"Though He Slay Me"
Among the many examples of Jobs steadfastness is this: Behold, He will slay me; I have no hope; nevertheless I will maintain my ways before Him. This also is my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before Him. (Job 13:15 -16) The footnote reads: Though He slay me, yet will I wait for Him. When the going gets rough, we tend to seek a scapegoat— we must put the blame on someone other than ourselves. But why do those who have made such a show of trusting in God take it out on Him? This indicates the shallowness of our faith. Job did not have to enjoy good tines to realize the importance of godliness. Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. And his reasoning was excellent. A godless man shall not come before Him, i.e., there is no future in the opposite course.
Must we make a deal with God? IF you will bless and prosper me, I will toss you a few crumbs? When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were threatened with the fiery furnace should they refuse to worship a pagan god, they replied, We have no need to answer thee in this matter. (I.E., Our decision to serve Jehovah has long ago settled any opposite appeal.) If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. That is to say, whether God sees fit to save us or not, we will not doubt His power, nor cease to serve Him. Better to die faithful than to trade our souls for a few years.
Paul asked God to remove a thorn from his flesh (2 Cor. 12:7-9) but accepted, without wavering, the answer: My grace is sufficient for thee. And Peter got to the heart of matters when asked if he would go away; he replied, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.
The trying of your faith worketh patience — (Jas. 1:3-f), if there be genuine faith to try. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small (Prov. 24:10). Are they not shortsighted who forsake the kingdom because of tribulations? (Acts 14:22)