Identifying the thief

One of the most common errors made when Christians suffer loss, becomes obvious at many gravesides or funerals is a quote from Job :

The Lord gave, the Lord has taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord
Job 1:21

If I asked you what is the oldest book in the Bible, I think you would probably say Genesis, but in fact it’s the book of Job.
Rabbis teach that this book was written before Moses, who wrote the first 5 books in the Bible. They cannot agree on an exact date but it’s at least 2000 BC

Now why is this important?

What man knew about God and His nature was very limited.

As we read and understand scripture we experience what is known as ‘progressive revelation’. In other words what was known to the Old Testament saints is now greatly surpassed in the New Covenant which is based on better promises (Heb. 8:6)
When Jesus ministered on earth He brought a lot of New Revelation as to the nature of His Father as well as to His own nature.

So we need to ask an important Biblical question: Does God give and take back?

Well it is true that Job said it, but it’s not the truth. What Job said was truly recorded but it doeasn’t make it true.

Unfortunately even today Christians have made a doctrine out of this verse and even sing songs about it.

If you tell them it’s false, they will fight you to believe what they believe.

However the truth is that God is a giver- not a taker.

King David knew this: ”You are the fountain and giver of life” Ps 36:9

The most famous verse in the Bible is: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son John 3:16

God’s true nature is love 1 John 4:16

Because of His nature He gives. Jesus has God’s Nature He descibed Himself as a Shepherd:

10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it ]overflows).

11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep. John 10:10,11 AMPC

He made it clear to His followers that it is the devil who kills, steals and destroys. That is the nature of the devil.

Now let’s imagine a very common situation. A young couple find their child dead in its cot. They are heartbroken . They go the their church pastor. He tells them : You know God gives, but He also takes away.

They bury their baby and leave the church. Their thinking is ‘we don’t want a God like that!’

It depends what country you are in but if the church leaders just teach traditional things, because that’s what they have been taught, they are making the Word of God of no effect, prefering their own tradition (Mark 7:13)

This is just ignorance of the truth and it is because of such ignorance that God’s people perish and are destroyed (Hosea 4:6)

We need to get wiser and realise that when tragedy has hit us in the past in the form of accidents, loss of loved ones, financial disasters etc. It was not God allowing it to teach us something.

Firstly have you yourself blamed God for the bad losses in your own life?
And what if you are brave enough to confront friends and family about such matters.

In the light of Biblical Truth you may find through quiet discussion with the Holy Spirit that theft has occurred many areas of your lives. Probably each time you sort of blamed God.

What should your reaction be?

Righteous anger at the thief! Stay with me as we put more light on the matter.

Prayer: Father I’m truly sorry, that I have agreed with others that it was Your Hand that stole from me. I see now Father, that Your nature is Love.

I ask you to forgive me Lord and help me by Your grace how to get back restoration of all that was stolen.In Jesus’Name. Amen