CHAPTER TEN: When a Family Member Is Sick

THE man Job must surely be counted among those who enjoyed a happy family life.  The Bible calls him "the greatest of all Orientals."  He had seven sons and three daughters, ten children in all.  He also had the means to provide well for his family.  Most important, he took the lead in spiritual activities and was concerned about his children's standing before Jehovah. All of this resulted inc lose and happy family ties. -Job 1:1-5. 

Job's situation did not escape the attention of Satan. Jehovah God's archenemy.  Satan, who is constantly looking for ways to break the integrity of God's servants, attacked Job by destroying his happy family.  Then, he "struck" Job with a malignant boil from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head."  Thus Satan hoped to used tragedy and sickness to break Job's integrity. -Job 2:6, 7.

The Bible does not give the medical designation of Job's affliction.  It does, though, tell us the symptoms. His flesh was covered with maggots, and his skin formed crusts and rotted away.  Job's breath was loathsome, and his body was foul smelling. He was racked with pain.  (Job 7:5; 19:17; 30:17, 30)  In agony Job sat among the ashes and scraped himself with a piece of broken earthenware.  (Job 2:8) Truly a pitiable sight! 

How would your react if you were afflicted with such a serious disease?  Today, Satan does not strike God's servants with sickness as he did with Job. Still, in view of human imperfection, the stresses of daily life, and the deteriorating environment we live in, it is only to be expected that from time to time, family members will get sick.  Despite the preventive measures that we might take, all of us are susceptible to illness, although a few will suffer to the extent  that Job did.  When sickness invades our household it can truly be a challenge. Let us therefore see how the Bible helps us to cope with this every-present enemy of mankind. -Ecclesiastes 9:11; 2 Timothy 3:16.

Next time: When a Family Member Is Sick/HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?

From the book: The Secret of FAMILY HAPPINESS