We were all shocked to hear about that horrific car accident at Dee Why this week, when a truck slammed into a line of cars, and four of them exploded [Sydney, April 2000].

We applaud and look up to the brave citizens who worked so hard to rescue injured drivers and passengers, especially the young police officer who saved the 11-month-old baby from the back seat of one of the burning cars. These people helped turn tragedy into triumph. And then tragedy struck again as the baby died later that day in hospital.

We all know what tragedy feels like, what it looks like, what it does to us. We’re fast approaching Good Friday, and if there is any story that epitomises tragedy in its most abhorrent and shocking form, it is the crucifixion of Jesus.

But tonight I want to celebrate triumph, sharing three stories from the Old Testament, and [next week] three stories from our own times, to demonstrate how tragedy can turn to triumph – when God plays a role in the script.

Each of you is living your own story tonight. You might be heading toward tragedy, or triumph. You might be in the middle of a treacherous storm, or you might be enjoying the quiet of a perfect calm. Or you may have no idea where you are right now! Whatever your situation, God needs to be in your script! God needs to be part of your life!

Job’s story

A man of great wealth and high social status, Job lived thousands of years ago in a place called Uz. We read that Satan made a deal with God, who permitted him to do anything but extinguish Job’s life, to prove that Job’s trust in God was not based on family or possessions (see Job 1-2).

In quick succession, Job loses his wealth, his ten adult children, and finally his health. The devil leaves him only his life and his wife – whose advice is simply, “Curse God and die!” To which Job replies, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:9-10). The trauma caused by Satan merely proved God right and Job strong.

In Job 2 we encounter Job in the depth of enormous personal suffering and tragedy. All his possessions are gone; his status has vanished; his family killed; and now painful sores inflict him from head to foot.

He is thrown out of the city, and we find him sitting among the ashes of the local rubbish tip, with a piece of broken pottery in his hand, scraping his oozing sores in misery. Three friends come to offer their sympathy and comfort, and are so shocked by what they see that it takes seven days for them to think of anything to say.

Job himself questions God’s fairness but believes God still loves him. He prays for a quick death, and when he senses his prayers are not being answered, he asks God for mediation. Finally, in desperation, he demands a personal explanation from God (13:3; 31:35), and God honours that request (ch. 38-42).

For Job, tragedy turns into triumph. He is healed and restored to favour in the city. He doubles his wealth, fathers ten more children, lives to 140, and proves God faithful. In the New Testament, James 5:11 says, “You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

Elijah’s story

Elijah lived in Israel in the ninth century BC. One of Israel’s greatest prophets, his responsibilities included teaching God’s word, passing on messages from God to Ahab, Israel’s king, denouncing Queen Jezebel (who was not a woman you’d like to cross), and above all promoting allegiance to God in a nation where idolatry and apostasy were rampant.

One of Elijah’s greatest triumphs is recorded in 1 Kings 18 where, at Mt Carmel, the man of God challenges 450 false prophets to a contest to see whose God is more powerful. Each sets up altars and wood, and places a dead bull on top, and then the false prophets cry out to Baal, their god, to light the fire. They’re at it from morning till noon, and Elijah decides to exercise the gift of taunting. Read 1 Kg 18:27-39.

Elijah’s prayer is answered, his God proved to be the living God, and all 450 prophets of Baal are slaughtered. From that amazing success and confirmation of his authority, Elijah runs for his life toward Mt Horeb, fearing the wrath of Queen Jezebel. We discover him defeated and desolate, in solitude and sadness, sitting under a desert tree, praying for his life to end.

“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors” (1 Kg 19:3-4). Elijah is suffering acute emotional exhaustion; he is in the midst of his own personal tragedy. Elijah falls asleep, and then, instead of death, angels strengthen him, he encounters God in a cave, and goes on to serve God with fresh enthusiasm. At the end of his life, Elijah commissions Elisha to succeed him, and God separates them with a chariot and horses of fire, and takes Elijah home to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kg 2:11).

In the New Testament we meet Elijah again, with Jesus and Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-11); and James 5:17f bears witness to his faith and power in prayer.

Jonah’s story

Jonah lived about a century after Elijah. He grew up near Nazareth in Israel, and one day God told him to go off to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim a message of grace and judgment to the inhabitants.

Jonah says, “No thanks!” and jumps on a ship heading in the opposite direction. A savage and supernatural storm threatens the ship, and the sailors discover that Jonah is the cause.

Jonah is by now beginning to realise that it may have been less painful to obey God and go to Nineveh. “OK, guys, throw me overboard and you’ll be safe,” he says. They do this, and the storm abates, and Jonah sinks beneath the waves, only to be swallowed by a huge fish.

Spiritually broken, he’s inside the fish for three days, and there he prays. Read Jonah 2:6-10. Back on dry land, God recommissions Jonah, and this time he does the right thing, goes to Nineveh, and preaches to the 120,000 inhabitants.

The Ninevites, including their king, believed God and turned to him. Jonah’s tragedy turns to triumph, and he effects Nineveh’s deliverance (Jon 3:10). In Matthew 12:39-41 Jesus refers to Jonah’s fishy experience as symbolic of his own death and resurrection, and stated that Jonah’s converts will stand up on judgment day and condemn Jesus’ generation for their lack of faith.

Job, Elijah and Jonah all experienced serious tragedy, and all three thought themselves insignificant failures. Job’s was especially physical; we might say that Elijah’s suffering was emotional; and the heart of Jonah’s problems seems to have been spiritual. All three found fulfilment and victory. All three kinds of tragedy were turned around through the wisdom and intervention of God.

Next week I will share with you three stories from our own times.

——————–

E123 Copyright (c) 2003 Rod Benson. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: New International Version (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1980). To talk with Rod about this message, email or write to P.O. Box 1790, MACQUARIE CENTRE 2113 AUSTRALIA. To subscribe, email with “subscribe” in the subject. To unsubscribe, type “unsubscribe” in the subject.