19th March

Discerning God's intervention

Job could have accused the natural elements: lightning destroyed his sheep and the wind swept away the house where his children had a meeting. He could have cursed the pillagings which devastated his flock. Could he have been comforted? Which lesson would he have learnt?

Instead of this Job who knows God discerns immediately his intervention. He knows well that his prosperity is not only the result of his efforts or favourable circumstances but that it depends on God. He also accepts that the Lord in his sovereignty and in his perfect wisdom takes away that which he had given to him. He answers his wife who is in despair because of the calamities which come upon their life: "Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?" (Job 2, 10) Job blesses the name of the Lord.

We easily discern God's hand when our living conditions are favourable. When the wind turns it is more difficult to discern God's hand. Let us realize his intervention in each trial. Let us be like Job and accept it as coming from God, who in his kindness wants to teach us and bless us at the end.