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Job 23:8-12  -  ESV

8 “Behold,I go forward, but he is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive him;
9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
10 But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11 My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.


Historical Background

When it comes to trials, we know that there is a reason why things happen in our lives. We know that what happens, it's because God allows it to happen. But we don't know why! This was the case with Job. The life of Job is known by many, the suffering he endures, the challenges he faced. This man of faith was struggling like we are and we are going to see why God was allowing this to happen.

God brags about Job

Job 1:1  -  NKJV

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

What the Bible means by "shunned evil" is that Job did not want anything to do with evil.

Job 1:7  -  NKJV

7 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

In other words, God tells Satan, now that  you are looking to devour, have you not considered my servant Job?  Satan told God that the only way or reason Job serves him is because God has blessed him. It is from this point on where the assault on Job's life begins. God gives Satan permission to touch EVERYTHING that Job has. Now notice this, here is Job, a happy and wealthy man, a family man, that in less than 24 hours loses everything.

Job 1:14-19  -  NKJV

14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 
15 when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 
19 and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

In this passage of scripture we begin to see the loses Job has begun to suffer. We see he lost 3,000 camels, 5,000 oxen and 5,000 female donkeys.  Not only that we see how he lost his servants by the edge of the sword and a as to make matters worse, a strong wind that came from the four corners of the earth and kill his 10 children. Job has lost everything, servants, livestock and his children.

The assault on Job continues

Job 2:7  -  NKJV

7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.

Here we see that God gives Satan permission to attack Job's health. and there are a few point that I want to bring out with this piece of scripture.  You see, when the Bible says that these boils were "from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head" it means that not one part of his body that was free from it. This can also be referenced back to the plague found in the book of Exodus chapter 9 verse 10 where boils began to break out on man and on animals. Another place where we can also see an instance of this in Deutteronomy 28:27 (NKJV)

27 The Lord will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed.

The assault on Job continues, from his wife

Job 2:9  -  NKJV

9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity?[a]Curse God and die!”

Now here we see Job's wife thinking that his faith is worthless. Not only that, she tells him to curse God and die! Now I ask, is this you? Is someone telling you that what you're doing for God is worthless? That your faith is worthless? Here is a woman, who had everything, now sees her husband sick and helpless and tells him Are you focusing on God? She thinks he is crazy for holding onto his faith.

The assault on Job continues, from his friends

Job 2:11  -  NKJV

11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him.

Now, here is Job going through the most difficult time of his life. Now comes three friends to give him some of the most ridiculous and dumb advice. Job can't figure out why God is allowing these things to happen and his friends think they have the answer and they tell him that he is wrong, he is in sin and he needs to repent! And we can see this starting here in chapter 2 all the way to chapter 22, Jobs friends attack him one by one and tell him that it's his fault.

As we come to chapter 23, Job is in the furnace of affliction. At this point, all odds are against him. So you might be asking, what do you do? How should we respond? How did Job respond? I am going to show you what Job does and what lessons can we learn.

Continue to search for God and no one else

Job 23:1-3; 8-9  -  NKJV

1 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Even today my complaint is bitter;
My hand is listless because of my groaning.
3 Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat!
8 “Look,I go forward, but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;
When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.


Job, in his darkest hours still searched for God, still looks for God continuously. His desire was to find God. When many people go through trials they stop seeking God, but not Job. He never stopped. No matter what we may be going through we must continue to seek God. As it says in 1 Chronicles 16:11:


11 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

And also Job 5:8-9

8 “But as for me, I would seek God,
And to God I would commit my cause—
9 Who does great things, and unsearchable,
Marvelous things without number.

When you find yourself in the furnace of affliction understand that God is testing you
 
Job 23:10  -  NKJV

10 But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

The one who tests us is God. Notice that in this passage of scripture Job said "when HE has tested me". Job understood that even if he can't find God, God is testing him. Everything you are going through is under divine permission, everything you are going through is under the control of God. We can find assurance of this is Job 23:14

14 For He performs what is appointed for me,
And many such things are with Him.

Notice what God told Israel in the book of Isaiah 48:10

10 Behold,I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

God was testing Israel and if it was applied to an entire nation, it will also apply to us. It is God who puts us in the furnace. God is a great refiner, he will never keep anyone in the furnace more than he has to. Just like the way Gold is refined and purified in fire, God is going to keep you in that furnace until He accomplishes your purification.

