Loving the Word with the MudPreacher

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” Job 2:9 (ESV)

Satan knew just who to leave behind to comfort Job. His nagging wife. Obviously shamed by her husband’s appearance and the loss of all that she held dear, she begged Job to let go of his integrity and curse God. She hoped he would then die at the hands of God and she could play the part of the mourning widow. Her honor would be restored and she could remarry, perhaps collect on the insurance policy. As it was now, she shared in her husband’s shame. She was scorned by her friends and neighbors.

She obviously did not know her husband as well as God did. Job’s integrity (innocence, character) was so integral with his life that he could not let go, he could not be separated from it. This is witnessed in his response to the catastrophic loss of his possessions and his children. We would have been on the phone with 911, our insurance agent, our Pastor, and anyone else we depended upon. Job simply tore his robe, shaved his head and fell to the ground, worshiping God.

God knew Job. God knew that early on in his life Job had made a decision to place his life, his family, his possessions in the hands of the God he called “El Shaddai”. El Shaddai is used more than 30 times in the book of Job. It means the God who is Almighty. God knew Job because Job trusted Him with everything he owned, including his family, and his reputation, even his future. And whenever we give something to God, He takes it seriously. Job considered his life, his family, his possessions INTEGRAL with the power of Almighty God. This led him to offer sacrifices for his children lest their partying led them to forget God.

Job and everything he had was integral with the power of God. Integral is defined as “essential or necessary for completeness”. God called Job “blameless” (‏תָּם‎ tām)in the Hebrew. His wife told him to let go of his integrity (‏תֹּם tōm). Both Hebrew words are from the word ‏תָּמַם‎ (tāmam) which carries the visual image of being ‘whole, complete’. God’s Word is called ‘(‏תָּמִים‎ tāmîm) perfect, complete, whole, converting the soul. David is described as shepherding according to the ‘tōm’ (integrity) of his heart.

David was a man after God’s own heart. David’s life and character were integral with the Word of God! One only has to read Psalm 119 to know this. Job had no Word of God, no Pentateuch. Yet within his heart he knew God as “El Shaddai”. Even as he sat amidst the garbage and scraped his sores he proclaimed “I know my Redeemer Lives” (19:25). Job’s integrity and blameless character that even God had remarked upon was based entirely upon the Power of El Shaddai, Almighty God. Job could never, never let go of his integrity. His integrity was integral with the character and Power of God.

God chose Abraham and told him that he would be the father of a great multitude of people. For years Abraham waited, but his wife bore him no children. When Abraham was 99 God appeared and revealed himself as “El Shaddai”; “walk before me, and be blameless (תָּמִים‎ tāmîm). The idea of Job’s as well as Abraham’s integrity and blameless character are seen in this word translated ‘complete’. It too shares meaning with ‘tām’ and ‘tōm’. Abram, in order to become Abraham, had to place every possession, every promise of God, every dream of his heart into the hands of “El Shaddai”. Only when he could trust Jehovah as El Shaddai could God consider him ‘blameless’ and able to start this great Jewish nation.

God has always been “El Shaddai” He is Almighty, All Powerful. Yet He only becomes that to us when we trust Him with our possessions, our family, and our lives. We must be INTEGRAL with Him. When we do we become complete, whole, blameless (תָּמַם‎ tāmam). God then becomes complete with us as well. Without our dependence and trust He is simply El. When He is the Shaddai we depend upon, El becomes Jehovah, our LORD.

Is your life integrally intertwined with El Shaddai? Is this Almighty God your LORD, the ONE who makes your life whole, complete. He will be satisfied with nothing less than all of you, all of your possessions, everything in your life. Our God’s name is ‘jealous’. He will allow no other god’s before Him. Have you made the decision of Abraham, David and Job? Have you bowed before Almighty God and given Him ownership of everything and every person in your life? Is your life INTEGRAL with His?

Prayer: Lord, enable me to trust You with my life and everything I have or ever want to have. Give me grace to trust You as my “El Shaddai”. May my life be INTEGRAL with Yours!