday School’s library yesterday morning! In addition to that, I also ‘cleverly’ negotiated with the person- in- charge of the Senior Library that I will assist him with the cataloguing work from next week onwards, in exchange for a ‘wilful wish’ that he might not bug me too much for my long- overdue library books that I am still taking ages to finish reading *sheepish grin*.

(3)

We were out distributing gospel tracts on last Saturday morning at some housing areas nearby the hall. The streets were almost empty of people, and the only noise that accompanied our footsteps was the constant dog barking whenever we threw the tracts into the mailboxes outside the houses. Hence I told an Uncle how much I missed the tracts- distributing session during the recent Deepaveli break when we went into a Chinese new village and were given many precious opportunities to speak to the residents there who were all extremely warm and eager to indulge in some interesting conversations with us. The Uncle then told me this, “How I wish I can speak Mandarin and Cantonese like you do! I was there too during the Deepavali ‘tracting’ but guess what? I didn’t manage to speak to a single person that day because of the language barrier!”

Few months back, I wrote an article (which I have decided not to post up in this blog as I doubt its contents would impart any grace to the readers at all with its pessimistic view) in which I questioned myself whether I have overestimated my ability as a three- year- plus believer in serving the Lord. I felt myself ungrounded in scriptures, and was very much troubled also by my ever- faltering faith that could easily swing from one extreme to the other. And just then I read a saying by a preacher in a book which goes like this, ‘If you don’t have fine white bread, give the poor people barley bread or whatever else the Lord has given you.’ The saying encouraged me much, and I realized no matter how hard I try, I will never be the perfect servant of God, and therefore my only option left is to dedicate to the Lord whatever little things that He has bestowed me, and He will in turn give me wisdom in achieving whatever He has planned.

I am just grateful for those tiny fragments of barley breads that He has given me that I may learn to use them to the fullest for His glory!

(4)

Being in such an ‘embarrassing’ position of ‘a student no more, but a lawyer not yet’, the firm allocated a secluded area at the highest floor in the office for us who are to endure such awkward state for at least another nine more months. We affectionately called this little corner of ours the ‘chambering pen’. Rumour said that a partner once stepped into the pen with his head shaking while commenting that the place looked no difference from a war- zone. Two weeks after the visit, four brand- new upholstered chairs were being pushed into the already very crowded working corner. And despite this very kind gesture, it became an inevitable thing nowadays that everyone will collide into a chair or two whenever we try to move ourselves around the pen *laugh*. (I was checking the dictionary just now and realized that one of the alternative definitions for the word ‘pen’ is ‘a small enclosure for cows, sheep, poultry etc’. What a name eh?)

I am thankful nevertheless for the job given, and a group of very humorous colleagues who could always make a joke out of anything no matter how terrible the circumstances seem to be, and the very kind tea- lady who always remembers that I need at least a glass of Chinese- tea to keep myself awake in the afternoons, and not to forget the very friendly charwoman who will always smile and strike a conversation with me whenever and wherever we meet.

(5)

Slightly more than a month back when I first commenced this job, I felt entirely exhausted due to a various combination of factors which I shall not disclose here. I fell ill after two weeks at work. During my weakest moment, I asked the Lord whether I have committed a foolish mistake in my decision. I felt like being abandoned in a desert, a howling wilderness. I prayed for wisdom, for understanding, and for opportunities to spread His words and to glorify His name despite the environment. The Lord is indeed amazing. Just right after I recovered from my sickness and regained my strength, He opened up the doors for me to share my faith with some unexpected persons in the office, all in such unexpected manners.

I am truly thankful for that!

(6)

I know not what may come tomorrow, nor what the day may bring forth. Yet with the assurance that the Lord will continue carrying me and bearing my burdens with me, the uncertainty in front does not seem to be that fearsome after all.

I am thankful also, for that!

His Miracles

If the woman in the midst of the crowd had not been under the bondage of haemorrhage for years, she would never have experienced the marvellous healing when she touched the hem of the Lord’s precious garments.

If the tattered beggar near Jericho had not been born blind, the first sight that gladdened his eyes would not be the lovely face of his wonderful Saviour.

If the woman at the synagogue had not been tormented by the spirit of infirmity, she would never have experienced the inexpressible joy when her bended back was straightened by the gracious touch of Jesus.

If I had never had my heart broken, I would never have experienced the sweetness when my heart is mended.

If I had never felt myself being utterly cast down, I would never have experienced the warmth of His hands that lifted me back onto the ground.

