The book of Job is known for its suffering and pain. It is the human example of all hell breaking loose in someone’s life. When one is struggling, Job is the book to read for perspective, hope and the reminder that God is always in control, even when we do not like what is happening to us. God is in control.

I want to focus on what Job did as a parent, before the suffering arrived in his life, and see what we can learn from him. As we read in Job 1, he was a very wealthy, blessed man. “In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. ² He had seven sons and three daughters, ³ and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.”

Job had ten kids and seemed like a very busy man. Yet, we are told his approach to parenting starting in Job 1:4. “His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.”

Job had a “regular custom” or habit of praying for his children and working to ensure they walked blameless before the Lord. He would sacrifice a burnt offering for each one of them just in case they sinned. It is also important to note when he prayed for his children to be purified before the Lord, “early in the morning”. Battling for children in prayer and through sacrifice is not to be taken lightly or to be done when there is a free moment. These acts of love must be a habit, a regular custom and they must be done first; they must be a daily priority in our lives.

Let’s pray.

Father in heaven, please help us to make praying for all children a daily priority. Help us to be blameless and upright as Job was to provide a Godly example to the children who see us. Strengthen and protect all children so they may walk blameless before You. It is in Jesus’ name we pray, amen.