Job 1:17-22: a reflection

17While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you.” 20Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped. 21He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the LORD’s name.” 22In all this, Job didn’t sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.

In a single devastating day, Job loses everything: his livestock raided, his servants killed, and finally, worst of all, his sons and daughters crushed when the house fell on them. Messenger after messenger brings news of catastrophe, until Job has lost his wealth and his children in a matter of hours. And then Job does something astonishing. He tears his robe and falls to the ground, not to curse, but to worship, saying: Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Notice Job's response to catastrophic loss: worship. In the very moment of devastation, having lost almost everything he had, Job falls down and blesses God. He does not deny his grief, he tears his robe, he mourns, but his grief does not turn to cursing; it turns to worship. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away, he says, blessed be the name of the LORD. He holds onto God, and even blesses him, in the depths of loss.

That is a faith that has learned to hold God above his gifts. Job could bless God even when the gifts were taken, because his trust was in God himself, not merely in what God gave. It is one of the hardest things a believer can do: to worship in the midst of devastating loss, to bless God's name even as everything is stripped away. We may not reach it easily. But Job shows it is possible: a faith that grieves honestly and still worships, that says even in loss, blessed be the name of the LORD. Ask God for a faith that can hold him above his gifts, and bless his name even in the depths of loss.

Lord, in a single day Job lost everything, and yet he fell down and worshiped, saying, the LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. Give me a faith like that, that holds you above your gifts, that can grieve honestly and still worship. When loss strips things away from me, keep my grief from turning to cursing, and help it turn, as Job's did, to worship. Teach me to bless your name even in the depths of loss, trusting you yourself, not merely what you give. Blessed be your name.