I Will Come Forth As Gold (Job 23:10)

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NIV

Sometimes my husband and I wait weeks to see our first Baltimore Oriole in the spring. Each morning, I refresh the bird feeder’s grape jelly so it is clean and inviting for their arrival. “They’ve come before, and I know they’ll come again,” I tell myself. “I can wait. They’re worth the wait.”

Waiting for Orioles

Strikingly beautiful in color, Baltimore Orioles receive their name from the Latin word aureolus which means golden. The adult male feathers are golden-orange and black. The plumage of females and immature males tends to be lighter yellow with gray or brown accents. Orioles start appearing in Iowa by the end of April or early in May, and they usually leave in July for their winter habitats in Florida, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

Drawing orioles to the bird feeder each spring is a seasonal highlight, but our success depends greatly on timing and being prepared. Devoted birdwatchers advise placing a feeder outside at least a week in advance of the birds’ anticipated arrival date and keeping it freshly filled with things they love: grape jelly, mealworms, and orange halves.

When they arrive, the orioles are weary and hungry from migrating, so they quickly seek out convenient nourishment. Then, the females build intricate, teardrop shaped nests in the trees nearby. Once the nests are built, and especially after the babies are born, the oriole parents will not stray far away. Thus, the importance of making sure the feeder stays ready for their arrival!

The Rewards

Thankfully, our sweet offerings captured the attention of the orioles again this year. Watching them feast and sometimes argue over whose turn it is at the jelly cup is an entertaining reward. They chatter, whistle a tune, and sail past us. Just a glimpse of their dazzling gold feathers flying through the backyard trees helps dismiss any winter weariness remaining and reminds us brighter days are on the way.

Seeing the Baltimore Orioles’ golden hues this spring prompted me to do some research on a verse from the book of Job. It’s a short verse, easy to remember, and also very wise. Even when faced with incredible hardship and suffering, Job continued trusting in God’s sovereignty and goodness. His life has taught me some valuable lessons regarding the true meaning of faith. Here’s the verse again and what I’ve been learning:

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NIV

I. But he knows the way that I take;

Who is Job?

Job was a successful farmer who was incredibly devoted to serving God. Thousands of sheep, camels, and other livestock were raised on his land. He had a large family (ten children), as well as many servants and herdsmen. His wealth allowed him to own a home filled with many possessions.

One day Satan claimed Job only trusted God because everything went so well for him. God told Satan that Job was “blameless and upright,” a person of moral and spiritual integrity. Still, God tested Job’s faith by allowing Satan to strike him with a series of attacks and intense suffering.

God knows everything about us

Every day our lives take us into unknown territory. We are surprised by our trials and uncertain about our way, but God is not. He knows who we are, what we do, why we do it, and where we are at all times.

Because he is sovereign, God knew everything about Job. He already knew what the outcome of Job’s testing would be; he did not need proof. By allowing Satan’s plans, however, God would demonstrate his sovereignty and Job’s faith to: Job himself, Satan, and others (including us). Through his trials, Job would explore the depths of his faith, exercise its power, strengthen it, and model it in a powerful way.

He loves us and stays with us

Our suffering does not mean God is absent or against us. Even if we feel like we cannot find God, he does not lose sight of us. Surely Job was afflicted, yet his story reveals God remained with and for him. The same is true in our stories.

God understands, loves, and accepts us as we are. He intentionally creates us with strengths and weaknesses, hopes and fears, beliefs and doubts. There is a purpose for all these things in his plan for us. God knows the way we take–the choices we make, the trials we face, the suffering we endure–and he stays with us wherever we go, now and forevermore.

For Reference Consider:
Job 1:7-9
Psalm 139:1-18
Deuteronomy 31:8
Psalm 138:8
Isaiah 46:4
Psalm 121:8

II. when he has tested me…

Job was tested

When God tested Job, he allowed Satan to take almost everything–his livestock, workers, family, home, and health. Then, Job’s friends blamed him, saying sin must be the cause of his suffering, and his wife basically told him to give up on himself and God. Job examined his heart for sin, but identified none to confess. He wasn’t sinless, none of us are, but he felt no doubts or guilt to ask forgiveness for. Grieving and confused, Job repeatedly asked God, “Why?” Through no obvious fault of his own, he was experiencing agony, and he desperately wanted to understand it.

Like Job, we also ask, “Why?”

We can easily sympathize with Job, can’t we? Awful, painful things happen, and we want answers. Even life’s minor inconveniences and annoying problems often make us shake our heads and ask, “Why?!”

In his response to Job, God asks a series of humbling, unexplainable questions about the wonders of creation. These questions lead Job to realize he does not need all the answers because he completely trusts the One who has them. Enduring suffering without an explanation required Job to have bold, unshakeable faith–a confidence that God works for the good of those who love him, and ultimately, he will fulfill his purpose for them.

We won’t always get answers

Like Job, we are not immune from testing through trials. Bad things happen to everyone on this earth, whether they believe in God or not. Suffering is sometimes a penalty for sin, but not always. Because we live in a fallen world, our lives will be affected by evil and the consequences of sin present here.

Naturally, we want to understand our suffering and minimize it, so we ask questions. We may not receive the direct answers we are looking for. Perhaps, like Job’s story, God is working from a vantage point we cannot yet understand. But, what would faith be if we had all the answers? Faith is fueled by trust.

