THE HOPEFUL CAPTIVE!Speaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: Trust God at all times. God wants to bless you in double measure so trust God at all times.
There lived a certain man named Job who had been a prisoner of hope as recorded in the Bible. The entire history of Job's life is evident from this particular verse as found in Job 42:10. When Job prayed for his friends, God turned his captivity. Whatever Job had lost in the former days, God returned it to him in double measure.
What was the captivity or the prison that surrounded Job? If you read Job 36:8, we see that he was tormented and engulfed in a prison called affliction. He struggled and suffered greatly in that prison. Job 1:1-17 tells us that he lost all his possessions - cows, goats, sheep, camels, maidservants, man servants, beloved ones and all his goodness in just a single day. Job, one among the richest persons who lived in the eastern part of the world, turned from being a prince to a pauper in just a single day. He was imprisoned in the prison called affliction. All his ten children, seven male and three female died on the same day. Oh! Just imagine how his heart would have been greatly troubled and shattered.
Besides that, the Bible tells us that he had sores all over his body (Job 2:7,8). Once a person who was eloquent in speech and handsome had now been stinking. Formerly, the members of the town council acknowledged and revered him. Young people would not dare to utter a word before him. Job who once had a wonderful appearance was afflicted with sores all over his body in just a single day.
His wife approaches and curses him saying, "Are you still standing on your integrity? Curse God and die" (Job 2:9). What was the use of Job's life anymore? Great was his affliction. Job laments and says, "Oh that my grief was fully weighed, and my calamity laid with it on the scales! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea"(Job 6:1-3). He exclaims, "My sorrows are much more in weight than that of the seashore sands." Battling with unbearable and inexpressible affliction, he says, "God has fenced up my way, so that I cannot pass; and He has set darkness in my paths" (Job 19:8). "Oh! There is no way of escape from this prison of affliction. I am not able to run away from trouble. Darkness has surrounded me and I am unable to walk."
Quite often, have we not cried out like this? Whenever trouble confronts, we tend to say, "How I wish I could run away from this?"
A family who love us very dearly and have been supporting us for the past many years spoke over the telephone. They said, "Paul! Darkness has engulfed our family. Sorrows are suffocating and we have been afflicted with diseases. My daughter had died even after an operation had been performed. Now we are sinking in the sea of deep debts having incurred to the tune of several hundred thousands of rupees. We anticipated our son's help to bring us out of this mess but he seems to be like a solid rock. He was not bothered. I did spend a lot and sacrificed so many things to bring him up. He did not even enquire about us during these days of affliction. We are greatly troubled in all directions, darkness has surrounded us and there seems to be no way of escape. What shall we do?
When troubles confront us, it seems like standing transfixed in the dead end of a street. Nobody will be able to help. We would run in different direction expecting help would come from this or that person but everything turns out to be a wild goose chase. One finds oneself writhing like a worm before the flames of fire.
In our family, for many years we have gone through such a suffering. Job was greatly troubled thinking about his struggle in the prison called affliction. However, even in such a situation, he said, "Though I am a captive in this fenced prison of affliction, I am going to be a prisoner of hope." "Where is my hope?" he questions in Job 17:15 and says "Though He slay me yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15). Hallelujah.
Yes, even though I am a prisoner without any way of escape yet I will be a prisoner of hope. The hope and trust that we place in our Lord alone is the key that would break the fenced prison of affliction. Our loving Lord says, "Oh! Prisoners of hope the day on which you return to Me I will restore unto you a double measure of all that you have lost."
Instead of languishing over the darkness that surrounded him, Job determined to be a prisoner of hope saying, "I will trust Him.' Then, the Almighty God who breaks open any fortified fence descended, spoke to him and restored goodness in double fold to him.
Prayer:
Almighty God,
Many times, I have been a prisoner of affliction and have turned to various sources for help. Help me this day not to languish and brood over my affliction but to trust and hope in Your immense power and authority. Give me the grace to always acknowledge the fact that there is no problem that You cannot solve for me. Enable me to place my hope and trust always in You particularly in adverse situations. May Your love always surround me and break open the fortified fence that I taste and see Your goodness.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen. |