A lot of times I have heard at funerals that people say "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away"... This however, is the words of Job, not God.
Job 1:21 (KJV) 21 and said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
(Afrikaans) 21 en gesê: Naak het ek uit my moeder se skoot gekom, en naak sal ek daarheen terugkeer. Die HERE het gegee, en die HERE het geneem: die Naam van die HERE sy geloofd!
God is the Giver, not the taker.
Jeremiah 29:10-12 (KJV) 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
(Afrikaans) 11 Want Ek weet watter gedagtes Ek aangaande julle koester, spreek die HERE, gedagtes van vrede en nie van onheil nie, om julle 'n hoopvolle toekoms te gee.
12 Dan sal julle My aanroep en heengaan en tot My bid. en Ek sal na julle luister.
And I know a lot more scriptures that show us that God is the Giver, not the taker. Even if you read the book of Job, you will see that God say even if ' you ' take everything from Job... He did not say even if ' I ' take everything from Job. He told that to the enemy (the taker), after satan told God if God will harm Job, then he will not serve God anymore. The devil challenged God to struck at Job and then God told the enemy that the enemy can struck but not kill him... After the enemy stole everything, belongings, family and health. God gave back in double fold.
So do yourself a favor and read the book of Job. This book just show that we can rejoice in the LORD always for what ever the enemy takes, God gives back and not just what the enemy stole but double fold.
Before we run with a scripture in our heart, we must understand the concept in what it is meant or from whose mouth it came from. Job was in a bad state and so was I a lot of times in my life. I also made the mistake of thinking God will take and punish. But time with God learned me that He cares for us and Job also learned that. At the end of the book of Job, Job apologized for thinking that God was the taker...
There is one thing though I did agree on with Job in this scripture... blessed be the name of the Lord.
