The follow excerpt is taken from Tried by Fire by A.W. Pink (1886-1952)
But He knoweth the say that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Job 23:10
Job here corrects himself.
In the beginning of the chapter, we find him saying, “Even today is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning” (23:1-2). Poor Job felt that his lot was unbearable.
But he recovers himself.
He checks his hasty outburst and revises his impetuous decision. How often we all have to correct ourselves! Only One has ever walked this earth Who never had occasion to do so.
Job here comforts himself.
He could not fathom the mysteries of Providence, but God knew the way he took. Job had diligently sought the calming presence of God, but for a time in vain.
Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: On the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him: He hideth Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him.
Job 23:8-9
But he consoled himself with this blessed fact:
“Though I cannot see God, what is a thousand times better, He can see me.”
“He knoweth”–[the] One above is neither unmindful nor indifferent to our lot. If He notices the fall of a sparrow, if He counts the hairs of our heads, of course, “He knows” the way that I take.
Job here enunciates a noble view of life.
How splendidly optimistic he was! He did not allow his afflictions to turn him into a skeptic. He did not permit the sore trials and troubles through which he was passing to overwhelm him.
He looked at the bright side of the dark cloud—God’s side, hidden from sense and reason.
He took a long view of life.
He looked beyond the immediate “fiery trials” and said that the outcome would be gold refined.
But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold.
Job 23:10
Job’s ultimate eternal perspective is what made him a visionary man.
May we strive to be visionary women by seeing all aspects of our lives from God’s amazing, panoramic, eternal perspective.
