Heroes of the Faith, Part 8ਨਮੂਨਾ

Hidden Treasure

Bible story: Job - Job 1:1-3:4, 40:1-14, 42

Theme Verse: Isaiah 55:9

Now we will see some treasure that’s so hidden most people don’t look for it. Our Hero of the Faith, Job, was so righteous that God told the devil about him! Wouldn’t that be amazing if God were to say about you, “Everyone, see how righteous my son/daughter is?”

The devil said that it was only because of the blessings. God gave the devil permission to test Job by taking away all his wealth and even his sons and daughters. God has all authority in the universe so that even the enemy can’t do anything without God’s permission. Job responded righteously, so with permission, the devil gave him a painful disease. In this story, God shows us behind the scenes in heaven.

Job’s friends came and told him that he had brought this pain upon himself through wickedness. Job thought he was righteous and that his pain was unjust. In the same way, some people think that when a person follows God, they should be rewarded with a happy life all the time.

At the end of the story, we see the treasure that Job received: God Himself talked to Job directly! Whether Job literally saw God or simply understood, he was completely astounded. He saw that God is running the whole universe – the stars and creatures and loud thunderstorms and big volcanoes and everything around us. He humbled himself and accepted that God’s wisdom is beyond ours. Afterward, God blessed Job with even more wealth and sons and daughters, but this time, Job had a changed heart and a better knowledge of God.

On this earth, there is pain. Sometimes the devil has God’s permission to test us like Job. Sometimes bad things happen just because this world is corrupted by sin. And sometimes God asks us to do something that brings pain for a time.

God asked His Son, Jesus, to go through a painful death on the cross. Again, God shows us behind the scenes. The night before Jesus was crucified, He asked the Father if there was any other way; yet, He submitted to God’s will (Matthew 36-39). Jesus knows what we are going through (2 Corinthians 1:5). No matter where pain comes from, we can seek God right in the middle of it and acknowledge that God’s wisdom is far beyond ours, even if we don’t understand (Isaiah 55:9).

Just like God used Jesus’ pain to save the whole world, God can use your painful situation to bless lots and lots of people around you somehow. But you can have the greatest treasure right away. God is close to the broken-hearted (Psalm 34:18), and when you submit to God in your pain, He can be very close to you. Though the pain is temporary, the greatest treasure in the whole universe – a close relationship with God – will last for ever and ever!

I acknowledge God’s wisdom is beyond my understanding, and I choose to seek God even in the pain.

Questions:

1. Would God allow something bad to happen to test me?

2. Are bad things that happen to people directly connected to sin?

Application to Life:

Think about a difficult time in your life recently. What good things came out of it? It may be hard to find them, but you can ask God to help you see what good things God did through it. Then write down or draw pictures of all the good things and thank God for them. Tell someone about them.