#soap # Job 30 ## Title: God Protects Even In Pain ## Scripture: (Job 30:11) “Because God has untied my tent cord and afflicted me, people throw off all restraint in my presence.” (NET) ## Observation: I heard a story once of a young man who joined a group of merchants. This group of guys were ruthless and imposed hard discipline on each other. Because of the young man’s youth, he unwittingly violated one of their most cardinal rules. The punishment: 20 lashes across the back. As the offended merchant was about to inflict the punishment, the young man’s father (who was also part of the group) said he would inflict the punishment. The young man thought this was good news. Surely his father would barely even touch him with the lash. However, as the punishment began, the young man’s father was relentless. He hit the young man again and again, leaving large welts on his back. After it was over, the young man could barely move. He felt betrayed by his father. Later, he questioned his father. How could he have been so harsh? A father is supposed to protect the son. The father explained that he protected him more than he realized. The one who was supposed to whip him had been known to kill people or injure them for life. The young man had not realized that. By holding the whip himself, the father had actually saved the young man’s life. Every lash was saving him from something worse. Many times we go through hard things and wonder why God doesn’t stop it. We have no idea what God is saving us from and saving us to. We have to trust that our Heavenly Father knows things we don’t and is doing more than we realize. ## Application: Even in the pain, trust that your Heavenly Father is doing more than you can see. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for being trustworthy.