The Affliction of the Four J's and Their Response

The story of Joseph never gets old.  As I studied this morning for the teaching of preschoolers tomorrow, I was again struck by the beautiful integrity of Joseph.  His attitude shows that his affliction never seemed to shake his trust in God!

I began to think on my recent study of Jeremiah and his perseverance in affliction and then also,  Job.  I began to ponder these three men, three J’s, and another popped into my mind: Jonah-the affliction of the four J's  and their response.  How do I tie these four men together?

They tie together by their response!  Consider:

Job-wealthy, healthy, fruitful-in the blink of an eye-all gone!  Then from chapter three to forty-one, much contemplation!  The response:  “Job answered the LORD, ‘I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted…I will ask, You instruct me…I repent in dust and ashes.’”

Joseph-young, handsome, favored, happy homebody-in but a moment-zapped from home by his own kin!  We read with amazement at God’s complete care, compassion and control over his alienation from his home: “The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man…the LORD caused all that he did to prosper…gave him favor…whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper.”  The response:  “How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?  God sent me before you to preserve life…God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”

Jeremiah-prophet, direct contact with God, obedient and fervent,  speaking with reckless abandon what God says-for all his effort-thrown in a cistern, mocked, laughing stock, kings seeking to destroy him!  For fifty-two chapters, we learn from Jeremiah’s faithful proclamation a glimpse of the personality of our awesome Creator and His complete control over all things.  Jeremiah, for all his labor, was afflicted as he wrote, “My soul has been rejected from peace; I have forgotten happiness.  So I say, ‘My strength has perished, and so has my hope from the LORD.’”  But what kept Jeremiah going were his foundational thoughts of God:  “My soul remembers and is bowed down within me.  This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.  The LORD’S lovingkindnesses, indeed, never cease, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.  ‘The LORD is my portion’, says my soul, ‘therefore, I have hope in Him.’”

And last, Jonah.  It’s really hard to put Jonah in this list of faithful men.  I pretty much look at the first three with respect and admiration.  Not too much Jonah.  But I believe he gives us another personality we need to consider.  I mean, yes, he ran the opposite way of God’s call but we should be impressed that he was truthful with the captain and brave enough to give up his life for the good of the others.  His trust in God was great in the face of an emergency even though he was conflicted with the every day tasks of life.  Four short chapters reveal the conflict of Jonah’s back and forth battle between trusting God’s sovereignty and shaking his fist at Him.  While I would much prefer to be compared to the first three, I’m afraid I more like this man.  And yet God used him to save a city, including his story in the divinely inspired Book He gave man.  Yes, we need Jonah and all his warts to remind us that “it’s not of works”, it’s all of grace.  Jonah’s response as he lay in the belly of a “great fish appointed” by the LORD: “Salvation is from the LORD.”

Four men walking through life, blessed, afflicted, trusting, and used by God.  Let us bask in the thought of being “used” by God Almighty, no matter what blessings or afflictions come our way. “God can do all things.  God meant it for good.  Great is His faithfulness.  Salvation is from the LORD.”  This is the response of “the Four J’s”.  Let it also be our response.  God keep us strong!