job // [final]: restoration
Although Job went though it, there’s rejoicing in the end! In the end of Job’s story, God restores everything to Job + some.
“The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters.”
In the Bible, it’s not very common that you see daughters named in genealogy and not sons. I found this commentary by Ray Stedman, and I LOVE the way it describes Job’s restoration.
Job’s first daughter was named Jemimah. Jemimah means “dove.” Then and today, a dove is usually seen as a symbol of peace.
Keziah means “incense or fragrance.” It is another spelling of cassia and can be linked to the fragrances like those the three wise men brought to Jesus when he was born.
Keren-happuch means “the horn of adornment.” It is a reference to the outer beauty that comes from inward character.
“Daughters who represent peace, fragrance, and beauty are the fruits of Job’s trials. Suffering produces fruit for all those who persevere as the evidence of God’s love.”
This isn’t just Job’s story! This is our story as well!
Our sufferings will produce perseverance.
Our perseverance will produce character.
Our character will produce hope.
& our hope will not put us to shame
because God’s love has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:3-4).
I love this simple prayer that Ray wrote, “Lord, thank You that out of my own brokenness You bring beauty, peace, and a fragrant life that is pleasing to You.”
