The book of Job is not my favorite book, but I’m on Day 290 of a reading plan. Anyhow, these two verses have been spat out by many preachers as the ultimate betrayal of Job spoken by his wife: A woman so misunderstood.
“Then his wife said to him, “Do you still cling to your integrity [and your faith and trust in God, without blaming Him]? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the [spiritually] foolish women speaks [ignorant and oblivious to God’s will]. Shall we indeed accept [only] good from God and not [also] accept adversity and disaster?” In [spite of] all this Job did not sin with [words from] his lips.”
JOB 2:9-10 AMP
I’m taking a moment to submit my mother’s observation and add a few of my own.
She Lost ALL her children!
Let that sink in.
All her children right after all their business.
What expressive voice would those words be spoken in? Was hers a bit part snarled offstage as an adversary to the main character?
Or was she a wife and mother in the most bitterness of personal agony?
I’ve asked a number of moms how they think they would be if they had received the news that all of their children were killed in a calamity. To a person, all moaned, ‘inconsolable.’
…At least at first and probably for years hence.
The thing to note is that nowhere in the subsequent 42 chapters does God rebuke this nameless mother. But He rebukes the four friends. He pulls Job around in his thinking.
No, she is not rebuked and she shares in Job’s recompense to the fullest. This was his test that she had to endure.
Don’t put people down when they utter things when in the depths of sorrow. God sees past that. God cares and loves them through it. Raw emotions are the natural byproducts of being human.
And if you preach putting this woman down, it’s like a smack down to women in deep emotional pain.
Perhaps you’re that woman who identifies with Job’s wife. You’ve lost your kids. You’ve lost the life you once had. You uttered curses you wish you hadn’t. Come back to Jesus. You haven’t gone too far. You’re situation is not hopeless. God didn’t do this to you to punish you. He is the restorer of the broken heart. God died so that you might live. God conquered death by rising up again alive forevermore so that there was nothing that could permanently put you in the ground.
There is Hope. Reach UP today. Read this for more help: