Protected Like Noah, Refined Like Job

God's ways are different. We went through a devastating loss of a precious life in our family in recent days. But God showed me how He protected a family. This is the family of Noah. I would like to call this family a God-proofed one. Noah obeyed God, and God protected him and his family.

I learned one fascinating thing about Noah's family. Bible scholars calculate that it must have taken 75 to 120 years to build the ark that God instructed Noah to build. And till they finished it as a family, God didn't allow the flood. God was determined to keep them inside the ark, which was like a four-storeyed building, with the size of one and a half football fields. God shut their doors, and then came the floods.

God has different family stories in the Bible to teach different things. Job was also a righteous man, and he lost one thing after another till he sat on the floor with nothing. Was he different from Noah? God proved that sometimes He selects people like Job to challenge the enemy. He believes them so much that He allows them to go through loss also.

Job lost his house, camels, and most importantly his children. God was silent for a long time. We can see Job struggling mentally, physically, and emotionally to cope with the loss.

If this is not the test of fire, what is it?

But what Job says is, “After He has tested me, I will be like gold.”

“But He knows the way that I take;

when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

Hey friend, you know when the gold becomes pure. When it's refined, when it went through fire, the maker's reflection will be mirrored in it.

Sometimes God protects our families like Noah by waiting till we enter the ark, shutting it, and keeping us away from destruction. Sometimes God, like in the case of Job, will be silent, making us go through the test of fire. But be proud—you will be an example of God's strength at the end. The enemy will see you becoming more and more powerful with His backup.

If you are in Job's path, through the pain stand for God. It is indeed too painful to say, “God gave and God took away,” as Job said. But when God chooses you, He strengthens you to declare as Job declared. He knows our journey. Just like He never left Job, He will never leave us alone in the fire.

https://youtu.be/9zHDlobrdZ0?si=g4K1uTYK7SiT31Vz

Truth is, when God is silent, too much is happening in the other realm for you.

Dear God, thank you for the times You have protected our families like Noah's family. Also, we humble ourselves when You make us go through the test of fire. Hold our feeble hands, Lord. Comfort us in Your loving arms. Be a cloud over us and our families.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.