On Ashes

“…and he sat down among the ashes.” Job 2:8

J

ob, the ancient patriarch, the richest man in the east (or perhaps the known world for that matter) lost everything. He lost his children (and grandchildren), every business and enterprise, every cow, every camel, every crop, every lock, stock, and barrel, and sackcloth and ashes became Job’s apparel. He lost all his wealth and also his health; but worst he felt cursed and sat there dying of thirst for some cool cup of kindness, perhaps a cup of relief, instead, three well-meaning preachers came by to visit but only brought grief. Their silence was violence, but their sermons were worse, rubbed salt on his wounds with their “Chapter and Verse.”   If the shoe fits, then wear it, but some things don’t apply, Job’s feet were oozing and swollen, but they had no idea why.
Long after Job was restored and found out the what and why of all his woe, Isaiah wrote “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary” Isa.50:4. I’m afraid, as a preacher, at times, I have been more like Eliphaz than Isaiah, and certainly the Lord Jesus. God’s word is Spirit forged in fire but always tempered in love. When someone is sitting in ashes they don’t need more ashes. Spring up Oh Well, they need water. -id