Job 42:10

New International Version

After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.

For Meditation

What would have happened if Job had refused to pray for his three friends when God directed them to him?

They had called him everything from self-righteous to a proud and unforgiving sinner. Those men came to comfort Job (Job 2:11-13), but they finally turned on him with some harsh criticisms and condemnation. Job called them miserable comforters (16:1). And why not?

Their words cut through his wounded soul like sharp knives. Job craved their warm embrace and empathy, but they threw at him some cold jabs that stung like bees. The three men took turns to speak, and they made sure they said much. Some of what they said seemed to make sense and true. But did they fit Job? It is possible to make up some general statements that are true, but may not fit the person you apply them to.

So, when God finally spoke, He told the friends He was angry with them because they had not spoken right about Him as Job had (42:7). He ordered them to go to Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for themselves, so Job will show them mercy and pray for them (8).

You can imagine when the three friends stood before Job, with cupped hands, pleading for him to intercede for them. How does he respond? How would you have responded?

True to his character, Job forgave and prayed for them.

“After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before” (10).

When God commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44), He has our interest at heart. He knows the blessings He has for us, among which could be the restoration of some fortunes you have lost. This part of the narrative shows how much grace we miss when we refuse to forgive, when those who offend us repent and ask for our prayers. Even when they continue to offend us and never repent, the Lord asks us to forgive and pray for them just as our heavenly Father forgives us when we sin against Him.

You may have suffered from your spouse, friend, colleague, or neighbor. They have hurt and wounded you so severely that you have vowed never to forgive, though they have made every appeal to you for compassion. May this part of Job’s story encourage you to forgive and pray for them. Your blessing may hang on it. The incredible thing is that God will give you the grace to do just that if you ask Him for strength (2 Corinthians 12:9). He will heal you and restore you into His favor.

Who can afford to miss His grace? (Hebrews 12:15).