Submission

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Like you, I have wondered sometimes why good people have to suffer – and oft times that more intensely and more frequently than the ungodly of this world.

Now, recently – I learned of one the reasons why in something that began with Job.

Do you remember when Job said to his friends, “Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.” (Job 13:13) Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…” (Job 13:15)

What trials had already come on Job?

Well, if you’ll remember, all of his worldly wealth was taken from him. Then, his children, 7 sons and 3 daughters, were killed. Job was so struck with grief and loss that he shaved his head and sank to the ground in an agony of worship.

But it wasn’t over yet. He was then afflicted with boils over the whole of his body that itched so badly that he was forced to scratch himself with a broken piece of pottery just for a measure of relief.

And then as he sat in the ashes in abject humility, his wife, the one person who should have been his comfort, comes and reviles him like an enemy.

Finally, we find Job outside of the city sitting in the dirt and filth of the community garbage dump, reviled by his wife, cursed by his friends, and abandoned by his community. He literally stinks so badly that no one can come close to him.

Now consider those words, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him..” (Job 13:15)

Why would he say, “Though ‘he’ slay me?” Who’s he?

It’s God. Job is attributing his afflictions to God. It was God he was crediting with his pain. And yet, the beauty of it is that he blesses the very hand that is killing him, and submits even unto death.

Now, the second example: Please go forward in time to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus said, “…Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me…” (Luke 22:42)

From whence came that terrible cup of atoning agony? It came from the Father. It was the Father who was hurting Jesus.

Yet Jesus “…being in an agony he prayed more earnestly…” (Luke 22:44)

To whom did He pray?

To the Father, the very person who was torturing His soul at that moment.

How often has the Father done this?

As it was with Jesus, so it was with Job, Abraham, Joseph, Paul, and so many others – even today. Sometimes the Father pulls the rug out. The more the Father hurt them, the more powerfully and prayerfully they submitted.

When Jesus said, “…not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42), that was not, “All right, I’ll do it your way, but I don’t like it, and I don’t want to.” No, that was not what He said. It was more like “Father, if this is thy will, then it’s my will too. I want to do it, I welcome it; bring it on.”

My friends, one of the purposes of intense trial is to give us the blessed opportunity to submit to the Father in love.