Archive for the ‘Job--BibleTrekToday’ Category

Scripture reading for June 3rd: Job 40-42

“Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.  You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.  The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” (James 5:10-11)

The story of Job has a happy ending.  Job is healed and restored and finds a deeper walk with God.  His trial has worked humility into his life and a new trust in God.  God never answered his questions of why, but Job now knows that he can walk by faith and trust God in everything.  God came to Job in the storm and questioned him intensely about many things.  This experience revealed the greatness of God and His amazing abilities to do things that are beyond the scope of man.  Job had a new appreciation of God’s greatness and His justice.  He realized that God did not need an adviser, but could handle things very well alone.

After the questioning, Job repented in dust and ashes for speaking presumptuously.  (Job 42:2-6)  He had come to a new appreciation for God.  God instructed the friends to make sacrifices and have Job pray for them.  They obeyed God and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.  After praying, God restored Job with twice as much as before.  He got back double in sheep, camels, and oxen.  He had ten more children as well. (Job 42:12-15)   This was also double, because he would see those who had died again in heaven!

Job was a man of faith who stayed true to God even in this terrible trial.  It worked out for good because Job truly did love God and desired to serve him.  He sought God throughout the trial and He answered him.  Job stands as an example to us of the reward of faith and patience in the face of trials.  The Lord is compassionate and merciful and will take care of those who stay true.  Job’s faith statement proved true, “But He knows the way that I take; and when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)  What an assurance for us as we face trials here!

Scripture reading for June 2nd: Job 38-39

Job had been longing for an audience with God.  He had cried out for a mediator who could stand between him and the Almighty.  His desire was to question God about the reason for this trial.  (Job 23:1-5) We must be careful what we pray for because God is listening and will answer.  His answers are not always what we might expect!  His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts.

God came to Job in a storm.  Elihu, the final friend to speak, had been telling Job of the wonders of God in the storms of rain, snow, and ice.  It is interesting that these physical storms sometimes terrify us, but bring us needed moisture and refreshment.  God came in the storm and spoke to Job in answer to his plea.  However, instead of answers to Job’s many questions, God began to question him.  His first question was, “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?” It appears that God was speaking only to Job at this point, and this would have brought Job to holy fear.

Here are some of the seventy questions that God asked Job.  Listen and imagine that you are Job and have desired to talk to God and now He is asking you questions.  “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?”   “Who marked off it’s dimensions?”  “On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone?” (Job 38:4-6)  These questions could only be answered by the divine Architect!  Man has been searching for answers and tries to come up with explanations based on observation, but only divine revelation can reveal the truth!  Man cannot know this on his own, no matter how he tries!

“Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?”  “Have the gates of death been shown to you?”  “What is the way to the abode of light?  And where does darkness reside?” (Job 38:16-19)  We know by scientific measurement that the deepest part of the ocean is nearly seven miles and no man has been down there himself.  From deep sea cameras, we have recently found creatures that we did not know existed!  There is so much we do not yet know!  Oh what a God of wonders!  We must worship Him who created it and humbly entrust our lives to Him!

Scripture reading for June 1st: Job 35-37

“How great is God–beyond understanding! The number of His years is past finding out.” (Job 36:26)  Elihu was young and had great wisdom in spite of his youth, but he still lacked a complete understanding of God and confessed that.  How can one who is finite grasp that which is infinite?  How can man have complete understanding of the Almighty One?  He  concluded that we must worship Him and ponder His many wonders.  Wonder and worship lead to revelation and faith!

“God is mighty, but does not despise men; He is mighty and firm in His purpose.” (Job 36:5)  Contrary to the view of one of Job’s friends who felt that man was a maggot, Elihu believed that God took notice of men and worked with them throughout life.  When they were bound by trials, God used the trial to correct them and lead them to repentance and restoration.  To be restored, a man must listen, learn and then respond to God’s correction.  If man does not respond, they die without knowledge.  (Job 36:8-12)

Elihu told Job that his crying out in his suffering was good sign.  Wicked and godless men did not cry out when they suffered and they perished.  (Job 36:13-14)  God would deliver Job from his suffering and restore him.  Job must watch out for temptations to escape the affliction through evil means, like thinking money might save him.

