約伯詛咒自己的生日(伯三)

受患難的人為何有光賜給他呢?心中愁苦的人為何有生命賜給他呢?(伯 3:20) 

在撒但的攻擊之下,約伯失去所有的兒女、家產,全身又長滿毒瘡,整個人陷入極度痛苦。在本章他開口詛咒自己的出生,連懷胎的日子也一起詛咒,寧願自己未曾來到世間,這是何等的絕望才會說出的話!  
聖經中,除了約伯,也有幾位人物,因為感到極度的壓力與痛苦,跟神求死。一位是摩西,因以色列百姓不斷埋怨沒有肉吃,摩西感到管理百姓的責任太重,擔當不起,跟神說:你這樣待我,我若在你眼前蒙恩,求你立時將我殺了,不叫我見自己的苦情。(參民 11:15);一位是以利亞,他在迦密山上戰勝巴力的先知後,遭耶洗別王后追殺,自己在曠野走了一日的路程,來到羅騰樹下,失去信心、軟弱的向神求死:耶和華啊,罷了!求你取我的性命,因為我不勝於我的列祖。(王上 19:4);一位是約拿, 他因神憐憫尼尼微人而不毀滅他們,感到不悅甚至發怒,向神說:耶和華啊,現在求你取我的命吧!因為我死了比活著還好(拿 4:3),後來神安排一顆蓖麻樹為約拿遮蔭 ,卻又派一條蟲子咬死這顆蓖麻樹,約拿在酷熱難耐中 ,再次跟神求死:我死了比活著還好!(參拿 4:8)  

因我們神憐憫的心腸,叫清晨的日光從高天臨到我們,要照亮坐在黑暗中死蔭裡的人,把我們的腳引到平安的路上。(路 1:78-79) 
其實,在我們陷入極度的痛苦或絕望時,可以毫無掩飾地來到神面前,向神傾訴我們的悲傷、無助、孤單,甚至憤怒。神不輕看憂傷的靈,也必回應我們,引我們到平安的路上。 
當以利亞逃入曠野,心力交瘁、將自己與列祖比較,全然失去信心,神不但沒有責備,反而堅固他、差遣天使供應他飲食,讓他休息恢復、重新得力;神引導他到何烈山,賦予新任務,差派他膏哈薛做亞蘭王,又膏寧示的孫子耶戶為以色列王,並膏以利沙做先知接續他。 
神知道摩西承擔大責,在摩西求死時,神沒有責怪他的軟弱,而是分擔他的壓力,一方面吩咐他揀選70位長老,並分賜一樣的靈給他們,共管百姓,不再讓他獨自擔當;另一方面,顯神蹟賜下大量鵪鶉給百姓吃肉。 
約拿對神不毀滅尼尼微城兩次埋怨,寧死不活,對神的作為無法理解,但神不急於責備,而是耐心反問你這樣生氣對嗎?」讓約拿了解,神不毀滅尼尼微,是出於愛惜與憐憫,因為城裡不能分辨左右手的年幼孩兒有十二萬多人!

我從前風聞有你,現在親眼看見你(伯 42:5) 。
約伯陷入極大苦難時,神起初沉默不回應,讓約伯與三位朋友辯論,最後,神從旋風中出現,用一連串問題反問約伯我立大地根基的時候,你在哪裡?」(伯 38:4)使約伯謙卑的認識神的偉大與全能,約伯回答:我從前風聞有你,現在親眼看見你。神最後恢復約伯的健康及財富,賜給他的比以前更多,神並沒有冷漠看著約伯受苦,最終親自向他顯現,與約伯對話,幫助約伯認識神的主權與智慧。 

我們不致消滅,是出於耶和華諸般的慈愛;是因他的憐憫不致斷絕。(哀3:22) 
行筆至此,想起耶利米先知因為耶路撒冷城被巴比倫攻破,心中充滿苦楚,力量衰敗,但他後來想起神的慈愛,心裡有了指望。耶利米先知說:每早晨這都是新的;你的誠實極其廣大(哀3:23)!當我們的生活陷入黑暗絕望中,要思想神的慈愛,沒有甚麼可以把我們與神的愛隔絕,我們的神是信實慈愛的神,祂知道我們的痛苦與需要,會用祂的方式讓我們得到醫治與安慰;我們的神是施憐憫的神,不至於讓我們滅絕,祂知道我們能承擔多少,會在百般的試煉當中,為我們開路,我們要專心仰望主的慈愛,不要對神失去盼望,相信神必定親自引領和眷顧。 

約伯在本章問道:受患難的人為何有光賜給他呢?心中愁苦的人為何有生命賜給他呢?答案是因為「神的愛」! 

誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕呢?難道是患難嗎?是困苦嗎?是逼迫嗎?是飢餓嗎?是赤身露體嗎?是危險嗎?是刀劍嗎?靠著愛我們的主,在這一切的事上已經得勝有餘了。(羅 8:35、37) 

By 謝鈴媛

 
真耶穌教會石牌教會、天母教會線上講道

石牌教會https://www.youtube.com/@TJChurchShipai

天母教會https://www.youtube.com/c/TJC_Tianmu/featured

Job Curses The Day of His Birth (Job 3)


August 25, 2025


“Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,” (Job 3:20 ESV)


Under Satan's attack, Job lost all his children and possessions, and his body was covered with poison sores, leaving him in extreme pain. In this chapter, he cursed his birth and even the days of his pregnancy, wishing he had never been born. How desperate he was to say those words! 

In addition to Job, several characters in the Bible prayed to God for death due to extreme pressure and pain. One was Moses, because the Israelites constantly complained about not having meat to eat, Moses felt that the responsibility of guiding the people was too heavy and he could not bear it. He said to God: “If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.” (Ref. Numbers 11:15 ESV) One is Elijah. After defeating the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, he was pursued by Queen Jezebel. After walking a day's journey in the wilderness, he came to a broom tree. He lost faith and in his weakness, prayed to God for death: “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” (1 Kings 19:4 ESV) One was Jonah, who was displeased and even angry because God showed mercy to the Ninevites and did not destroy them. He said to God: “Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:3 ESV) Later, God arranged a castor trees to provide shade for Jonah, but God sent a worm to kill the plant. Jonah, unable to bear the heat, once again prayed to God for death: ”And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”(Jonah 4:8 ESV)


“because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79 ESV)

In fact, when we are in deep pain or despair, we can openly come before God and pour out our sorrow, helplessness, loneliness, and even anger. God does not despise a sorrowful spirit; He will respond and lead us to the path of peace. When Elijah fled into the wilderness, exhausted and comparing himself to his ancestors, completely losing faith, God not only did not rebuke him, but instead strengthened him, sending angels to provide him with food and rest, allowing him to recover and regain strength. God guided him to Mount Horeb and gave him a new mission, commissioning him to anoint Hazael king of Aram, Nimshi's grandson Jehu king of Israel, and Elisha as his successor prophet. 

God knew the great responsibility Moses shouldered. When Moses asked to die, God did not rebuke his weakness, but instead shared his burden. He commanded him to select 70 elders and imparted the same spirit to them to share in the people's care, no longer leaving him to shoulder the burden alone. He also miraculously provided abundant quail for the people to eat. 

Jonah complained twice about God not destroying Nineveh, wishing death over life, and could not understand God's plans. But God did not rush to blame him. Instead, He patiently asked, "Is it right for you to be so angry?" This allowed Jonah to understand that the reason for not destroying Nineveh was out of love and mercy, because there were more than 120,000 young children in the city who could not tell their left hand from their right!


“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;” (Job 42:5 ESV)

When Job was in great distress, God was silent at first and allowed Job to debate with his three friends. Finally, God emerged from a whirlwind and asked Job a series of questions: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” (Job 38:4 ESV)This humbled Job because he recognizes God's greatness and omnipotence. Job replied, "I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you." In the end, God restored Job's health and wealth, granting him even more than before. God did not stand by Job's suffering indifferently. Ultimately, He appeared to Job personally, conversing with him and helping him understand His sovereignty and wisdom.


“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;” (Lamentations 3:22 ESV)

I recall the prophet Jeremiah, who was filled with anguish and weakness because Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians. But he later remembered God's lovingkindness and found hope in his heart. The prophet Jeremiah said: “they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:23 ESV) When our lives are sinked into darkness and despair, we must reflect on God's lovingkindness. Nothing can separate us from His love. Our God is faithful and loving. He understands our pain and needs and will heal and comfort us in His own way. Our God is merciful and will not let us perish. He knows how much we can bear and will make a way for us amidst all kinds of trials. We must place our full trust in the Lord's lovingkindness and never lose hope in Him, trusting that He will personally guide and care for us.


In this chapter, Job asks: “Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul?” The answer is "God's love"!


“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:35, 37 ESV)


By LingYuan Hsieh

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