Bruised in Order to Bruise

"Each of Job's friends presses home to his conscience that God is the One Who has done this to him: 4:9, 5:17, 8;4,13; 11:6,10. No one doubts that God is behind Job's calamity--least of all Job. Even the beasts of the field understand that much: 12:7-10." (Layton Talbert) This (12:7-10) is probably less a proof text for creationism, though it certainly affirms that God is the creator, than it is an acknowledgment that God governed the bringing of this staggering suffering on Job. God bruised Job. And God bruises us too. When the question is asked why do Christians suffer? numerous good answers can be given. Here is the proposition of this sermon: God is sovereign over the bruising of His people's heals, in order that his people ultimately bruise the serpent's head. Remember the Christmas carol, "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing"? Come, desire of nations come! Fix in us Thy humble home; Rise, the women's conquering seed, Bruise in us the serpent's head.... That is what is taking place in Job. And that it what takes place in different degrees to most, if not all, God's children's lives. We are bruised in order to bruise.