Elihu’s advice to Job was wonder and worship!  God is so amazing and does so much that provokes wonder.  If we would focus on the amazing wonders of God, then this God that is beyond our understanding would more deeply reveal Himself.  Elihu pointed Job to the thunderstorm and the wonders of a cloudburst, snow, or ice.  (Job 37:1-12)   How God makes that all work is a mystery that reveals His great power and thoughtfulness.  God is so creative and has amazing abilities beyond our understanding!

“Out of the North He comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.  The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in His justice and great righteousness, He does not oppress.  Therefore men revere Him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?” (Job 37:22-24)  Elihu ends his words to Job with a call to worship!  Whatever our physical state, the way to God is through reverence and worship!  It is the way of faith!

Scripture reading for May 31st: Job 32-34

Elihu was a younger friend of Job and his friends.  Elihu had been listening to the arguments between these friends and Job and had been taking notes.  He was disappointed at the arguments on both sides and finally felt that he must speak.  It is interesting to note that God never rebukes Elihu or asks Job to pray for him.  We are not told why, but it may be that he spoke youthful wisdom by God’s Spirit!  (Job 32:18; 33:3-4)

Elihu humbly appealed to Job on the basis of being made from clay just like all men.  (Job 33:6)  He assured Job that he was not there to beat him up or belittle him.  He wanted to talk to him plainly about some of his statements that had bothered him.  This approach is honest and scriptural.  We should be able to discuss our differences without offense or animosity.

Job had stated that although he felt he was innocent, God had found fault with him and had shackled him with this trial.  Elihu stated that God used trials to teach us.  He isn’t always punishing us when we go through trials.  (Job 33:14-22)  He uses these to warn us and keep us from pride or wrong actions.  Elihu suggested that man needs an angel or mediator to help him understand his troubles.  We are often blind to the problem and need correction and prayer.

Elihu tried to be the true kind of friend who would help with understanding and correction and not bring condemnation.  He invited Job to answer him or respond.  He invited the friends to test his words with their ears as the tongue tastes food!  (Job 34:3)  Elihu stated strongly to Job and his friends his belief that God would never do wrong or evil and certainly would not pervert justice!  (Job 34:10-12)  God is totally impartial and governs the earth and all its inhabitants and rulers accordingly.

Elihu was young but showed great wisdom.  He knew he was human and appealed to these older saints to listen.  He listened before speaking and then offered his insight humbly.  He recognized God’s power and His justice and knew that God worked in many ways that we sometimes don’t understand.  He knew that Job needed help from God and his friends to get through this trial.  Thank God today for those He sends to you with His wisdom!

Dear Friends,

Greetings in the Glorious Name of Jesus Christ!  The first day of the week was set aside by the early church to worship, because on that day Jesus Christ rose from the dead!  The most significant truth and proof that Jesus is the Son of God was his powerful resurrection.  That truth was verified by all the apostles and by over 500 who saw Him alive on one occasion.  The apostles were so impressed and sure of the resurrection that they preached it and most of them gave their lives rather than deny it!  Please gather with God’s people today and celebrate Jesus Christ as the resurrected Son of God!

As I reflect back on the reading for this past week, I am taken to Job’s reply to Bildad in Job 26.  Bildad had told Job that man was no more than a maggot or worm and God was so great and powerful that man meant nothing to Him.  Job responded with a description of God as the glorious creator of the universe and the one who hung the earth on nothing.  God is the creator and creation reveals a God of power and thoughtful care for that creation.  Reflecting on creation helps us know about God, but Job felt that what he learned from creation was “but the outer fringe of His works.”  (Job 26:14)  Creation was a “faint whisper” of God compared to all there was to know and understand.  Job longed for a deeper understanding.

Job likened the search for God as men searching the depths of the earth for gold or silver or other precious metals.  But God’s wisdom cannot be found by man in all his puny efforts.  It can’t be bought with anything on earth.  Job came to the conclusion that the fear of the Lord was wisdom and to shun evil was understanding!  (Job 28:28)  Faith has its foundation in the fear of the Lord.  A humble respect for the God of creation brings true wisdom.  From exploring the outer fringes of God through creation, God comes to Job (and us) with revelation and faith opens our inner eyes to see Him!  Our redeemer lives!  Resurrection life will be glorious!  Though He slay me yet will I trust Him!  He has become my salvation!

