A.W. Pink

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me I shall come forth as gold (Job 23:10).

2. Divine testing: “When he hath tried me.” “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts” (Pro 17:3). This was God’s way with Israel of old, and it is His way with Christians now. Just before Israel entered Canaan, as Moses reviewed their history since leaving Egypt, he said, “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no” (Deu 8:2). In the same way, God tries, tests, proves, humbles us.

“When he hath tried me.” If we realized this more, we should bear up better in the hour of affliction and be more patient under suffering. The daily irritations of life, the things that annoy so much—what is their meaning? Why are they permitted? Here is the answer: God is “trying” you! That is the explanation (in part, at least) of that disappointment, that crushing of your earthly hopes, that great loss—God was, is, testing you. God is trying your temper, your courage, your faith, your patience, your love, your fidelity.¹¹

“When he hath tried me.” How frequently God’s saints see only Satan as the cause of their troubles. They regard the great enemy as responsible for much of their sufferings. But there is no comfort for the heart in this. We do not deny that the devil does bring about much that harasses us. But above Satan is the Lord Almighty! The devil cannot touch a hair of our heads without God’s permission; and when he is allowed to disturb and distract us, even then it is only God using him to “try” us. Let us learn then, to look beyond all secondary causes and instruments to that One Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11). This is what Job did.

In the opening chapter of the book that bears [Job’s] name, we find Satan obtaining permission to afflict God’s servant. He used the Sabeans to destroy Job’s herds (Job 1:15); he sent the Chaldeans to slay his servants (1:17); he caused a great wind to kill his children (1:19). And what was Job’s response? This: he exclaimed, “The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (1:21). Job looked beyond the human agents, beyond Satan who employed them, to the Lord Who controlleth all. He realized that it was the Lord trying him. We get the same thing in the New Testament. To the suffering saints at Smyrna John wrote, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer; behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried” (Rev 2:10). Their being cast into prison was simply God “trying” them.

How much we lose by forgetting this! What a stay for the trouble-tossed heart to know that no matter what form the testing may take, no matter what the agent that annoys, it is God Who is “trying” His children. What a perfect example the Savior sets us! When He was approached in the garden, and Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, the Savior said, “The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” (Joh 18:11). Men were about to vent their awful rage upon Him, the serpent would bruise His heel, but He looks above and beyond them. Dear reader, no matter how bitter its contents (infinitely less than that which the Savior drained), let us accept the cup as from the Father’s hand.

In some moods, we are apt to question the wisdom and right of God to try us. So often we murmur at His dispensations.¹² Why should God lay such an intolerable burden upon me? Why should others be spared their loved ones, and mine taken? Why should health and strength, perhaps the gift of sight, be denied me? The first answer to all such questions is, “O man, who art thou that repliest against God?” (Rom 9:20)! It is wicked insubordination for any creature to call into question the dealings of the great Creator. “Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” (Rom 9:20). How earnestly each of us needs to cry unto God that His grace may silence our rebellious lips and still the tempest within our desperately wicked hearts!

Again, in 1 Peter 4:12-13, we are told, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings: that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” The same thoughts are expressed here as in the previous passage. There is a needs-be¹³ for our “trials,” and therefore we are to think them not strange—we should expect them. And, too, there is again the blessed outlook of being richly recompensed at Christ’s return. Then, there is the added word that not only should we meet these trials with faith’s fortitude, but we should rejoice in them also, inasmuch as we are permitted to have fellowship in “the sufferings of Christ” (2Co 1:5). He, too, suffered: sufficient then, “for the disciple [to] be as his master” (Mat 10:24-25).

“When he hath tried me.” Dear Christian reader, there are no exceptions. God had only one Son without sin, but never one without sorrow. Sooner or later, in one form or another, trial—sore and heavy—will be our lot. “And sent Timotheus, our brother…to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto” (1Th 3:2-3). Again, it is written, “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Act 14:22). It has been so in every age. Abram was “tried,” tried severely. So, too, were Joseph, Jacob, Moses, David, Daniel, the Apostles, etc.

3. The ultimate issue: “I shall come forth as gold.” Observe the tense here. Job did not imagine that he was pure gold already. “I shall come forth as gold,” he declared. He knew full well that there was yet much dross¹⁴ in him. He did not boast that he was already perfect. Far from it. In the final chapter of his book, we find him saying, “I abhor myself”(42:6). And well he might; and well may we. As we discover that in our flesh there dwelleth “no good thing,” as we examine ourselves and our ways in the light of God’s Word and behold our innumerable failures, as we think of our countless sins, both of omission and commission—good reason have we for abhorring ourselves. Ah, Christian reader, there is much dross about us. But it will not ever be thus.

“I shall come forth as gold.” Job did not say, “When he hath tried me I may come forth as gold,” or “I hope to come forth as gold,” but with full confidence and positive assurance he declared, “I shall come forth as gold.” But how did he know this? How can we be sure of the happy issue? Because the divine purpose cannot fail. He that hath begun a good work in us “will finish it” (Phi 1:6). How can we be sure of the happy issue? Because the divine promise is sure: “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me” (Psa 138:8). Then, be of good cheer, tried and troubled one! The process may be unpleasant and painful, but the issue is charming and sure.

“I shall come forth as gold.” This was said by one who knew affliction and sorrow as few among the sons of men have known them. Yet despite his fiery trials, he was optimistic. Let, then, this triumphant language be ours. “I shall come forth as gold” is not the language of carnal boasting, but the confidence of one whose mind was stayed upon God. There will be no credit to our account—the glory will all belong to the divine Refiner (Jam 1:12).

For the present, there remain two things: first, love is the divine thermometer while we are in the crucible of testing—“And he shall sit [the patience of divine grace] as a refiner and purifier of silver…” (Mal 3:3). Second, the Lord Himself is with us in the fiery furnace, as He was with the three young Hebrews (Dan 3:25). For the future this is sure: the most wonderful thing in heaven will not be the golden street or the golden harps, but golden souls on which is stamped the image of God—predestinated “to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom 8:29)! Praise God for such a glorious prospect, such a victorious issue, such a marvelous goal!

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11. fidelity – faithfulness.
12. dispensations – divine acts and dealings.
13. needs-be – a necessary cause; the cause behind a resulting effect.
14. dross – a scum formed from impurities on the surface of molten metal; thus, something worthless.

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A.W. Pink (1886-1952): Pastor, itinerate Bible teacher, author of Studies in the Scriptures and many books; born in Nottingham, England, immigrated to the U.S., and later returned to his homeland in 1934.

Published with permission by Chapel Library