Category: Job–BibleTrekToday
God is impartial!
Scripture reading for May 30: Job 32-34
“So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong. He repays a man for what he has done, he brings upon him what his conduct deserves. It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. Who appointed Him over the earth? Who put Him in charge of the whole world?” Job 34:10-13
After all the older and presumably wiser friends of Job are silent, Elihu opens his mouth to speak. Elihu is a younger man, also a friend of Job, and has been listening in on their conversations and debate. Elihu claims to be full of the Spirit of God and to have wisdom by the Spirit. (Job 32:8) He says he is sincere and has an upright heart. (Job 33:3) He acknowledges that God has made him and given him life. (Job 33:4) Elihu dares to confront Job about his complaint that God has not answered him. Elihu tells Job that God speaks in many ways and it is sometimes we who are not paying attention or listening. (Job 33:13-14) He stated that God sometimes speaks through a bed of pain, which Job was then enduring himself.
Elihu pointed out to the friends that Job had tried to justify himself. (Job 34:3-7) God was the one who should have been justified instead of Job, because God is perfect and impartial. He is always just and never does wrong! (Job 34:10-12) He gives each person what he deserves. He is in charge of the earth and no one tells Him what to do! He is not partial to rich or poor and He knows each person perfectly. (Job 34:19)
As we look at the words of this younger man, we sense that he understood God and had placed much of his understanding on a knowledge of the Almighty. The Spirit of God did give him insight that did not depend on age. Elihu had correctly discerned God’s impartiality and ability to judge each person justly. However, Elihu still didn’t have complete wisdom. He made some assumptions. One assumption was that Job was getting what was due him. As we know from the first two chapters, this was not the case. God, Himself, had declared Job righteous. In Job’s case, he was not guilty, but only being tested! This young man, Elihu, may be wise in some things, but still is short on full understanding!
What do we learn from this? We do understand that God is impartial and knows everything. We also learn that God can use pain and other means to speak to us. But, in addition, we learn that we as mortals cannot be presumptive. We do not know everything about every situation. God is sovereign and we must let Him be God! Check your own heart today and allow the Lord to set it in order! He is truly able!
Taking inventory!
Scripture reading for May 29th: Job 29-31
Soul-searching is a good thing for us if we can be honest with ourselves. We must have an understanding of “good” and “evil” before we can identify it in our life. If we have no core convictions of what is right and wrong, it is impossible to make progress. God has given each person a conscience that informs him in general of God’s law. This can help guide us if we are sensitive and teachable. Sometimes this conscience is seared and is not active because of repeated disobedience and rebellion. We then need to go to God’s Word for the standard and re-activate the seared conscience by believing truth.
After all the friends are silent and their accusations cease, Job was still suffering! He remembered his past time of blessing with a sense of joy. (Job 29) He was taunted by the young men of the city and then felt driven to do a self-examination and moral inventory. (Job 30:1) He had some beliefs or core convictions about what was right and wrong, good and evil. We find Job going over these things in a systematic way to try to be sure that he had not forgotten anything. He was judging himself, so that God would not judge him.
Job first dealt with his personal life. (Job 31:1-12) He was careful with his eyes, not to look lustfully on a woman. He stayed away from his neighbor’s wife. He knew that this would lead to trouble! He knew that sexual sin was something that God would judge! (Job 31:11) He also checked his honesty and truthfulness. God would weigh him with honest scales in this regard! (Job 31:5-6)
Job next dealt with his public life. (Job 31:13-23) He tested his heart for his treatment of his servants. Was he fair and respectful of them? He then looked to his treatment of the poor and orphan. Was he willing to give to help them with food and clothing? God is watching all of these and will judge! (Job 31:23)
Job also checked his spiritual life. (Job 31:24-40) How did he treat money? Was it a ‘god’ in his life? Did he secretly worship anything other than the God who created everything? He also checked his attitude about revenge. Vengeance belongs to the Lord–we must not get even or even rejoice over someone’s misfortune. How had he treated strangers? Were his motives pure in all that he did? Job longed to be able to stand before God because he felt that he was doing what he knew to be right and avoiding evil!
