But he knows every step [way] I take. When he has put
me to the test, I’ll come out as pure as gold.
(Job 23:10 – NIRV)

The Way of the Ungodly

Untold billions of people throughout time have chosen to outright reject God! Their WAYS have led to their death — both spiritually and naturally (Mt. 7:13-14). And then others take ways that seem right, but they are ways that lead to death (Prov. 16:25). These are the ways of the ungodly.

The Trying and Way of Job

God allowed Satan to try Job (Job 1:6-12). Satan used many vices and devices. He was responsible for Job’s broken relationships, misunderstood friendships, feelings of abandonment, physical pain, loss of possessions, mental anguish, and even the death of loved ones. Despite all the times that Job had been TRIED…at some point, he believed that God was ultimately putting him to a test. Job’s words ring out: “When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). He maintained his ways and was eventually absolved by God.

Gold’s Refining Process

Gold that is taken from the earth needs to be refined many times before it becomes acceptable. Fire is used in the process to purify gold. Fire tries many other metals, as well. Metals that were tried in fire and did not stand the test or that were simply unfit for use were called reprobate. The author of this writing is familiar with…and has used a process similar to refining and purifying gold. We used lead instead of gold. Lead was placed in a fiery crucible and when it was taken out, all the impurities in the lead rose to the top. There were tools we used (such as a large iron spoon) to scrape all the foreign substances from the liquid lead (Prov. 25:4). The lead took on a mirrored image while it was still in liquid form. Then, the lead was poured into molds and went through a drying process and became pure. Crude gold is “tried” like that: it becomes finer gold!

Visited in the Night

The psalmist stated: “You have put my heart to the test, searching me in the night; you have put me to the test and seen no evil purpose in me; I will keep my mouth from sin. (Ps. 17:3 – BBE). God often tries us in the night and during quiet times. He comes in and invades our space, whether we are active, at rest, or sleep.  He tries us in these three different postures: standing, sitting, or laying down. God also tries us in some dreams! (It’s not always best to try to figure out which dreams He uses, unless there is undeniable or confirmed evidence that God has spoken. Beware: Satan works in dreams, as well – II Cor. 11:14!) It seems that God speaks to everybody in dreams according to Job 33:14-18. It is this author’s belief that God can try us in dreams that can appear to us to be real until we realize (after we wake) that it was, in fact, a dream. God can project our surroundings in our dreams, such as the people we know, places we have visited, and even unfamiliar environments. He sets up the scene, as well as the test, to try us without us ever having to experience situations while we are conscious and active. Either way, whether awake or sleep, God can find out what is in our hearts and the “ways” we take. It should be noted that some dreams are not always meant for us to understand, but solely for God to prove us.

The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
beholding the evil and the good.
(Prov. 15:3)

Brackets added by author.