2 cor 1:8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. (Paul and Timothy)
Some of God’s men wanted and wished for death.
Sometimes life can feel overwhelming, you feel beaten up, you can’t go another day. Perhaps the challenges you face seem like they are too much, other people suffer in debilitating pain and some are trapped in spiritual prisons of lies that tell them that life isn’t worth living.
Some of God’s greatest men wished for death, but understand that God had a purpose for them and a future hope. (1 Peter 1:7)
1-Elijah “And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”
Elijah was a great prophet of God, he did amazing miracles, and he never died! He was taken up in a chariot. I guess you could say he’s still alive. Elijah was done, he was worn out. The wicked Jezebel was the icing on the cake. He felt pushed beyond all limits and told God “Kill me!” , later, he passed out from exhaustion. God sent an angel to revive him and gave him something to eat and drink. His life and amazing feats can be found in 1 Kings 17-21, 2 Kings 1-2, James 5:17, Luke 9. God listened to Elijah and eventually had Elijah anoint a replacement for him. God had work that he knew Elijah could do, he was chosen by God and life had him in the refiners fire – but it never destroyed him.
2-Job (3:11) And Job spoke, and said:“May the day perish on which I was born, And the night in which it was said, ‘A male child is conceived.
’May that day be darkness; May God above not seek it, Nor the light shine upon it.
5 May darkness and the shadow of death claim it;
May a cloud settle on it;
May the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 As for that night, may darkness seize it;
May it not [b]rejoice among the days of the year,
May it not come into the number of the months.
7 Oh, may that night be barren!
May no joyful shout come into it!
8 May those curse it who curse the day,
Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan.
9 May the stars of its morning be dark;
May it look for light, but have none,
And not see the [c]dawning of the day;
Because it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb,
Nor hide sorrow from my eyes. “Why did I not die at birth?
Why did I not [d]perish when I came from the womb?
Does that sound like a man who wants to live? Job’s life had become miserable. His children died. All he had was gone, and his wife wanted him to curse God. All he had left in life was torment, sores, unrelenting pain, deep sadness, mockery and three supposed friends that continued to torment him day after day. In the end, God blessed him amazingly – he was given another 140 years to his life.
3-Jonah “Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!” Jonah 4:3
This prophet did not want the nation saved that God sent him to, he knew God would save them and it infuriated him! There’s speculation that they were his enemy and probably so. Can you imagine being sent to your enemy by God so that He could save them? Jonah was not having it. He took off, but he didn’t get very far. He reluctantly obeyed God but got so mad he wanted to die both at God’s saving grace and a shady vine that disappeared leaving him sitting mad in the heat of the day.
In verse 9, he said he’s so angry he wanted to die! I guess if God wants you to do something you’re going to do it whether you want to or not. Like the verse says “we may make our plans but God directs our steps”. Read the book of Jonah, his words and obedience to God (relentlessly) saved a nation. Jonah gripes to the very end, even over a vine – a must read.
4-Jeremiah 15:10 I wish I had never been born, 20:14-18 Cursed be the day I was born…
Jeremiah was an obedient prophet of God who saw the destruction of his people because they refused to obey the words of God. He warned over and over, his intentions were good, he obeyed God , yet the people hated him. They wanted him dead. There were many attempts on his life and commentaries say that the people eventually stoned him. Jeremiah didn’t just wish to die, he wished he was never born.
5-David: Although there aren’t any verses about David wanting to die , he does suffer deep anguish, depression, grief, despair, and anxiety during his life. Many of the Psalms written by David tell both of his troubles and his faith and how he persevered. Ps 31:9-10, Psalm 6:6-7, Ps 13. He lived to age 70.
6- Moses Numbers 11:15 If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—if I have found favor in Your sight—and do not let me see my wretchedness!”
Moses had enough of the complaining , griping people. The bible said he was the most humble man on earth. He was full of wisdom, raised as a prince in Egypt, ran away at age 40 to live in the wilderness and start a new family. At age 80 , God called him to save Israel and through Moses, God revealed his greatness and glory to the World. The trek to the promised land was supposed to be , well maybe 2 weeks (DT 1:2, Num 14:33, 32:13) but it ended up 40 years for their lack of trust , disobedience (Joshua 5:6), evil deeds (Num 32:13) and lots and lots of complaining along the way. Moses couldn’t take it anymore. Just like with Elijah, God listened to Moses and had mercy on him. He made a way for some of the responsibility of Moses to be put on 70 select men to share the burden of the people on them as well.
Annoying people seem to push you past your limits
Remember : we do not battle flesh and blood.
As I studied the lives of these men who, at one point, wished their lives would end, wished they never existed or their life be cut short, I noticed they all had something in common. Their lives were filled with trouble and sadness, but what stood out the most was that each of them was surrounded by difficult people who pushed them to their limits. For Elijah, it was Jezebel (and others) ; For Moses, it was the constant complainers and the rebellion of Korah and his followers. Jeremiah faced opposition from the people and leaders of his day. David was pursued by those who sought his life, Job had to endure the relentless criticism of his friends and griping of his wife.
Jacob’s life, too, was marked by challenging relationships. He grew up with a father who favored his brother Esau, while Esau himself hated Jacob enough to want to kill him. Later Jacob was deceived and mistreated by his father-in-law Lebanon, and even his own sons lied to him and caused him deep grief.
Despite their hardships and the people who made their lives even more difficult, the stories of these men remind us that faith can endure even in the most challenging circumstances-and that sometimes the people around us can be our greatest test ( the most annoying people)
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Col 3:13
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Romans 12:17-18
Many godly people in the bible faced hardships, struggles, sickness, torture, rejection and death. The faithful will face hardships. (Mat 5)
I wish we could escape troubles, but life is full of them. King Solomon said it’s better to mourn than to be full of folly. I think we learn a lot in our down times, we grow and become better if in fact we do not become bitter. In rough times , I think of the words of Job: Paraphrasing it, he said “ should we accept the good only from the Lord and not the bad ” (or troubling times as well) In all the ups and down, I will accept what comes my way and trust in the Lord.
Links : Jacob’s troubles
https://prepareforthelamb.or/2017/01/27/jacobs-troubles-few-and-evil-have-been-the-years-of-my-life/
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