Tag: Job

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“I will not answer”- F260- Week 2- Day 2

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Today’s Reading- Job 40-42

This Weeks Memory Verse:

(8)  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Hebrews 11:8

Highlight:

(1) Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
(2) Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
(3) Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
(4) Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
(5) Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

Job 40:1-5

Explain:
After God asks Job a litany of questions that he cannot answer, Job begins to get a much bigger and more accurate view of who God really is. Job begins to understand that he cannot contend with the Almighty. There is nothing that Job can teach God. God doesn’t need the news. He is not surprised. Job does what we ought to do at times. He puts his hands over his mouth. The time for trying to instruct the Lord is over.

Apply:
A right view of God helps us to have a right view of ourselves and our circumstances. Job says, “I am vile”, and responsds with “I will not answer” and “I will proceed no further.” It is right to talk to God and to commune with him. Yet we should do that with a recogniztion of who he really is and who we are as well.

Respond:
Lord help me to recognize who You are, and who I am today.

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“Gird up your loins like a man…”: F260- Week 2- Day 1

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional, F260Leave a comment

Daily Reading- Job 38, 39

Highlight:


(1) Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
(2) Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
(3) Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
(4) Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
(5) Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
(6) Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
(7) When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Job 38:1-7

Explanation:
The Lord, who had been silent to Job in the book, now comes to answer Jobs questions with His own. These two chapters are full to the brim of answers that Job does not know. God tells Job to “gird up now thy loins like a man”. Job was going to have his mind blown by some other questions that could have been raised that only God can account for the details. They deal with the natural world- the created order.
Application:
There are some things we will never understand in this life. There are some questions that we have that God may never answer while we are down here. God has been incredible merciful to us. He has been gracious to us. God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Thankfull we can think His thoughts after Him because He wrote them down in this book that we are reading together. We must learn to trust Him for what we can understand, and also for what we cannot.
Response:
God, please help me to trust You today no matter what happens.

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F260- Day 5- “Blessed be the name of the Lord”

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional, F260Leave a comment

Scripture Reading: Job 1 and 2

(20)  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
(21)  And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
(22)  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Job 1:20-22

(9)  Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
(10)  But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Job 2:9-10

Explanation:
It is interesting that one of the first books of the Bible written, in the first chapters of that book, the subject of human suffering is dealt with. We know that all evil comes from the consequences of our own sin, being sinned against, or living in a sin cursed world. In these verses we do not see GOd causing suffering, but allowing suffering to accomplish His purposes.
I’ve picked out Job’s response to material suffering in chapter 1, and his response to physical suffering in chapter 2.
In chapter 1, Job loses most of his wealth, and his children. It happens through several different circumstances all in one day. Imagine losing your house, car, investments, bank accounts, children, and grandchildren all in one day. It’s overwhelming to even consider. What was Job’s response? “God gives and God takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” This was partially untrue. Satan was the one that attacked and took away. The detail may not have been exactly right, but His response, worship, was exactly right.
In chapter 2, Job’s health is impacted. His wife gives him very foolish advice. “Curse God and die.” In essense she is saying, “Why would you still serve God if he has done all of this to you?”. Job again has a right attitude. He does not “charge God foolishly” (1:22). He does not accept God’s blessing and blame God for the bad. The truth is that God did bless Job, and God did not cause Job’s suffering.

Application:
Often we take credit for our blessing and blame God for the evil. We must be grateful for our blessing, knowing that it is from God. James addresses this quite directly:

(13)  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (14)  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15)  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
(16)  Do not err, my beloved brethren. (17)  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James 1:13-17

We must be grateful to God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in everything and for everything that we encounter.

Response:
Lord God, please help me to be thankful for all the blessings, and to trust you and worship you in good times and bad. Amen