What an inventory! Take time today and allow this 4000 year-old inventory to give you insight into your own walk with God. Remember, Jesus Christ has already paid the penalty for our sins and if we confess them to Him, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all sin! (1st John 1:7-9)
God is most precious!
Scripture reading for May 28: Job 25-28
Bildad opened his final argument by citing the power and dominion of God. He then questioned that in light of God’s greatness, how can man who is born of woman be right with God? (Job 25:4) This is a good question and finds the answer implied by Bildad in other writings of Scripture. Romans 3:10 says that there is none righteous, not even one (Psalm 14:1) . Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The problem with Bildad’s statement is in his understanding of God and man’s relationship. Bildad stated that man was like a maggot in God’s sight, only a worm. (Job 25:6) This view is neither encouraging or accurate!
Job refuted Bildad by asking him what spirit was speaking through him! Job’s counter-argument was that he would continue to trust God, even if he didn’t understand! (Job 27:2-6) God was his only source of hope and encouragement! God’s character and wisdom were worth more to Job than anything this earth had to offer. Finding this wisdom is not easy! (Job 28:12-13)
The bottom line for Job was that the fear of the Lord was wisdom and understanding was to depart from evil! (Job 28:28) Let’s think about this for a minute. Respecting God and His power and authority is the very core of wisdom. We can only live our life successfully if we have this wisdom in operation in our life. Respecting God is the character trait of humility. God, Himself, is humble! Jesus Christ taught his followers to come and learn from Him, because he was humble of heart! (Matthew 11:28-30) By respecting God and being humble we are able to follow God and live successfully by faith and not be destroyed by our sight! We know from God’s word and character that there is a definite “good” and a definite “evil”. We walk in understanding when we depart from evil and do good!
God is the most precious one in our life. Job came to this conclusion as he was forced by the circumstances of a trial to live by faith. He did not have all the answers, but he knew the one who did and who would help him! He steadfastly held on to what he knew and persevered! We can, too! What a precious Lord we have! Don’t let go!
“The Lord knows the way that I take”
Scripture reading for May 27th: Job 22-24
When we walk by faith, we will go through testing! Mary and I had set out to adopt two girls from Russia. We believed that we had a Word from the Lord to proceed with this, even though we were in our early fifty’s at the time. We needed a home study to send to the government and the court in Russia stating that we were fit parents and capable of handling our new children. We proceeded with this requirement and had a social worker come to our house for the initial consultation. We paid her $650 in advance for her report. A week later , we received a letter and the report stating that we were not fit to be parents because of our biblical views on parenting! Neither our references nor our three grown children had been contacted. Where was God now? Why were we accused of wrong for no reason? What do we do now?
Job, in the chapters for today, continues to be accused of wickedness when he knew of none. (Job 22:5) He had been walking by faith in God and had lost everything. He was having trouble finding God and wanted to see Him and talk. (Job 23:2-4) Although Job had searched for God, he was confident that God knew the way of faith that he was walking. He knew that testing would result in something good. (Job 23:10) Why? Job was closely following the Lord’s steps and keeping His ways. He was speaking his Words and truths. (Job 23:11-12)
God’s eyes are on our ways. In our situation, God was watching us even though we were in the midst of a trial. We tried another source for home study, payed another fee, and got a good report. We were to walk by faith and not by sight! Our steps were closely following His Word and we were speaking confidence in God even though we weren’t sure what He was doing in that trial. God knows the way you take, too! Is it the way of faith? In the end, you will come forth as gold!
“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.” Job 23:10-12
Why do the wicked seem to prosper?