In His Love, Pastor John

Scripture reading for May 29th: Job 29-31

It would be so easy to be right with God if we just had a checklist of things that pleased God.  We could do the things that God said we must do and avoid those He said were sinful.  In fact, we do have such instruction throughout the Bible, particularly in the Ten Commandments and the Great Commandments of Jesus Christ. (Exodus 20:1-17)  (Matthew 22:37-39)  However, in Job’s day, he must have had an understanding of what God considered right and wrong before any Scripture was published.

In chapter 31, Job takes an inventory of things that he believes to be wrong.  Job made a covenant with his eyes not to look lustfully at a woman.  He knew that this was the beginning of trouble in his life.  The eyes are the window of the soul and what a man focuses them on goes into the heart and stirs up desire.  Fornication and adultery for Job were shameful sins to be judged!  (Job 31:8-12)  They would ruin his own family and children and he understood that.  Four thousand years later, mankind still has not grasped the understanding of this that Job possessed!

Job knew that he must deal justly with his servants.  He knew that all men were made equal in God’s sight and that each person was formed in their mother’s womb.  (Job 31:13-15)  He also knew that he was responsible to help the poor, the widow, and the fatherless.  God cares for these who are often mistreated and abused in society.  He has placed within those who know Him, a desire to help the unfortunate.  Social justice is found in Job’s heart 4000 years ago!

Job knew it was wrong to put trust in money or possessions.  These could easily become idols that limit our understanding of the true God.  He knew that creation was wonderful and special, but was not to be worshiped.  God alone deserves our worship and anything else would be sin.  (Job 31:24-28)

God writes His laws on our hearts and we each have a conscience to help us understand what God likes and dislikes.  We can become hardened by sin and have our conscience seared.  Job’s trial caused him to take moral inventory of his life and character.  He wanted to be sure that he was living in a way that would please God.  Why not try this today for yourself?

Scripture reading for May 28th: Job 25-28

Job’s friend Bildad, probably inspired by the worms eating at his friend Job’s sores, makes one final attempt to discourage Job.  Bildad viewed God as so powerful and beyond man’s comprehension that man could never be considered righteous before Him.  He did understand a basic principle of Scripture–original sin.  The Bible states that man is sinful from birth.  (Job 25:4)  But Bildad neglected another basic principle: man is made in God’s image and likeness. Bildad’s final statement likened man to a maggot or lowly worm!

Our view of life and understanding of who we are is vital to victorious living.  Many people are beat down because of parents, peers, or siblings who put them down and called them names.   Satan tries to steal the truth about who we are and whose we are very early in life.  Satan is the accuser and finds those he can use to speak these lies.  If we believe that God is so distant that He doesn’t care about us and that we are no better than a maggot in His sight, why even try to approach God?  If we believe that He is so big and powerful that He doesn’t care about us, why should we believe in Him?  Such are the lies of the enemy of our souls!  We find that many people believe this way and that allows them to do whatever they feel they can get away with.

But the truth is that God loves us and we are made in His image and likeness.  (Genesis 1:27)  Although He is so powerful that He created the vast universe and hung the earth on nothing, He personally knows each of us by name, even numbering the very hairs on our head.  (Job 26:7)  (Luke 12:7)  He desires none to perish, but all to come to repentance and a knowledge of the truth.  He so loved us that He sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to become sin for us that we might be free from sin and know God as Father!  (John 3:16)  (Romans 8:15-16)  We are now a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that we might show forth the praises of Him who brought us out of darkness and into His marvelous light!  (1st Peter 2:9)  Aren’t you glad you’re not a maggot?

Scripture reading for May 27th: Job 22-24

Job is going through the trial of his life!  His friend Eliphaz again attacked his integrity and accused him of great wickedness and endless sins.  (Job 22:4-10)  He accused Job of mistreating the widow and orphan.  Those who are helpless are easy to take advantage of.  Throughout history, men have mistreated the weak.  Job was encouraged to submit to God and return to the Lord.  This would bring restoration and forgiveness to him.  (Job 22:21-25)

Job’s dilemma was one of not knowing how to contact God.  He wanted to state his case before God but could not find Him.  (Job 23:8)  He felt God’s heavy hand on him, but still felt the desire to find God’s dwelling and state his case.  He maintained his innocence and knew that God would vindicate him in the end.  “But He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

During the entire trial, Job had sought to keep what he understood of God’s word and to follow God by faith.  He listened to God and sought to obey.  He did not understand why these trials kept coming but knew that God was behind them.  He had a fear of God because he did understand how great He is.  (Job 23:11-16)

Trials have a way of purifying us.  They strip away our excuses and make us face truth.  When everything is going well, we don’t think about standing before God and giving an account.  When we are faced with death and start to realize that there is a God who knows everything and has the power to punish us, we think more critically.  In Job’s case, everything he owned was stripped away as well as his ability to care for himself.  He faced the very real possibility of death and the grave.  His friends tried to help him, and actually tore away at all possible reasons for Job going into this trial.

