Job is in a battle. He’s suffering. Back in chapter 1, the devil asks permission to try and test Job. There are multiple layers to the book of Job. Anytime God does or allows anything, it’s good. Life’s not fair but God is. Philippians tells us we will suffer for His sake. Job 14 says a man’s days are few and full of trouble. We will go through times of difficulty and suffering. Satan never has any new schemes or attacks.
1. The devil will come after you suddenly. Satan likes to surprise.
2. With satan, it is always successive, one thing after another.
3. It is supreme. Harsh. Hard. He took Job’s children, his living, and his health. He had boils from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. He scraped himself with a potsherd, something that has been discarded and is of no value. Job was using it to find relief in a time of trouble.
Emotional Intelligence—being able to be intelligent about your emotions. What sets you off? Many times we do what we do when we go through trouble… our kick-out response. We always have something or someone we reach for when we need comfort.
What does the Bible say about a potsherd?
1. The potsherd of coverup. Proverbs 26:1,3,23- the potsherd covered with silver dross (impurities). Many people will lie and be deceitful. They will cover up their problem, trial, or heartache by making something up that looks better than it really is. I’m not going to let anyone know about it. If Adam had never sinned in the garden, we would not have to go through problems and trials whatsoever.
Sometimes God puts us through trials (book of James), but sometimes I’m in a trial or hardship because of something I have done or a decision that I have made.
We might say this: “It’s not my fault.” The only comfort you will get, though, is through admittance and asking for forgiveness. 1 Corinthians 11:30
Aichan tried to cover up his sin, and his entire family died.
2. The potsherd of contention. Isa. 45:9 There is a problem when you begin to contend or argue with God because of your problem or your circumstance. Blaming the Potter. The creature arguing with the Creator.
Hebrews 4–He is touched with our infirmities. When your heart string is plucked, whether in joy, sorrow, fear, etc., Gods heart string is plucked in heaven. He is not unaffected by our infirmities. 1 John 4–God is love. And when you know how much you’re loved, you realize that God is never putting you through something that He isn’t going through with you.
3. The potsherd of Calvary. Psalm 22:1, 15 Something that is harsh, that is cast off, that is rough. Jesus, hanging on the cross of Calvary suffering, so that we don’t have to. The next time you go through suffering and hardship, don’t try to cover it up, don’t try to have contention, but run to Calvary.