Scripture reading for May 26th: Job 20-21
Job’s friend Zophar was offended by Job’s warning to be afraid of punishment by God as well! (Job 19:28-29) Zophar had a belief that the wicked only get by for a short time and then punishment will fall on them here in this life. He held a strong belief in what he could see, but looks can be deceiving! Job took exception with his theology and his way of comforting him!
Job stated that often the wicked seem to grow old and increase in power. (Job 21:7) He observed that they appear to be safe and have no fear or problems. They mock God and God seems to do nothing. (Job 21:14, 15) Some men die fat and happy, others die in bitterness and pain. The grave swallows them both and we don’t know why. (Job 21:23-26)
This controversy has been the subject of other writers of Scripture. Psalm 73 was written by Asaph, a gifted muscian in King David’s Levitical choir. Asaph nearly lost faith when he observed the prosperity of the wicked. (Psalm 78:2) He saw that they had health and prosperity and were proud at heart. They scoffed at man and mocked heaven and nothing seemed to happen. He thought he was keeping himself pure for nothing and almost slipped away from serving God. Then he entered the sanctuary of God and he understood their final end. In the end, God would judge them and send them away to sudden destruction! (Psalm 73:16-19)
We can’t go by what we see! The righteous live by their faith! Job was having his faith tested by the taunts of Zophar. Asaph was being tested by Satan when he began to reason by what he observed in the world. We are often tempted to join the wicked in their sins and folly. But when we enter the sanctuary of God and see the truth of His holy Word, we understand that the wicked will not stand in the judgment or sinners before a holy God who will bring every secret thing into judgment! (Psalm 1:5-6) Allow the Lord to bring you understanding today. If you are involved in sin or wickedness, repent quickly and begin a new path of faith and obedience! You’ ll never regret it!
I Know my Redeemer lives!
Scripture reading for May 25th: Job 18-19
The attack on Job’s character by his friends continues with Bildad the Shuhite in Job 18. Bildad harshly accuses Job of being wicked, evil and not knowing God. (Job 18:21) He tells Job of the destruction that awaits him if he doesn’t come to his senses and deal with his problem of sin. These statements are very presumptive and go against all that Job has tried to tell him. They certainly did not give Job any comfort and brought further suffering his way. (Job 19:2-3)
Job was being attacked and it forced him to evaluate his beliefs. He went to God for answers, but even God seemed to be against him. (Job 19:8) He was opposed by his own friends and even his wife. He looked at his own body, which was skin and bones and knew that he might not be long for this earth. He asked for pity from his friends and began to state his true feelings! (Job 19:21-22)
Job wished that his words would be recorded! His desire was granted and we are reading them today! He stated a belief that his redeemer lived–that he would see him one day, even if he died. This foundational belief in resurrection brings hope to us. It is what Christ gives each one of His followers! We know that we will suffer and eventually die while in this life, but that isn’t the end! We have a permanent dwelling place with the Lord to look forward to! (2nd Corinthians 5:1-2) To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord! (2nd Corinthians 5:8) There is the “blessed hope” as well, the soon appearing of Jesus Christ for His people! (Titus 2:13) We are watching for this hope, even while we live. There will be a sudden appearing of Jesus to take His people who are ready to be with Him! (1st Thessalonians 4:13-18) This will be a glorious day for each of us!
If you lack the understanding of a living redeemer and your personal redemption, today is a good day to do something about that. Ask the Lord for mercy and place your trust in Jesus Christ, His Son. Whoever calls on the Lord, will be saved!
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son as life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.“ 1st John 5:11-13
Sunday rest and reflection–suffering!
Greetings on this day of rest! As we study Job, we come to understand that God’s ways are different than ours. He allowed suffering even in the life of his finest servants. God, Himself, had declared Job to be blameless. God knew that Job was a righteous man who feared Him and tried to please Him. Job sacrificed to God and prayed for his children. Why would God allow this suffering to come into Job’s life?