Job still held to his innocence and trusted that God alone could help him understand what was behind his trial.  God alone could judge him and Job longed for God to set a time for judgment.  (Job 24:1)  According to God, He has set a day when He will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ.  (Acts 17:31) Those found in Him will be declared innocent!  Our redeemer lives!

Scripture reading for May 26th: Job 20-21

Death is the great equalizer.  With only a very few exceptions, all who have entered this world have left it by death.  Enoch, the seventh from Adam, was translated and Elijah had a chariot come for him.  Jesus Christ rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven on a cloud of glory!  All others that we know of have died and are buried.  Whether they were rich or poor, none of what they had went with them.  Whether they were good or evil, it appears that the same fate has overtaken them.  Some who where evil lived long lives of pleasure.  Some who were righteous died young.  Job and his friends wrestled with these issues and tried to figure out some reason in it all.

Job’s friend Zophar has simple reasoning.  The wicked have their lives cut short and they are punished by God.  They loose their youthful vigor and God’s burning anger will consume them.  Terrors overwhelm them and God’s wrath is appointed to bring them down. (Job 20:24-29)   By implication, since  Job is suffering this terror, loss of goods, and sickness, then he must be wicked!  Case closed!

Job answered his friend with some of his observations.  Job observed that some wicked live lives of ease and are prosperous.  They seemed to have no trouble and everything goes well.  They die in peace even though they have rejected God and His ways.  Other men die in bitterness and never enjoy anything in life.  When they die, worms eat them both.  (Job 21:22-26)

Job’s final conclusion was that Zophar’s comments were “nonsense” and “falsehood”.  (Job 21:34)  Man with his eyes cannot see what happens to anyone who dies.  We are not God to know what is truly in a man’s heart and are told not to judge.  Death is the great swallower of all mankind.  God will judge each person who has not made a covenant with Him by His son, Jesus Christ.  God’s mercy triumphs over judgment when we turn to Jesus.  When we live and believe in Jesus, He tells us we will never die!  (John 11:25-26)

Be careful today not to judge others or condemn them to hell for their sins.  God’s heart is to see all saved and come to Him.  He offers escape from eternal death and a way to live eternally and fully starting today!

Scripture reading for May 25th: Job 18-19

The fate of the wicked is something that man has often contemplated.  In Job 18, Bildad the Shuhite summarized the thinking of his day about what would happen to those who died in wickedness.  Bildad knew of the law of sowing and reaping, and men who sowed evil and would reap sudden judgment.  His hope was to get Job to repent and avoid judgment.

Bildad believed that after death, the wicked would have their skin eaten off and be turned over to the “king of terrors”.  Fire would reside in their tent and burning sulfur in their dwelling.  (Job 18:12-15)  The wicked person’s memory would be erased from the earth and none of his offspring would remain among the people.   This would be the fate of those who refused to know or acknowledge God.  By implication, Bildad thought that Job was such a man who had already lost his offspring from among men and was reaping a harvest of judgment.

Job had patiently endured these attacks ten times from his friend.  (Job 19:3)  He acknowledged that he had no answers from God and only rejection and scorn from his friends.  In all of this, he begged for pity from his friends, but got none!  Job longed to have his words written down.  (Job 19:23-34)  He got this prayer answered and many others!

Job then made one of the most famous statements of faith in all of Scripture.  Out of the midst of this terrible trial, from inside him came revelation!  “I know my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes–I, and not another.  How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27)  Job’s heart was burning for His Redeemer!  He knew of God’s plan of resurrection and seeing this Redeemer face to face!

God sustains His people through revelation.  Jesus Christ is the “Redeemer” that Job was longing for over 2000 years before He appeared on the earth as a man.  He is the firstborn from the dead, the “Resurrected” one who promises resurrection life to all who trust in Him!  He is coming again and we will see Him!  Even if we die, we will be raised to life eternal and live with Him forever!