Job's Reward
Scripture
The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold.
(Job 42:10 NASB)
Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him. And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold.
(Job 42:11 NASB)
The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys.
(Job 42:12 NASB)
He had seven sons and three daughters.
(Job 42:13 NASB)
He named the first Jemimah, and the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch.
(Job 42:14 NASB)
In all the land no women were found so fair as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers.
(Job 42:15 NASB)
After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations.
(Job 42:16 NASB)
And Job died, an old man and full of days.
(Job 42:17 NASB)
(Job 42:10 NASB)
Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him. And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold.
(Job 42:11 NASB)
The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys.
(Job 42:12 NASB)
He had seven sons and three daughters.
(Job 42:13 NASB)
He named the first Jemimah, and the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch.
(Job 42:14 NASB)
In all the land no women were found so fair as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers.
(Job 42:15 NASB)
After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations.
(Job 42:16 NASB)
And Job died, an old man and full of days.
(Job 42:17 NASB)
Observation
Job has endured much affliction during the years, and it is for this pain and suffering that he is famous. Finally here at the very end we find a different story. After he has suffered almost unimaginable pain, God restores him and everything about his life. The end result is much more than what he began with. He has double the number of animals that he started out with and the exact number of children, both boys and girls are given to him.
Application
The problem with this final view of Job's life is that the story can be distorted into a type of health-wealth gospel. "If only we endure suffering God will give us everything here in this lifetime!" However, we must ask ourselves whether this is about what happens in this life, or if God has pealed away the curtain of heaven and allowed us to see the eternal reward which awaits those who love him and are faithful to the end. Does this final chapter of Job's life really tell us about what God has in store for each and every one of us?
The contrast here is interesting. Job's earthly brothers and sisters bring him gifts for his endurance. Each brings him a gold ring and a piece of money. In the scope of things these are all pretty small. In the scope of things the rewards of this earthly life are going to be pretty small in comparison to what God can do and what God has awaiting us in the life of come. Earth may be able to give us a few coins and a ring, but what are those in comparison to what God has to offer. God doubles the original earthly wealth of Job. This can only be provided by the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills! God has the ability to do this and not man.
And what about the seven sons and three daughters? In the life to come we will be reunited with those whom we have lost. The children are restored to him and the names of the three daughters indicate the beautiful promise of God. Jemimah is the one who shines as radiantly as the day. There will be no more darkness, no more pain, no more suffering. Keziah is a the beautiful fragrant perfume which sweetens the day. Can you imagine the stench of Job's body during his time of illness but now God sweetens the air. In heaven the stench of death and dying will be gone and the sweet fragrance of Jesus' presence will fill the air. Finally, there is Keren-Happuch, the horn of paint, or the face that is beautiful because God has wiped away all the tears. This is the beauty of heaven which awaits all of those who will patiently endure to the very end.
Finally this glimpse of heaven is a foreshadowing of what will come about in the New Testament. Numerous times we learn in the New Testament about the barriers which have been destroyed in Christ and one of those is the barrier between men and women. Galatians 3:28, "There is now therefore no more slave nor free,....male nor female." The fact that Job's three daughters are partakers of the inheritance signals a revelation of God's promise for all of humanity. The playing field is leveled in God's reward system and the barriers which were brought about as a result of the sin of man will be laid bare. And the father, Job, enjoys his taste of heaven.
No, we don't always understand what's going on here on earth, but there will come a day when there will be a reward and it will be beyond anything we could have ever imagined, just as it was true with Job's reward.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for this beautiful glimpse in through the window of heaven today. Amen.
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