The Endurance of Job (11-5-11)

James 5:11 - "We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful."

The third example we're given in James chapter 5 is the example of Job. First we're instructed to behold the farmer, second we're told to take the prophets, and now finally we're told to remember what we've heard about the endurance of Job. All throughout the severe trials in the book of Job, Job holds on to his faith. Sure, his faith is weak and imperfect (a lot like ours) but throughout the book you can see hints that his faith, however small, is still there. Lets consider the endurance of Job. 
The book of Job begins by telling us that Job was a very wealthy man, and yet by the end of the first chapter the Lord allowed Satan to take everything from Job except for his health and his wife, which he lost in chapter two. But the response to his loss is simply amazing. Job 1:21-22 - "He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God." Most of the rest of the book is a conversation between Job and his three friends, and all through this conversation we see glimpses of Jobs faith. In Job 13:15-16 he says - "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him. This also will be my salvation, for a godless man may not come before His presence." Job 19:25 - "As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth." Job 23:10 - "But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold."
This is the endurance of Job. And if we go to the end of the book we will see the outcome of the Lords dealings with him. Just like he had previously said, after he was tested he came forth as gold, his faith was stronger and God also restored his fortune and gave him even more then he had before. In Job 42:10-17 we read - "The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold. Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the Lord had brought on him. And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys. He had seven sons and three daughters. He named the first Jemimah, and the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. In all the land no women were found so fair as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers. After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations. And Job died, an old man and full of days." 
We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. God was not obligated to restore the fortunes of Job. Nor was He obligated to even deliver him from the trial of his faith, but He did so just because that's who He is. He is full of compassion and is merciful. God cares for us and shares our sufferings. He desires our best in every situation and wants to alleviate the suffering once it has accomplished it's intended purpose. 1 Peter 1:6-7 says - "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Trials are painful, but they're absolutely necessary.
Job endured the fiery trial that came into his life, and his endurance resulted in a blessing both spiritual and physical. In spite of us, the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

James 5:8 - "You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."