Trusting God is a choice he gives us

Job shows us we have a choice in how we relate to God through our struggles. We can let painful circumstances harden our hearts and turn away from him. Or, we can soften our hearts and keep stepping closer to him. Because he seeks a relationship with us, God will always welcome our presence, questions, and contemplation. Trials, although unwanted and difficult, do push us to take a closer look at our faith and how much we trust God with our lives.

When God tests us, we are given a raw, honest look at our foundation of faith. Through trials, if we persevere in trusting him, God will demonstrate the meaning of genuine faith to us. He teaches us to confidently rely on him when life makes sense and when it doesn’t.

For Reference Consider:
Job 2:10
Job 42:1-6
Hebrews 4:16
Isaiah 55:8-9
Hebrews 3:15
Romans 8:28
Hebrews 11:1
Hosea 6:3

III. I will come forth as gold.

Job is restored

At the end of Job’s story, God restores him with wealth, happiness, and a long, healthy, full life. Does this mean if we remain faithful in trials, God will return similar blessings in our lifetimes here? Maybe, maybe not. God rewards those who trust him through trials, but we don’t know when those rewards will come. Restoration might come in this life or later in eternity, but it will eventually happen, and it will be amazing.

A confidence in God’s abilities

“I will come forth as gold,” Job fearlessly declares. This is not a statement of confidence in his own abilities to overcome trials, but his trust in God’s abilities. No matter what comes, God is all he needs. With God as his foundation, Job knows he is loved for who he is and forgiven for any sin. When trials come along the way, he trusts God will bring him through and better his character in the process.

Trust Him to Refine Your Faith and Character

Did you know heat is the oldest method of refining gold or making it pure? Gold scraps are put into a container called a crucible which withstands intensely high temperatures. The crucible is placed in a furnace where fire melts the gold scraps. Extreme heat forces any impurities in the gold to separate and float to the surface for removal.

In a similar way, our trials place us in a furnace of affliction, and God uses the heat we endure there to purify or sanctify us–to make us more holy. Our character can be transformed and strengthened if we continue to rely on him. Always under his care and watchful eye, God’s purpose is not to harm us, but to gradually reveal and polish our Christlike attributes, so we are ready for the unimaginable rewards of eternal life.

In the book of Romans, Paul reminds us nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Whatever battles we face on this broken planet, God has already planned for and won them through Jesus’ sacrifice made willingly upon the cross. Whoever chooses to trust in God’s plans now and believes in the eternal life he offers will be blessed by their faith.

Continuing to trust God while suffering is truly difficult, but our faith assures us of his promises to care for us and carry us through every trial. Like gold that is being refined, God carefully shapes our character, gradually transforming us to reflect the flawless image of his Son.

For Reference Consider:
Job 42:10-17
1 Peter 1:6-7
James 1:2-4
Isaiah 48:10
Jeremiah 29:11
Romans 8:18
Romans 8:31-39
John 3:16

IV. Something Worth Waiting For…

I Will Come Forth as Gold

One day, perhaps when we receive our eternal rewards, we will get a broader perspective on what our current suffering means. In the meantime, Bible stories like Job’s can help us renew our commitment to trust God during trials. We can’t see what’s ahead for us, but we can rely on the One who oversees everything.

God will use the Bible to guide and encourage us, along with other resources including: the Holy Spirit, prayer, nature, experiences, spiritual gifts, and other people. And, God will keep our faith alive and growing by requiring us to use it.

When faith’s power is activated in our struggles, it can help us see things about God we might have missed before. Continuing to persevere in faith leads us to increasingly treasure the rewards of his love–rewards found now and those waiting in eternity.

The world we live in contains suffering, but as believers in Christ, this won’t always be so. God’s faithful followers are promised an everlasting life, a world without death, sorrow, crying, and pain (Revelation 21:4 NLT). That is surely something worth waiting for.

Our faith endures seasons of winter because we trust in God’s timely promise of spring. Stay ready…press on in faith my friends! ~Jamie

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT

Related Posts

Even Now, God is Faithful–a poem
Where is God when Life Hurts?
A Race of Faith: soaring toward what God has in store
Considering Joy in the Setbacks
Riding On God’s Back
Trusting God along the Eagle Trail: Isaiah 40:31
Battles, Trust, and Holding Up

Inspiring Resources

The Priceless Gift in Every Trial–desiringgod.org
How could Job say, “Though He slay me, I will trust in Him”–gotquestions.org
God will Reward–insight.org
God Chose This Trial for Me–desiringgod.org
What does it mean that Job was blameless and upright?–gotquestions.org
Believer Tested by Trials–spurgeon.org
Was it unfair for God to allow Job to suffer over what was basically an argument between God and Satan?–gotquestions.org

10 Fun Facts About the Baltimore Oriole–audubon.org
Orioles Making Their Way Into Eastern Iowa–thegazette.com
12 Tips on How to Attract Orioles to Your Yard–worldbirds.com

Stay in Touch

I’d love to have you join my group of email subscribers. Join now and receive my list of 20 Scriptures to Tuck Away for Difficult Days.

If you enjoyed this post, someone else might too! Please share: