Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Trust”
Our Bible verse for today: “Where were you when I established the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” Job 38:4 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “He is God and you are not.”
In my personal Bible reading I have just finished the book of Job. I’ve always found his story inspiring and instructive for multiple reasons – not the least of which is that although Job was a good man, he was not a perfect man. Overall he did do a pretty admirable job of handling disaster, pain, and suffering well, but he also had his moments of doubt and whining.
Throughout the long course of Job’s trials he held firmly to his faith in God and he resolved to honor God as best he could regardless of the circumstances of his life at any particular moment. But he also went through periods of depression and dismay. There were times when Job was ready to throw-in the towel and just give-up and die. There were other times when he wondered why God had even allowed him to be born in the first place if He was going to allow him to suffer like this.
There were times when Job accused God of being unfair and of maybe even being a bit callous and heartless. And then there were the multiple times when Job angrily declared that he didn’t deserve what was happening to him, it wasn’t fair, and that he longed to challenge God face-to-face so God could explain Himself. (The longer this goes on the more it sounds like me.)
Then finally, beginning in chapter thirty-eight, God responded. “Who is this who obscures My counsel with ignorant words? Get ready to answer Me like a man; when I question you, you will inform Me. Where were you when I established the earth?”
And things went downhill for Job from there. God proceeded to lay-out for Job very clearly that “I am God and you are not!” For four long chapters, 137 verses, God puts Job in his place.
To Job’s credit he got the point and he learned his lesson. In 42:2 he said, “Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.”
Additionally, after a long period of pain and suffering and bewilderment, and then finally through renewed faith in God’s goodness, Job’s faith grew by leaps and bounds. He ended up coming to know God in a deeper and more intimate way than he ever had before all his suffering: “I had heard rumors about You, but now my eyes have seen You. Therefore I take back my words and repent in dust and ashes.” 42:5-6
So then, at the end of the story we read, “So the Lord blessed the last part of Job’s life more than the first.” 42:12
Whatever it is you are dealing with in life right now you can trust that God is aware of it and that He is Sovereign over it. Nothing happens without His knowledge and permission, and He is a good God and a loving Father.
Even if you don’t understand why this is happening or why God is allowing it, it’s imperative to remember that He is God and you are not – and you can trust Him.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 