The book of Job was one of the oldest books in the Bible, if not the oldest, going back to the times of the patriarchs.

It was written some three thousand five hundred years ago. It was about a man called Job, a wealthy man. He lived in the land called Uz, located somewhere between Arabia and Palestine, east of the Sea of Galilee.

The theme of the Book was about the great sufferings of Job despite his uprightness, sincerity and integrity in his walk with God. It has always been asked and is being asked constantly. "Why do the righteous suffer?" Why does God allow sufferings if He is a God of love? The book of Job does not give us the answer or the solution to the problem of pain and suffering.

Very few people have gone through such sufferings as Job had gone through. He was described by God as a man of profound sincerity and integrity - and one who shunned evil. He was described as "blameless" not in the sense of his being sinless.

There was a dialogue held between God and Satan. Satan told God that Job was not what God had thought him to be; Job appeared pious and worshipped God because God had protected him all the time. But if such protection and care were removed from him, Job would be a different man So God permitted Satan to test him up to a point, not allowing Satan to take away his life. Here we see that although Satan is powerful, he is not all powerful as God is.

Here we see the Sovereignty of God declared by Job. Here we also see the Omniscience of God. Job said, "He knoweth." Job was affirming his faith in the living and true God despite his severe trials and testing not brought about by his own making.

He was a man whose life was overwhelmed with calamity upon calamity; one tragedy after another:

1. His wealth disappeared overnight. He lost his rich livestock.

2. Adversity fell upon his ten children: seven sons and three daughters. Job was left without any.

3. His health suffered for he was afflicted with severe boils from head to foot.

4. His wife was not supportive spiritually and morally. She even told him, "Curse God, and die" (Job 2:99).

5. His friends were no comforters to him in adversity. Instead of comforting Job, they made him even more miserable. Eliphaz was a theologian; Bildad, a traditionalist; and Zophar, a moralist.

6. His own faith was assailed and he even cursed the day he was born.

Job was in such a state of despair, distress, depression and desolation. Even the presence of God appeared remote to him. He felt that God had abandoned him when he said, "Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: On the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him: He hideth Himself on the right hand, that 1 cannot see Him" (Job 23:8-9). He was totally broken physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Yet in the midst of it all, God gave Job hope, the anchor of his soul; the anchor of your soul and mine. His faith revived - it is said that in every dark cloud there is always a silver lining. Job looked up through the clouds and cried out; "But He knoweth the way that 1 take; when He hath tried me, 1 shall come forth as gold."

The Psalmist said, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way" (Psalm 37:23).

"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:18).

Have you not yourself experienced some form of suffering or are at this point of time going through some rough patches as you go through the pilgrimage of life. Rest assured that our afflictions are temporary and comparatively light (Psalm 30:5; Acts 20:23-24). Let us realise that God has not promised us skies always blue. As Christians, we are to expect suffering of one kind or another. Jesus said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (Jn.16:33). Paul said, "For I reckon the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). We are exhorted to "continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 4:17). Life is not a bed of roses; our pathway is not strewn with flowers. The way of the Cross is one of suffering but the end thereof is the way of life, even eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Remember our life’s pathway is planned by God. God has a plan for our lives, and it is very individualised and personalised. This is a most wonderful truth. All that He has planned for you and for me is planned in love and in wisdom; and it is ultimately for our best interest and for our good. It is always for the best. Make no mistake about it for there can be no mistake about His plan, for God is inerrant and infallible. Always keep this in mind: What God plans and permits in your life and in mine is not without His perfect love and wisdom. Otherwise Romans 8:28 will not hold good for us as Christians. Whatever our circumstances, whatever our vicissitudes, whatever befalls us cannot work against our good if we love God and obey Him and His commandments. Furthermore, He is our Heavenly Father who will not work against our well-being. He loves us with an everlasting love. Let us also realise that God’s ways are mysterious and so are not comprehensible to our finite minds. His ways and His thoughts are higher than yours and mine, just as the heavens are higher than the earth (Isa.55:8-9).

Ron Hamilton wrote:

God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying His servant and moulding a man

Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long

In darkness He giveth a song

I could not see through the shadows ahead

I looked at the Cross of my Saviour instead

I bowed to the will of the Master that day

Then peace came and tears fled away

Now I can see testing comes from above

God strengthens His children and purges
in love

My Father knows best and I trust in His care

Through purging more fruit I will bear.

Chorus:

O rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistake

He knoweth the end of each path that I take

For when I am tried and purified, I shall come forth as gold.

"If none were sick and none were sad,

What service could we render?

I think if we were always glad, we scarcely could be tender.

Did our beloved never need

Our patient ministration,

Earth would grow cold, and miss indeed,

Its sweetest consolation.

If sorrow never claimed our heart,

And every wish were granted,

Patience would die, and Life would be disenchanted."

Trials help us to:

Romans 8:28 should be made our life verse because it is God’s promise, and He is our covenant-keeping God. What God has promised, He not only can do but He will do it. He says what He means and means what He says. And this was true in the life of Job. He was doubly blessed ultimately as recorded in Job 42:12-13: "So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters."
—Elder Khoo Peng Kiat

* * *

1) There will be no prayer meeting on Tuesday. Instead there will be a Prayer Fellowship on Maundy Thursday at 7.30 pm. Elder Ng Beng Kiong will be speaking on "The Cost of the Cross".

2) All catechumens and parents of infants are reminded to be in Church at 6.30 am for the Easter Sunrise Service and are cordially invited to the Breakfast Fellowship at the Chinese Service Hall.

3) Nominations for General Elections 2008. Nomination forms are available from the Reception Counter and the Church Office on weekdays. The closing date for nomination is TODAY.

4) Gospel Sunday: Invite your friends and loved ones to the Gospel Sunday on 30 May 08 (10:45 am). Please pray for Dr Steve Reynolds (English) and Rev Teo Kiak Hock (Mandarin) who will speak on the topic, "Why was the Resurrection Necessary?"

5) VBS 2008 (28-30 May). Teachers and helpers needed. Please register now. Drop the form at front entrance or register online www.lifebpc.com/vbs Contact: Keng Khwang @ 98293292 or vbs at lifebpc dot com.

6) Life BPC Bible Camp: 9-13 Jun 08 at Awana Genting Highlands, Malaysia. Theme: "Living Like Citizens of Heaven on Earth" by Prof William Harding. To register, please submit one camp registration form and one photocopy of passport details per person to the Camp Registration Office. Closing date: 25 May 08.

7) Turkey Bible Study Tour (23/5 - 3/6/08). Closing date extended to 20 Apr 08. Details and forms at front counter. Register and submit forms and deposit to church office. Contact Mark Chen, mchen at lifebpc dot com or 9843-6398. Website: www.lifebpc.com/turkey.htm

* * *

Fellowship Breakfast after Service

(Offerings to defray the cost of the breakfast are welcome. Contact Dn Benny Goh, 9151-6801)