Have you ever said, “Like Job, God sent misfortunes into my life to educate and shape me”? Most people who go through great or small trials take refuge in Job. They hide with Job in his misfortunes or with Jonah in the great fish.

But let’s ask the question: In Job’s life, who killed his sons and daughters, and his servants? Was it God? No.

When lightning struck and burned the livestock and other servants—was it really “the fire of God,” as the messenger said? No. This is the image people have of God—a God who sends fire upon men. That was what the messenger believed, and unfortunately, what the devil tries to make the Church believe. Is it not written that he disguises himself as an angel of light?

When Job was attacked from all sides, God was not the author of his misfortune. It is important to clarify that Job had no covenant with God. He was an Arab, a devout religious man seeking God. He lived with integrity and fear of God but had no covenant with Him. We, however, have a covenant with God—one of love that includes protection. Because of the fall, the devil had legal authority to touch Job’s life. It was the same devil who later offered Jesus the kingdoms of the earth.

Job said: “What I fear has come upon me; what I dread has happened to me.“ (Job 3:25)

Although Job was upright, he had no covenant with God that could protect him. Moreover, he lived in fear. Satan had a right to touch him. But despite these circumstances, God demonstrated His love. He is the great victor, and He gave Job twice as much as he had before.

In Exodus 15, it is written: “It was there that the Lord gave the people laws and regulations, and there He tested them. He said: If you carefully listen to the voice of the Lord, your God…” The real test was obedience to God’s Word.

In Deuteronomy 8, it is written: “He let you hunger and then fed you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.“ (Deut. 8:3)

The true test is the test of our faith in God’s Word. Will we believe what God says?

One day, I spoke in a church on the topic of trials and quickly realized it was highly controversial. Many believe that God crushes us with life’s hardships to teach us lessons.

However, God teaches us through His Word and His Spirit. In trials and difficult circumstances, God speaks to us through His Word and His Spirit—not through the circumstances themselves. Our faith must not be based on circumstances but on His Word alone. Otherwise, we will always be confused.

God let the people experience hunger, and God fed them. Here, we see a “passive” action—God allowing hunger. And an “active” action—God feeding them. In our lives, we cannot always explain everything, but one thing is certain: no matter the source of our trial, our response should be faith in God. We should never accuse Him just because we don’t have answers to painful questions. We know that temptation comes from the evil one, but testing comes from God.

Let’s read this very interesting passage (Deuteronomy 8):

“Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors.“ (Deut. 8:1)

First, we discover God’s will for us: obedience to His commands, with the purpose of living, multiplying, and taking possession. If God asks us to obey, it is primarily to bless us.

“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.“ (Deut. 8:2-6)

Trials do not last forever. In fact, we know that Israel should never have spent 40 years in the wilderness. Their journey could have lasted only a few weeks. It is within the trial that our heart reveals itself—either in dark splendor or bright splendor.

“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.“ (Deut. 8:3)

Trials and humbling experiences often teach us hard and long lessons. Some struggle with self-control, much like someone repeatedly plunged into water, barely able to breathe before being submerged again. They lose control easily, swinging between moments of calm and sudden anger, unaware of how difficult they are to live with.

Some struggling financially might say, “God is testing me through poverty.” That is their image of God. Yet, the Psalmist said: “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread.“ (Ps. 37:25) God’s will is not lack but abundance. Paul even says:

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.“ (1 Tim. 6:17)

The Israelites’ test was not lack but manna. Let’s summarize: they passed through a desert filled with scorpions and venomous snakes. A desert without water or food. What did God do? He kept the scorpions and snakes away as long as they walked in obedience. He brought water from a rock and gave them manna. God was good at all times, and it was their bad attitude that led them into all kinds of curses.

“Your clothes did not wear out, and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.“ (Deut. 8:4)

Many churches teach that God sends sickness as a means of education. However, we do not see this in Scripture. It is, in fact, a teaching completely opposed to God and an insult to His character.

God did not send sickness, enemies, dangers, lack, or poverty upon Israel. But the Israelites had a distorted image of God, influenced by Egypt’s idols—hence, the golden calf they worshiped. They reduced the God who parted the Red Sea to a lifeless beast!

This same people also doubted God’s love, and even at the border of the Promised Land, they accused Him. Because of their unbelief, they perished in the wilderness. Their disease was far worse than any physical ailment—it was disbelief in God’s love and power.

“The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil, and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing.“ (Deut. 8:7)

God will do it. Believe it. He has nothing to prove or change. His will is clear—He desires our happiness and prosperity. But for that, we must fear Him and obey Him. God will never abandon us, for His goodness is too great.

Let’s not make God resemble men. Let’s not think He is like wicked, cruel humans. Let’s not give Him the image of religion, reducing Him to a lifeless, heartless statue.

Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted. Some believe God led Him there to make Him fall, but in reality, God sent Him to the place of His victory. In the wilderness, Jesus crucified His flesh.

The devil tried everything for 40 days but failed completely. And one day, “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.“ (Rom. 16:20) Until then, let us resist him with firm faith, knowing that God is good, with us, and for us at all times.

Job learned nothing from his illness and suffering. It is only at the end of the book of Job that God speaks to him and teaches him, and that is when he learns what he did not know—when he is truly educated. But before God taught him through His word, Job was in total confusion, encouraged by his misguided advisors.

Difficult circumstances do not teach us anything. However, they do have the power to push us to open our eyes (but that does not mean we will! How many people, in the midst of countless problems, do not come to the Lord to be saved?). It is when God speaks to us that we truly learn…

This text is an excerpt from the book “Unjust Love“ written by Jérémy Sourdril.

We invite you to read the following article: “Have You Been Accused?“

WHAT IS YOUR IMAGE OF GOD? WHAT IS YOUR IMAGE OF GOD? WHAT IS YOUR IMAGE OF GOD?