Creator, Father, King #121

My family is gone, and my close friends have forgotten me.

ALL TEN OF HIS children were dead. His house was in ruins, and bandits had stolen his possessions. Festering boils blanketed his body.

Job was in utter misery.

Sitting among the ashes of his former life, he picked up a piece of broken pottery. He knew it would provide only temporary relief. But his skin was crawling with irritation.

Scraaaaape. Scraaaaape. Scraaaaape.

“Curse God and die,” his wife implored.

Even Job’s wife provided no solace—nor did any other friends or family members. Look how he described his plight in Job 19:14-19:

My family is gone, and my close friends have forgotten me. My servants and maids consider me a stranger. I am like a foreigner to them. When I call my servant, he doesn’t come; I have to plead with him! My breath is repulsive to my wife. I am rejected by my own family. Even young children despise me. When I stand to speak, they turn their backs on me. My close friends detest me. Those I loved have turned against me.

Of all of Job’s woes, the betrayal from loved ones was one of the worst.

What’s It Mean?

Have you ever been hurt by a close friend or family member? Wounds from loved ones are always more painful because there’s more invested in those relationships—more trust that’s broken.

As King David mourned in Psalm 55:12-13, “It is not an enemy who taunts me—I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend.”

Here’s a harsh truth: your loved ones will probably fail you in life. And you will fail those you love. That’s life in a fallen world.

But God will never fail you. Because of his holiness, he is faithful and perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4). You can always count on his unchanging character, promises, and steadfast love.

As Job lamented the unfaithfulness of those closest to him, look at what brought him hope: “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last” (Job 19:25). What glorious truth!

Now What?

Be quick to ask forgiveness when you fail someone else, and don’t hold a grudge when someone else fails you (Colossians 3:13).

Did You Know?

Job’s experience was not unique in Scripture. Samson (Judges 16), David (2 Samuel 15–18), and Paul (2 Timothy 4:10) all experienced painful betrayals. Then, of course, there was Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus for thirty measly pieces of silver.