Life was completely normal a month ago. People rushing off to work braving the traffic, children pushing themselves to go to school, daily wagers working to meet their daily needs, crowded buses, trains, busy markets, restaurants filled with laughter and fun, the list goes on. However, things have changed completely because of Corona, which has brought the whole world to its knees. As I pondered how things that were completely normal have turned upside down in no time, I was reminded of Job from the Bible.

Scripture witnesses in Job 1:1 that Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and shunned evil. His life was completely normal, he was well respected in the community and had many friends. He had thousands of cattle and other animals. He had many children and a supportive wife. He was healthy and lived a good life, going on about doing his daily chores.

Strike #1: Financial Loss

In Job 1:14-17 we see, that Job’s messenger informs him that all his oxen and donkeys were raided by the Sabeans and all his servants tending them were killed. Another informs him that the fire of God burned up the sheep and the servants, while later he gets to know that the Chaldeans raided his camels and killed his servants also. An extremely wealthy Job lost everything overnight.

Strike #2: Personal Loss

In Job 1:18-19 we see a great wind blow across the wilderness, it struck the four corners of the house, and the house fell, killing all his children. This was an unbelievably terrible loss for Job. If I were to put myself in Job’s shoes,  it rips my heart apart to even think about such a horrific situation. But interestingly Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head and he fell to the ground and ‘worshipped.’ He did not blame God.

Strike #3: Loss of Health

We see in Job 2:7 that Satan struck Job with painful boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. While Job was already trying to come to terms with financial and personal loss and perhaps thought that it couldn’t get worse, it actually did. Now he was not only emotionally traumatized, but he also had to undergo physical agony.

Strike #4: Social Distancing

In Job 2:9, we see Job’s wife telling him “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” We understand that through all that Job underwent, he still held on to his faith and trust in God, without blaming Him. Verse 10 says, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

Though Job’s close friends Eliphaz, Bilad, and Zophar came to him, they empathized with him and supported him with their presence, but later they socially distanced themselves from him, venting out harsh words against him, assuming that he had done wrong, and asking him to repent for his mistakes. They were with him, yet, they did not understand him.

From Job, we learn that even though he had to face a financial crisis, great personal loss, horrific health issues and rejection from his dear ones, he never gave up on God. In the midst of his great grief, Job worshipped God, he continued to bless the Lord and did not lose his integrity and his faith in Him. As a result, we see in Job 42:10-16 that indeed, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his early days.

Be encouraged that though things may have suddenly turned upside down in our lives, the Lord knows what is happening. We may have lots of questions and no answers, we may not understand the ‘Why’ but God does. The Lord knew what was happening in Job’s life and the Lord knows what is happening in ours.

Like Job, let’s continue to believe that God is good, that as Paul says in his letter to the Romans, all things work together for good for those who love God. Let’s continue to place our trust in God’s love for us and in His promises. As God restored double to Job, surely our latter days will be more blessed than this time of crisis that we face today.

-Ben Vijay