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After the Flood, Jehovah stated,
as recorded at Genesis 8:21:
“The inclination of the heart of man
is bad from his youth up.”
So, sadly, we all have
imperfect tendencies,
and Satan is banking on us
acting on those inclinations.
For example,
our text comments today highlight
that Job needed to work on humility.
And if we research Job, we learn that he
had other areas he could improve on too.
For example, when attacked,
he became bitter and discouraged.
Now, it’s understandable
(any of us would in that circumstance),
but understandable doesn’t mean good,
because those reactions,
or imperfect tendencies,
blinded Job from considering
other possible reasons for his problem.
And then he blamed and criticized Jehovah.
Now, when we listen to that description,
it sounds rather bleak.
He needed to work on humility,
avoid bitterness,
avoid discouragement, avoid justification,
not be critical and shift blame.
We probably all have
a little bit of Job in us,
things that we can work on.
Satan hoped that those tendencies
would win and break Job’s integrity.
But did Jehovah see Job like that,
or does He see
any of the rest of us like that?
Not even close.
Let’s go back to the beginning of this trial
and see Jehovah’s viewpoint.
I invite you to Job chapter 1,
Job chapter 1, and we’ll read verse 8
—Job 1:8.
The heavenly scene: Satan has been allowed
to enter in before Jehovah.
And notice the conversation in verse 8:
“And Jehovah said to Satan:
“‘Have you taken note of my servant Job?
“‘There is no one like him on the earth.
“‘He is an upright man of integrity,
fearing God and shunning what is bad.’”
Now, what a fantastic evaluation!
Why the difference?
And what can we learn
that will help us weather trials today?
Let’s look at a first lesson:
Relationships matter
—our relationship with Jehovah
and with our fellow servants.
Let’s first talk about Jehovah.
Satan obviously hated Job.
Satan only saw value in Job
if he could break his integrity.
Other than that, he was worthless dust,
whereas Job and Jehovah
had a personal relationship.
Job didn’t understand why he was suffering.
But regardless, he loved Jehovah,
and he didn’t want to break his integrity.
And Jehovah knew Job.
Jehovah saw Job’s faithfulness
and love for his family.
He also remembered that Job didn’t worship
the sun, the moon,
and the heavenly bodies,
which was so common at that time.
He also helped fatherless boys and widows,
and he was kind to his servants.
Jehovah also knew that Job
didn’t want to break his integrity.
Thus, while Jehovah was not ignorant
of Job’s imperfect inclinations,
He didn’t view Job
as the sum of his weaknesses.
Jehovah saw the whole man
and focused on his good qualities.
And Jehovah does the same with us today.
Why?
Because we have
a personal relationship based on love.
Now, at times—it’s true—we may want Jehovah
to correct something
or provide direction more quickly.
Or we might not like the direction.
Or we don’t understand why Jehovah
is allowing a situation.
But because of our relationship,
we’re patient and confident.
We know that Jehovah will care for things
and that our obedience will be blessed,
just like Job’s was.
We also need personal relationships
with our fellow workers
to get through trials.
For example, Jehovah’s holy spirit
empowered Elihu to help Job.
Elihu was younger and had less experience,
but Job accepted his counsel;
he needed the help.
One reference mentioned
that Job may even have “wept in relief”
as Elihu helped him firmly but kindly.
Today, our brothers and sisters want to help.
But here’s the catch:
We have to be willing to accept their help
—be it spiritual, physical, or emotional.
We don’t want to dismiss their help
because we see their imperfect tendencies
or because we don’t want to be a burden.
Our brothers and sisters care for us,
and these relationships will be even
more important as we near the end.
To weather trials, relationships matter,
both with Jehovah
and with our brothers and sisters.
Let’s look at a second lesson:
We want to have
the correct viewpoint of trials.
We remember that Jehovah
didn’t cause Job’s troubles,
but He didn’t stop them either.
Job was allowed to suffer but with a purpose,
first and foremost
to prove his integrity and Satan a liar.
Secondarily, the trial also afforded Jehovah
an opportunity to train Job further.
And it’s similar today.
Satan hasn’t gotten any nicer with age.
So while we don’t look for trials,
we’re not surprised when they come
and we don’t end them via unscriptural means.
Why?
Our viewpoint: We view trials
as an honor and as an opportunity.
Imagine for a moment
how Job would have felt if,
when Satan made his taunt to Jehovah,
Jehovah told Satan: ‘You know, Job is good,
‘but he still needs to work on a few things.
‘He’s not ready.
Let’s wait until Moses comes along.’
But that didn’t happen.
Look back at verse 8.
Notice it wasn’t Satan
who brought up Job’s name.
Yes, he was thinking about it,
but it was Jehovah who brought up Job’s name
and then gave that wonderful description
that we read.
Job was honored to stand up for Jehovah,
and we are too.
We want Jehovah to use our name
just like he did Job’s.
We also view standing firm through trials
as an opportunity.
I’d like to invite you to the first letter
that Peter wrote, 1 Peter.
We’ll look at chapter 5 and verse 10
—1 Peter 5:10.
Notice what it says:
“But after you have suffered a little while
“[so a trial—there will be trials],
“the God of all undeserved kindness,
“who called you to his everlasting glory
in union with Christ,
“[now, notice] will himself
finish your training.
“[And the result?]
“He will make you firm,
he will make you strong,
he will firmly ground you.”
So while Jehovah didn’t cause Job’s trial,
it did become a teaching moment.
Jehovah helped Job see the bigger picture
and be humbler.
And Jehovah can train us today too.
So if we’re facing a trial,
we should ask ourselves:
‘What is Jehovah teaching me?
Do I need more faith, to be milder,
to work on humility?’
And whatever we need,
we let Jehovah train us.
I was recently speaking with a sister
who’s been going through
a very challenging situation for a while now.
But as she was explaining it,
she made a beautiful comment.
She said that while she
never expected to go through this
and hopes never to go through it again,
she has come to see how Jehovah is
truly caring for her.
She stated that she has seen Jehovah’s hand
on her behalf personally
in ways that she has never
experienced before.
It’s built her faith.
So a trial can be an opportunity
for Jehovah to train us and make us firm.
We will face a myriad of trials
as this system ends,
and Satan counts on our weaknesses.
But as Jehovah’s servants,
we will weather the storm.
To get through these trials,
we will need to remember
that we need
a strong relationship with Jehovah
and with our brothers and sisters;
no one is an island; relationships matter.
And second,
we adopt the right view of that trial.
We see it as an honor to give
an answer to Jehovah for Satan’s taunt,
and it’s an opportunity for Jehovah
to finish our training.

Jody Jedele: Imitate Job When Facing Trials (Job 1:8)