I Shall Come Forth As Gold

When Job tried to call upon the Lord so he could plead his case and grasp why he was undergoing so much pain and suffering (v. 4), God seems to be silent (v. 9). However, Job continued to express his faith and trust in Him (Job 1:22). He had the assurance that God’s ways are not Job’s ways (Isa 55:8), and that God is merely instructing and showing him the way which he shall go (Ps 32:8)! The word “knoweth” shows that God is intimately involved in all his trials and the pathway that he is taking (Jer 29:11). Job acknowledged God’s sovereignty when he said, He “doeth great things and unsearchable” (Job 5:9).

 Because “great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised” (Ps 145:3). Job realizes that when he gets delivered “out of them all” (Ps 34:19), he “shall come forth as gold!” Job uses the refining process of gold as a powerful picture of what he was experiencing. When gold is melted, the impurities are removed to reveal the precious metal in its purest form! By comparing his sufferings to the melting process, he believes that God, Who is “like a refiner's fire” (Mal 3:2), is purging all the impurities in his life. Afterwards, he will emerge as someone more valuable and purer in the eyes of God.

 Often, we also find ourselves struggling to make sense of our sufferings (Hab 1:5), and the mysterious ways that God operates in our adversities (Rom 11:34). But when we begin to understand “that all things work together for good” (Rom 8:28), and that the idea of testing is for our own refinement (Rom 5:3), and spiritual growth (2 Pet 3:18); then we can simply relax upon God’s sufficient grace. Because our “strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9)! Even in the midst of seemingly impossible trials, we must get closer to God (Jms 4:8). Because our faith will become stronger (2 Pet 1:5), and more valuable than pure gold! God bless you!

- Pastor Melito Barrera