Dramatic Irony

This blog was inspired this morning during a conversation with a dear friend which brought encouragement to my spirit at a most difficult time. We must link arms in this life as we shoulder one another's burdens...

Long, long ago in a faraway land called the Land of Uz, lived a man who was the greatest man among all the people of the East.  This great man had seven sons and three daughters.  He also owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. (Job 1:1-3)

This great man’s name was Job.

One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 

The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:6-8)

As we are introduced to Job in the first chapter of Job, dramatic irony is underway.  Dramatic irony is when the reader, or audience, knows something that the character does not yet know.  God allows us in on a conversation between Himself and Satan after we have just witnessed the blessings bestowed upon the blameless and upright Job.  We find out before Job that his world is about to crumble.

As we continue to read deeper into the plot of Job we are met with chapter upon chapter, almost 40 in total, of the painful trials and tests God permits to fall upon his servant.  Although God’s eye is ever watchful and His ear is ever attuned to Job’s words during the most unbearable of circumstances, Job begins to doubt God’s goodness.

In the middle of the testing of our own faith, God does not pull us aside and whisper, “Don’t fret, Child, this is only a test.  Everything will turn out in your favor; stay strong and be a good witness for Me.”

Job experiences bitterness of soul as he attempts to verbally process all that is happening in his world. (Job 27:2)

Because we, the reader, have been clued in since the first chapter of Job, it’s difficult to follow Job on his tumultuous journey without wanting to shout, “Hang in there, Job; this is a test for your own good!  Stay the course and keep the faith, buddy, God has not forgotten you!”   

Fast forward a couple thousand years--Satan continues to roam through the earth going back and forth in it.  He knows the name of each little town, our little towns.  The irony is that we know that Satan will never be victorious.  We know how his dramatic story ends.

We, as believers, must come together in the war which is raging against our souls.

May I encourage your hearts today regardless the trials and tests you are facing in your own worlds.  We have the gift of the Spirit dwelling in our earthly tents, our bodies.  Do not push God away during this precious time of testing but rather press into Him with all of your strength.

Regardless your circumstances; He is bigger and He is enough.

Listen closely: the bandstands of heaven are cheering you on.  Can you hear the Cloud of Witnesses shouting, “Stay strong, servant of the King! You are righteous! You are holy! Fear not, for we know how your story ends—Glory to the King!”

Stay the Course...

Sheila Cote'