Isn’t life better and more satisfying if we never have to suffer? What possible benefits can come from suffering? What did Job gain from this gruesome experience? We have many questions and few answers. Jesus declared that trouble was to be part of life in a fallen world. (John 16:33) He told his disciples that if they wanted to follow Him, they must take up a cross, implying suffering and death. (Luke 14:27) He warned them that because of Him there would be division and strife in families and between friends. (Matthew 12:51-53) Jesus also warned of great turmoil and wars in the last days and that His followers must be watchful and prayerful in order to escape and stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:23-24) (Luke 21:36)
Jesus, Himself, faced sorrows, suffering and death while He was here on earth. Although He was righteous and truly blameless, He was falsely accused and treated unfairly. Peter declares that when Jesus suffered unjustly, He entrusted Himself to the Father who would judge justly! (1st Peter 2:23) He never retaliated or answered harshly to those who mistreated Him. He simply fulfilled the purpose of the Father by offering His body as a sacrifice for our sins. (1st Peter 2:24) Peter also states that since Jesus suffered in His body, we should also be prepared to suffer with the same attitude. (1st Peter 4:1) When we suffer in our body, Peter says we cease from sin and focus on living for the will of God. (1st Peter 4:2) Peter also states that we should rejoice when we suffer because of identification with Jesus Christ. We are blessed when we suffer for Him and the Spirit of Grace and Glory will rest on us! (1st Peter 4:12-14)
These thoughts on suffering run counter to the attitudes of the world we live in. Job was suffering because of His righteous trust in God. God’s grace sustained him and in the end he was truly blessed! May you develop the attitude of Jesus Christ towards suffering! May that same attitude work in me as well! In His Love, Pastor John
Miserable comforters!
Scripture reading for May 23rd: Job 15-17
I had a friend whose twin brother had cancer. This friend was a newer Christian and we belonged to a charismatic church that was into the hyper-faith message. Some in the church told my friend that if he had enough faith, his brother would not die. In a few months, the brother did pass away and some in the church told him it was because of his lack of faith. They then went with him to the funeral home and tried to raise this brother from the dead. They were sincere believers in Christ, but they missed God somehow, and caused this grieving brother to stumble because of their misguided beliefs! Their words were not comforting, but condemning.
In today’s reading Job’s friends take on another round of trying to help him see his faults. Isn’t it amazing how we can see the faults of another person and feel that we can clearly see their problem and the solution! Theologians and students of the Bible often get proud about what they know and forget that what they are studying is God’s heart and His way, not that of another person! Job’s friends again attack his character and accuse him of a lack of understanding of God. (Job 15:3-5) Job is told that his sin has caused his mouth to be crafty and deceitful. He is accused of being impure and therefore under God’s wrath. (Job 15:30)
Job’s response to this further accusation is to label his friends “miserable comforters”. (Job 16:2) Job needed encouragement and understanding. He needed someone to pray with him and seek God’s help and answers. Job was in despair over these latest accusations and the trouble he was experiencing. He wondered why God had shattered him and broken and crushed him. He was depressed but stated that his advocate was also on high and his witness was in heaven. (Job 16:19) Job seemed to know that although his physical state was broken, God still loved him and would help him.
As I think on this passage, I realize that I have been the “miserable comforter” to some. Sometimes it is easy to have glib answers and quote standard Bible texts. God wants us to have His heart of compassion for the hurting and downcast. We must listen to them and hear their heart. Sometimes this alone is the best thing we can do. We must seek to let the Holy Spirit speak through us and address the real needs. What is on the surface is not always the real issue. My prayer today is that I would be sensitive to each hurting person that I encounter and that God would use me to be a true friend!
God forgets sin when. . .
Scripture reading for May 22nd: Job 11-14
“Know this, God has even forgotten some of your sin.” Job 11:6b
“Their sins and lawless acts I will Remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sin, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1st John 1:8-9
Job’s friend Zophar was frank in his accusation that Job needed to repent. He was certain that Job had sinned and that God was being merciful even in this harsh trial. He stated that God had probably forgotten some of Job’s sins or it might be worse! (Job 11:6) If Job would put away his sin, God would be merciful to him. (Job 11:14-15) Zophar could not get away from the common understanding of God’s justice and that trouble and suffering were a result of sin in a person’s life.
Job, however, knew of no sin and did not want to fake a repentance or manufacture some sin just to try and manipulate God or appease these friends. Job did know his need for God’s covering of his sins. He knew that God alone could cover these sins. He wrestled with how he could meet with God or if the grave would hold him at death. Finally, Job made a statement of faith concerning his own life and sins. It is in the form of a prayer discourse with God. (Job 14:13-17) Job asks God to hide him in the grave until his anger has passed and then “to set a time and remember me”. He asks that if a man dies, will he live again? He expects to hear a call from God and to respond from the grave because God will long to have fellowship with the “creature He has made”. At this time, God will not keep track of sin. Job expected all his sins to be sealed in a bag, covered over and not remembered!
In this passage, we have the beginnings of the doctrine of atonement for sins. Job longs for an audience with God and a mediator who can speak for him. He doesn’t know what his sin is, but knows that he has sin. He asks for eternal life with God forgiving and forgetting his sins. He expects God to call and he will answer him at a time in the future when God’s wrath has passed! What a Savior we have! We have a mediator who is like us, but without sin! Jesus Christ came and gave His life for our lives, promising to come again and remember us! He forgives our sins and remembers them no more! We will live with Him forever! This is available now to all who will repent and confess their sins to the Lord! (1st John 1:7-9)
Is God Just?
Scripture reading for May 21st: Job 8-10
When you talk with unbelievers, one of the main accusations against God and this idea of a supreme being is the injustice that is in the world. How can a loving God allow such suffering of innocent people? If God is all powerful, why does He allow evil to happen to good people? If He is indeed just, does this mean that all suffering people are suffering because God is punishing them? This is hard to discern. For many, these questions keep them from knowing God and embracing Him by faith! These are not new questions asked only in our age, however. They were also discussed in the time of Job!
The next friend of Job to speak was Bildad the Shuhite. He told Job that his words were like a blustering wind! He told Job that when his children sinned, God merely gave them over to the penalty of their sin! (Job 8:2-4) He was sure that God gave people what they deserved and he pointed Job to past generations and what they had experienced. (Job 8:8-9) He did encourage Job to plead with God for mercy and told him that God could restore him if he were really pure and upright. (Job 8:5-6)
Job answers his friend with a question: ” How can any mortal man be righteous before God?” (Job 9:2) Job seems to understand God’s greatness, holiness and omniscience. He also seems to understand the great gap between him and God. He feels the need for a mediator, one who could arbitrate for him with this great God. (Job 9:32-35) Job speaks plainly to God about his need to understand what he has done wrong. (Job 10:2) He is not sure if he is guilty. Even if he is innocent, Job is hurting so much that he feels shame! (Job 10:15) He hurts so bad that he wishes he could have died before birth. He asks for a reprieve before he does die! (Job 10:20)
Suffering encourages us to ask the hard questions about our own life. Job truly wanted to know if he was guilty of sin and if so, what was that sin? Job grappled with his mortality and God’s great power and knowledge. He tried to understand the justice of God in a situation that felt unfair. His own friend Bildad had tried to help him see an aspect of God’s justice, but it was not feeling right in Job’s spirit. Job did not know what sin was causing this suffering. We know that God said that Job was blameless! (Job 1:8)
Another thing to take note of is God’s answer to Job’s prayer for a mediator. We now have a mediator who will stand before God on our behalf! Jesus Christ is the one mediator between God and man! He is a man like us and understands our suffering and weakness and is able to help us when we suffer and are tempted! God is just and very compassionate and merciful to each of us through His own Son, Jesus Christ! (1st Timothy 2:5-6)