Why does Job say, "The Lord gives and takes," and does it work in the New Testament?
Does the same principle work now after Jesus' death and resurrection? Does God take away what He gives to us?
Job 1:21
ESV - 21 And he said, "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.
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Asked August 08 2024
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Sewinet Belete
Supporter
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Tim Maas
Supporter
As indicated in the book of Job, God gave Satan the power to take away the blessings that Job had been given in order to prove that Job's uprightness and love of God were not dependent on the presence of those blessings. (Job even said of God in Job 13:15, "Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him.")
Even in light of the New Testament (where believers underwent active persecution and martyrdom), all seeming adversities that a believer may experience in this present fallen world are through the permissive will of God, and are still encompassed by Paul's assurance in Romans 8:28 ("And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."). And (as Paul noted just ten verses earlier in Romans 8:18), "What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later."
Charles Crabtree
Supporter
Jesus, in teaching about forgiving, used the parable of the unforgiving servant. This shows one example of God taking away what was given. Matthew 18:21-35 KJVS: Then came Peter to him, and said, "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?" [22] Jesus saith unto him, "I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven. [23] Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. [24] And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. [25] But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. [26] The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.' [27] Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. [28] But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me that thou owest.' [29] And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.' [30] And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. [31] So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. [32] Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, 'O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: [33] Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?' [34] And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. [35] So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."
Mark Vestal
Supporter
We are told a few things in scripture about what is going on today (Eph 3:2). God's "grace is sufficient" (2 Cor 12:7-10). Believers have been gifted "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places" (Eph 1:3). We are "complete in Him" (Col 2:10). We are "joint-heirs with Christ" (Rom 8:17). God will not even take our salvation from us as we are "sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph 4:30). Paul says that we thank God always for spirtual "things unto God" (Eph 5:19-20), but he never indicates that we will be gifted (or otherwise) anything that is of this world. 1 Cor 14:12 "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church." I would argue that Satan, "the god of this world"(2 Cor 4:4), has influence on things lost and gained today (just as he did with Job), but I do not believe that God Himself is currently giving or taking any carnal thing in our lives. It was once the case that He did (and will be again someday after the church, His body, has been filled with believers), but He is not during the current age of His grace. We are not being punished while God continues to long suffer His wrath to come (Rom 9:22). Our punishment was received by Jesus Christ on the cross for us and accepted by God as the sufficient payment for all of our sins (Rom 5:8, 1 Cor 15;3-4, 2 Cor 5:19-21). Col 3:1 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."
Shirley H
Supporter
Job 40:2,7: "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?...Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me." We must see that the cross overshadows the cradle. It was formed before the birth of the world, to guide us on our journey home. He was who He is and He is who He was.
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