Job 5:19

19 He shall deliver [natsal] thee in six [shesh] troubles [tsarah]: yea, in seven [sheba`] there shall no evil [ra`] touch [naga`] thee. KJV-Interlinear

19 'From six troubles He will deliver you, Even in seven evil will not touch you. NASB

Throughout the Bible a series of numbers is often given, suggesting that in the first number is a possibility and then an additional number is listed to indicate, something beyond that possibility.

In Proverbs 30 and Amos 1, several good examples are given with the numbers generally limited to three and four, such as 'in three things something, something, then in four, etc., etc.'

Any number sequence can be used to convey the idiom, but in some cases, as in our verse, the numbers have an even greater meaning.

Eliphaz is suggesting here, that man has his limits, and then there is the region of life, which lies beyond mans reach.

The number six is generally applied to man. Man was created on the sixth day. The number 666 in Revelation indicates a man who believes that he is a god. The number six is tripled to indicate the trinity.

There are certainly more than six possible problems that can harass a person. But Eliphaz does not list six things, or even seven examples after this verse, so he is not referring to a list of specific things, but the range of human experience.

And then Eliphaz adds one more number, that of seven which stands for the completion of ones experience, or the state beyond ones experience. Seven has stood for Gods rest upon completion of the restoration of planet earth in six days. Seven stands for rest, but also it refers to the completion of a plan, or of a phase of ones existence.

So in six troubles, in the entirety of the human experience such as humanity will ever see in his entire history, God can deliver from anything that is possible. In addition, in the experience, which lies beyond the human sphere, in things, which could occur but will never occur, because they exist outside of the human realm, God can prevent them from ever happening as well.

Jesus Christ controls history. This is a principle of life that needs to be ingrained deep within your thinking. Because when you face trouble, no matter what it might be, you can always recall those four words, 'Jesus Christ controls history.' Therein rests your confidence no matter what your situation.

Eliphaz's words do not mean that you will never see trouble. This is the devils world and trouble is its foundation. Trouble is its nature. In fact, you will never completely escape trouble if you are a breathing and thinking person.

But God controls all trouble and will deliver you from that trouble. So long as you comply with His will, of course.

In this there are our wishes for those things that we want or desire, but probably do not have any ability to obtain, then there are our prayers of petition for those things in which we need help from beyond our means. And then there is hope, or our confidence in Gods ability to do those things, or something better according to His greater wisdom.

The common thread that ties all of these together is, 'Jesus Christ controls history.'

In suffering, whether it be for disciplinary purposes or for testing, God controls all aspects of our experience. God has control over everything within the human realm, and everything beyond our realm.

So, when we align our life with the mandates, which God has laid before us, then a successful life is the only possible outcome.

Sure there will be rain and then sunshine, and then rain again, but our life continues while all of the bad of this world passes us by, and eventually God will leave it far behind us. View trouble in your life as a traveler would view passing scenery on his way to a better destination.

Who would want to get off the train, and live with trouble?

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