Who Gives and Who Takes Away?

Every day, someone has something taken away. Possessions, health, life. Since time began, people have assumed that whatever god they know is behind these losses. Here is one example in a description of ancient Mesopotamians’ beliefs:

The religion of the ancient Sumerians has left its mark on the entire middle east. . . . the gods controlled the powerful forces which often dictated a human's fate. . . . Although the gods preferred justice and mercy, they had also created evil and misfortune. A Sumerian had little that he could do about it. Judging from Lamentation records, the best one could do in times of duress would be to "plead, lament and wail, tearfully confessing his sins and failings." Their family god or city god might intervene on their behalf, but that would not necessarily happen. After all, man was created as a broken, labor saving, tool for the use of the gods and at the end of everyone's life, lay the underworld, a generally dreary place. (Wolkstein & Kramer 1983: pp.123-124)

The man Job lived in the time of the patriarchs (dates range from 2100-1000 BC), likely east of the river Jordan (the same broad region as the Sumerians, but perhaps several hundred miles west). He may have lived to be 180-200 years old (he lived 140 years after the events described in the book of Job). When he experienced a “taking away” of major proportions, he came to the same conclusion: God had done it:

"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." - Job

Job is a hero of faith. He did not have the written word of God to refer to, he didn’t have friends who understood God – he didn’t even have the benefit of a Godly soulmate to walk with him through his struggle.

Just as today we often give in to the natural human tendency to make God in our culture’s image, how much more would Job be influenced by the beliefs of surrounding cultures, without any written word of God to serve as compass? I think it is extraordinary that he held to his faith in God as he did, given what must have been his contextual understanding of what “gods” were thought to be like.

For example, Job did not have these words:

“If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing.”- Isaiah, quoting God

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” - Jesus

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”- Jesus

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." - James

Job did not have all these Scriptures. But we do. I believe many people assume that because Job's words about God giving and taking away are recorded in the Bible, they are a true expression of God's character. But the Bible contains many things people said which are not necessarily true, but are an accurate historical record of that person's experience and opinion, which God intended for us to learn from but not necessarily emulate. The next time something is taken away from you, will you believe that your loss is God's will, simply because it has happened?

“Blessed be the name of the Lord . . . Who gives and takes away . . .” - sung by millions of Christians in your church and mine, AD 2006

I know, it’s a great song and deserves to be sung often – all but those two words. My nine-year-old told me he made up his own version: “He GIVES and MAKES A WAY . . .”

Job did not know any better than to think that God is the one who gives and takes away. But we should.

This has everything to do with receiving healing – or any of God’s promises. If you believe God is the Taker, you will receive illness as a “hidden blessing” from God. I have seen many Christians do this, and like Job, I believe they too are heroic, showing enormous character in the face of suffering. They show extraordinary faith to love a God who would hurt them so. I respect their courage.

But I disagree with the premise on which this belief is founded. I do not believe the Bible presents God as a Taker, but as a Giver.

If, on the other hand, you believe that the Taker is a thief – the thief who comes to kill, steal, and destroy, if you believe that satan is a roaring lion who devours whomever he can get his claws on, then you will respond very differently to any crisis.