“All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes” (Job 14:14).
This verse contains the noun form of one of my favorite Hebrew verbs: chalaph (khaw-laf). Here, Job is saying that despite his miserable condition, he is looking for a change of circumstance.
E.W. Bullinger translates this phrase: “I will wait until the time of my reviving comes.” The New International Version renders it: “I will wait for my renewal to come.”
Unfortunately, Bible scholars have often assumed that Job was speaking of his dying. They read about death in the context and mistakenly conclude that Job’s words deal with that subject.
Hard service (or as the King James Version has it, “appointed time”) is a military expression relating to engagement in warfare. All the time Job was waging the good fight of faith, he was not waiting for death but for a divine visitation.
He was expecting a revival, a renewal, a change for the better. That change came when the Lord intervened to turn Job’s captivity and reward His faithfulness with a double portion of all that he had lost in the hassle.
This can be our happy conclusion also. We too are engaged in the fight of faith. Our warfare against the powers of darkness goes on and on. We too look for a change, a renewal, a revival, a breakthrough. The Lord will intervene for us just as He did for Job.
Job expected changes in his circumstances. They came to him in double measure. We can expect the same. Get ready for dramatic changes in the whole Church world; they’re coming.
As the old song puts it: “There’ll be some changes made today; there’ll be some changes made!”
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.