Job 5:18 “For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole”
Job is portrayed as a wealthy man, and the life of Job is taken to demonstrate God’s sovereignty and the meaning of true faith. The Lord himself testified about Job to Satan, saying that there is none like Job on earth, blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. Satan, the accuser, claimed that Job trusted God only because he was wealthy and everything went well for him.
God allowed Satan to prove this wrong. Thus, the testing of faith began. Satan was allowed to destroy his children, servants, livestock, herdsmen, and home, and was finally attacked physically and covered with painful sores. In all these, Job did not sin in what he said. Three of Job’s friends began to reason out Job’s tragedies and tried to conclude that Job’s sin had caused him to suffer. They told Job to confess his sins and turn back to God, but he maintained his innocence. Job did not understand why God had allowed these things. However, he knew God was good and therefore continued to trust in Him.
One of the friends’, Eliphaz’s, words in this verse (Job 5:18) shows us a view of discipline that shows that pain can help us grow in faith. Job’s faith in God had a chance to grow.
God alone knew the purpose behind Job’s hardships and sufferings, but He never explained it to Job. Indeed, Job did not sin but questioned God’s sovereignty and justice, for which he later repented. Chances are, our story is not as dramatic as Job’s, yet our problems and our pain are no less real. We may have to go through unusual sufferings and losses, but we should not lose hope. We must trust God for who He is and not what He does. He is our God who heals, Jehovah Rapha, who gives us restoration from sufferings, losses, and pain. We read from Job’s story that the Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. God is our healer, and let us trust Him to work His purpose through us.
