[Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The blessing of the ‘latter’

Read: Job 42:1-16

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Meditation verse:

“Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys” (Job 42:12).

The word “latter” means occurring or situated nearer to the end of something than to the beginning. There are several scriptures that highlight the blessings of the “latter”. Job 8:7 says, “Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly”. Haggai 2:9 states, “The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former; says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place, I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 says “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. Do not say, “why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this’. Deuteronomy 8:16 says “who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end”.  Ezekiel 38:8 says “After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely”. Zechariah 4:10 says “For who has despised the day of small things?”.

What can be inferred from these scriptures? Firstly, a small or bad start does not transmit to a small or bad end. The fact that the beginning of the year has been very difficult does not necessarily mean the year will end on a difficult note. Also, that your life has been challenging this far does not mean that you will live in sorrow for the rest of your life. God’s ability to restore that which has been wasted, broken, ruined, lost, damaged or even dead is beyond human comprehension. Psalm 126:1 says, “When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream”. Job suffered so much loss, but God blessed his latter days more than his beginning. He died old and full of days. 

Your present loss is nothing compared to that of Job, so be rest assured that your season of joy and restoration is coming. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven”. That suffering, pain and defeat will not go on forever. There is a ‘latter rain’ blessing coming your way. The latter part of the year will be better than the beginning. The latter part of your life will be better than the former. What do you do in that situation? In all his suffering Job did not curse God. Keep your faith and trust in God. He is never late. The end of a matter is better than its beginning. Scriptures cannot be broken.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

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