Job 42:12,13 - “Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters.”
Today’s Old Testament reading concludes the book of Job. It is a fabulous end to an otherwise tragic story. Job’s friends are rebuked by the Lord and told to prepare sacrifices and go to Job for his intercession. God would not even accept their prayer but would accept Job’s on their behalf. Job has children again and herds and flocks and it’s all good. The last verse of the book of Job says, “And so he died, old and full of years.” Wow! What a way to go.
There is a transition that takes place in the last chapter of the book of Job that I believe makes the happy ending possible. Don’t miss this…
JOB’S HUMILITY. Job 42:5,6 – “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” The closer one gets to the Lord and the deeper revelation we have of Him, the more humble we will become. I believe this was critical to Job’s restoration.
JOB’S FORGIVENESS. Job 42:8a – “Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering…” Job’s friends had maligned him and falsely accused him and were at some points brutal with him in their accusations. Job would need to exercise the virtue of forgiveness if he was going to move on with his life.
JOB’S PRAYER. Job 42:10 – “And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job’s losses were restored after he prayed for his friends. Prayer is an indispensable component of receiving God’s favor and blessing. When you read Job chapter 1 you will find that Job possessed exactly half of what is mentioned in our text. God truly gave him twice as much as he had before. But the path to get there was not easy. Job could have been bitter and unforgiving about what had happened to him. If he had not overcome these offenses and walked in humility, forgiveness, and prayer, the outcome of his life would have been different and the last chapter of the book would have been re-written. But thank God for Job’s perseverance. Look at James’ commentary in the New Testament on Job: James 5:11 – “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord— that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” Have you seen the end of the Lord yet? If not, just wait! Walk in humility, forgiveness, and prayer and experience the best that is yet to come!