“But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” (Job 1:11 KJV)
Is the value of God’s glory sufficiently high enough that it is worth our praise regardless of what happens to us? Is his glory greater than the layers of meaning that we wade through to try to understand “why”? Can he seemingly leapfrog all the protocols in the interest of his glory? Or are all these protocols actually there by design because of his glory?
They say that time heals all wounds. If chapters 2 – 37 of Job are accurate, then it would seem that time allows wounds to fester. Time makes the wound worse. It allows all the bacteria that is in our sinful nature to really have something to eat on and grow into something very ugly. Something with the potential for great bitterness. Who really heals our wounds? Jesus! The wounds or stripes laid on him (see 1 Peter 2:24) heal a much deeper problem. We are not prevented from suffering. In fact, we are told to expect much of it (see John 16:33). He heals our wounds because they will not be eternal. Even time has an end, but without Jesus the wounds will continue. In God’s grace there is room for forgiveness. Now we can talk about healing. Whether it is specifically my problem or an underlying problem long before me, Jesus is equally able to deal with it. Now we can begin to see that his glory is sufficiently great that he has every right to show sin and evil for what they really are. Even if that process seems to unfairly target me.
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34 KJV)