Your Sons and Daughters

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”  Job 1:18-19
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Your Sons and Daughters
Parents understand the stress and grief of raising children.  The constant worry and consternation about their safety and wellbeing.  And for Job he received the news no parent ever wants to hear; your children are dead.  This was the fourth disaster in a row to strike Job, and it signified the totality of loss he suffered.  At this point Job is broken, overcome with the tragedy of the day’s events. As is so often the case, when we are sustained in God’s rich blessings for long periods of time, we often lose sight of the fact that these blessings do in fact come from God. We allow ourselves to be convinced that we are the source of these blessings. Job is reminded of this fact on this day.  His wealth and family were all gifts from God, as are all our blessing we possess, whatever they might be.  It is important to not look inward for the source of all our good, but to look outward, to the cross and the empty grave, which serve to remind us that we are in fact blessed every day, no matter what happens.  We look to the Father in faith and know we are blessed to be called His sons and daughters through holy Baptism.  We look to His giving of His own Son into death, so we might live, and understand the depth He went to so we could have a relationship with Him.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride. (LSB 425)