If I had never been thrown into the darkest pit, I would never have experienced the comfort when the first ray of light shone in.

If I had never been through the fear of storm, I would never have experienced the calmness when He stilled the roaring waves.

If I had never seen myself sinking into the deep blue sea, I would never have experienced the delight when He stretched out His hand to hold me firm.

Lord, You know the best!

The Shunnamite Woman

Disappointment can trample over and crush us entirely without mercy. The experience of it builds up an invisible fort around us like a mighty defensive shield, fighting against any future flicker of hope that emerges. The impact may be agonizing, shadowing all our future decisions and reactions to everything. It is depressive, undesired, and tremendously feared by many. Due to the all- too- well- acquainted ugly consequences of disappointment, I, for one, have learnt overtime to equip myself with an overly- protective armour of protection, and without much awareness, have even allowed it to develop into an immense fear of hope.

In the Bible, there was a nameless woman who had, I guess, experienced the same. In 2 Kings 4, after the prophet Elisha received unusual hospitality from a couple in a place called Shunem, he decided to repay the kindness of them by requesting if there was anything he could do for the woman. She, in her gentle humility, indicated merely her contentment to maintain her status quo, and that she was absolutely satisfied to just dwell among her own people. Yet, hidden behind that strong character of hers, were a fragile heart and a long- buried desire to have a child.

We can only imagine her uttered confusion and astonishment when Elisha announced his statement, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” Streams of thought must have gushed into her mind instantly from all directions. Groping in that all- too- familiar memory lane, she was again compelled to revisit those painful moments of disappointment after years of waiting. Perhaps, for many years, those words of comfort from neighbours and friends, though well- intended, had all failed to soothe those spots of concealed wounds in her heart due to the unfulfilled longing. Perhaps also, the condition was aggravated by soft whispers among random strangers that made her wondered from time to time, and those uncontrollable tingling in her heart which she had tried all means to suppress whenever she cradled a child of another in her arms.

Ah, the vulnerable heart. Why must that bulwark around it be invaded at this moment of time when she had finally resigned herself to a life without a child? Why must the issue be raised again when she had finally settled her mind on it? How was she going to endure the heart- shattering moment again if the hope is being dashed into pieces once more? Yet, despites the doubts and fears, the words by the man of God must have reminded her also the story of Sarah and the child that she conceived in old age. Could such wonderful history be repeated? Would God care enough for her, even her, an ordinary Shunnamite woman with a barren womb? With such complicated emotions tightly gripping her heart, the woman expressed her desperation with a helpless plea, “No, my lord, Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!”

We read later that she indeed bore a son at the appointed time, exactly as what Elisha had said. The child grew into a young lad, and then one day on his mother’s knees, died. How devastating! Yet, we didn’t read of any record of the woman wailing beside the bed, or waving her fists towards heaven with hatred or fury. We are not even told if she had shed a single tear. The Bible merely tells us this: immediately after the death of her child, she laid the body on the bed, shut the door and commenced her journey to meet Elisha at Mount Carmel.

I wonder if I were to be put in the same circumstances, would I too run to God’s glorious throne of grace immediately for aid in my time of distress, or would I hide myself away from His face and continue to be trapped and consumed by my own anguish? Am I willing to submit any outcome of my hope, be it fear, doubt, disappointment, sorrow or suffering, all to Him, so that He can work His miracles again that I might experience the maximum of His unlimited powers?

The story was concluded with a happy ending when Elisha raised the dead child to life. In the Epistle to the Hebrews, it was confirmed that by faith ‘the women received their dead raised to life again.” (11:35)

How much am I willing to trust?

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” – Mark 9:24

Trusting in the Lord

‘Trusting in the Lord’ does not mean we have the full confidence that the Lord will make all our dreams realized and fulfil each and every desire in our deepest heart without fail. ‘Trusting’ means we have the full assurance that whatever that may occur, even if adversities befall us, nothing will be beyond what we can endure, and all light afflictions, instead of crushing and stumbling us, will be working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, so that after the severe testing, we may come forth as gold under the shadow of His protective wings. ‘Trusting’ means believing that everything is working together for good to those who love the Lord and walk according to his perfect plan, that even if we are grieved by the gravest tribulation, His grace is still sufficient for us all. ‘Trusting’ means having complete faith in His never- altered faithfulness, that even to our feeble old age, He will still carry and deliver us out of all troubles, and those peaceable fruits of righteousness which were yielded during our temporary trying moments will be able to comfort us until the day of everlasting joy.

“Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?” (Luke 12:24)

So Near And Yet So Far

Sometimes I try to picture the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane on that night of sorrow when the power of darkness reigned and overshadowed over the entire earth, the shameful night when our blessed Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed by one of His closest disciples at the price of thirty pieces of silver. That was the night when Judas Iscariot arrived with the religious authorities attempting to use carnal means to bring the Son of God into captivity.

There was a man called Malchus, a servant of the High Priest, who was in the midst of the crowd assigned to assist in the arrest of Jesus. Having so closely associated with the religious leaders, Malchus must have heard all the accusations and slanders about Jesus being a heretic and a false prophet. Perhaps his heart was throbbing with excitement to accomplish the mission given by the self- righteous religious leaders. In his pious endeavour to display his loyalty to his master, he had, without much knowledge or foresight, participated in the scheme of hatred which still stunned the world even after the period of two millenniums. In his blinded zeal to implement his job, he must have contemplated some elements of surprise by conducting such stealthy act on the unexpected night of Passover. What an irony that the people had chosen to deliver the Son of God to death on the very Day which was instituted to commemorate the gracious work of God in delivering His people from the evil chains of Pharaoh!

Arming with swords and clubs, perhaps Malchus had anticipated some fights or struggles from Jesus. Was it an incredulous sight to him when he was standing face- to- face with the Lord, who with such calm and submissive composure, spoke with utmost dignity, “I have told you that I am He.” Like a sheep willingly submitting itself to be slaughtered, had anyone ever witnessed such splendid combination of meekness and steadfastness in his life?

The next thing we know, Peter the disciple had swung his sword at Malchus and sliced off his right ear. Covering his blood- gushing side in excruciating pain, Malchus must have whimpered in great agony. Was he a little astonished, when in his unbearable pain, he heard the words of Jesus in His still yet determinative voice “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” Could he ever forget that marvellous sensation of the Saviour’s touch of healing that restored his ear immediately? Could he see, perhaps, the tears of compassion in the Saviour’s eyes at the critical moment? Did his heart ache in remorse learning that the Saviour had displayed such unselfish concern to him even at His own time of peril? Did it make him wonder afresh upon this divine revelation? Did he finally comprehend the deity of the Lord having taken the last glimpse of His glory? Did he wonder in his heart the reason that this Man who could restore his ear just by one simple touch, would choose to withhold his power at the moment when he was seized? Did a slightest pang of guilt ever hit his heart at that instant for the evil that he had executed?

We are not told about any further development of this character called Malchus, yet it seemed that, at least on that treacherous night itself, he had chosen to follow the crowd in carrying out his assignment to arrest the Messiah despite the glaring evidence of the true nature of Jesus!

I wonder also about that Roman soldiers who trembled with fear at the feet of the cross exclaiming, “Truly this was the Son of God!”, and the centurion guards who shook in fear when they discovered the empty sepulchre and saw the angel of the Lord with countenance like lightning. Perhaps they had all at one point in time actively participated in the mocking, spitting, scourging and crucifying of the Lord. What exactly were there in their minds at those crucial moments when the glories of God were manifested?

Sometimes, salvation can be so near, yet so far in heart.

From Him

“But who am I and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.” (1 Chronicles 29:14)

King David, despite his generous provisions and contributions to the works of the temple, acknowledged his unworthiness to offer to the Lord since what he had given were originally conferred by the almighty God anyway. Job, even in his heart- shattering moment, could still recognize God as the wonderful Provider- “the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21) For indeed, all good gifts and perfect gifts are from the Father of lights, and whatever ‘sacrifices’ that we thought we were offering to the Lord are in fact nothing more than a minute fraction of His possessions which He has graciously given us to enjoy.

Two thousand years ago, God sent forth His only begotten Son into this perverse and crooked world to bring hope to this hopeless generation. However, instead of offering Him in gratitude the best that the Lord has bestowed us, we repaid the kindness of God with nails, a cross, a scourge and a crown of thorns. Today, even if His abounding grace is overflowing to us through the stream of His atoning blood, many still choose to reject the free gift of His salvation and opt to earn a place in heaven by our own unceasing labour and human understanding. How long more are we to ignore the words of the gospel that are preached to us time and again? How long more are we going to turn a deaf ear to His pleading voice that implores us persistently to be reconciled to Him?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)