Notice when gold is put into a furnace, it come out more refined, it illuminates more and  is beautiful because what the fire does is burn away the impurity's. When gold is placed into the hot furnace not an ounce of gold is lost, so when God puts us in the furnace it is not to destroy us, it is to purify us.

In Isaiah chapter 43 verse 2 it says:

2 When you pass through the waters,I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.

meaning that you shall be burned by the fire, it will burn away the impurities. in 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 6 it says:

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be,you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire,may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Job is trusting God through it all, not only that Job knew that God was going to ensure 
his success and he (Job) knew that he was going to come out of this trial. If we re-read verse 10 he says: "When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold." this was a guarantee. How is he going to come out of the trial? Refined, better. In the end, Job came out as gold. Keep in mind that he can't figure out where the end is, even though God is silent, Job knows that he is coming out of this.

As you go through this furnace of affliction, God is watching your steps. At the beginning of verse 10 Job tells us "He knows the way I take" When you go through trials, God is surveiling us. God has a close observation on you and watches all of your steps. in Job 31:4 it says:

4 Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps?  

When trials come for some people, they take it out on the church or walk away from God. In Job 2 verse 10 Job tells his wife "Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” Job understood that although he could not see God, God was watching him. A prime example of this is found in Mark chapter 6:47-48

47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.
48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.

Those in the boat did not see Jesus (just like Job, you or I can't see) but Jesus saw them straining.

In the book of Exodus chapter 3 verse 7 the Bible tells us:

7 Then the Lord said,“I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,

Here we have the children of Israel were in bondage for 400 years but God saw their affliction. Job understood that God knew where he was, even though Job did not see him nor understand him. There are times when God can not be found but our steps need to be firm.

Another lesson that we learn from Job's affliction is that he stayed firm
 
Job 23:11-12  -  NKJV

11 My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

Although Job could not see God, although God was silent, Job did not budge under pressure. No wonder God bragged about him. Job was saying "I'm following the Lord, I've walked in his ways". God's steps are mandatory, we are commissioned by God that regardless of the pressure, we need to walk firm. In 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 21 it says: 

21 For to this you have been called,because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Peter says that Christ suffered for us, then let's suffer for Him. Our goal is to walk firm.

In the furnace of affliction, Job made God's word the priority in his life 

Job 23:12  -  NKJV
12 ...I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

What I am about to say is to encourage you, when Job hit rock bottom, when he lost everything, when he found himself in the furnace of affliction, Job fed on God's word. I am here to tell you that when trials come, you need to feed yourself on the word of God more than food. Some people come to church once a week, on top of that, some come once a week and are late. Now, I do not want to guilt you, what I want to do is motivate you to want God's word. Some may ask why? Because spiritually, we can't live without it. We need God's word because when trials come, fast foods and pizza ain't gonna cut it. Jesus himself fought temptation with the word of God as we can see in Matthew chapter 4 verse 4:

4 But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
 but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Also notice what Jesus said in John chapter 6 verse 26-27:

26 Jesus answered them and said,“Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you,because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

When David was in the wilderness, going through difficult times said in the book of Psalms chapter 63 verse 1-2:

1 O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.

Notice where he went as he thirst for God, he went to the sanctuary. If you don't thirst for God, you will become spiritually dry.

Look what the Bible tells us in the book of Luke chapter 24 verses 30-32:

30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 
31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

Here we see Jesus had been risen and was on the road to Emmaus he met two men. Things didn't go the way they expected, could this be you? The scriptures opens your eyes to better see your affliction. Look at what Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12 tells us:

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In closing and things to remember

Whenever you find yourself inside the furnace of affliction remember the following:

1) Continue to search for God.
2) Understand that it is God testing you.
3) God is watching your steps.
4) Stay firm.
5) Make God's word you priority.

In chapter 3, Job had sat in silence with his friends for 7 days, ready to talk, but what comes out of his mouth is one of the more heartbreaking of his lament found in the scriptures. You see, Job does not curse God, Job does not even curse Satan or his friends. If you read the entire chapter you'll see that rather than doing any of that, Job curses the day he was born, meaning he was wishing he would die. Many people that are in the furnace of affliction also wish this for themselves. But you know what? God never allowed it. Do you know why? Because even though Job did not see it, his latter days were better than his beginning. Just look at the beginning of Job chapter 42 verse 12:

2 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning;

God will not allow the furnace of affliction to beat you because he has a purpose for you!