Read Job 9
Highlights:
Job's suffering intensified; his weariness of life; Zophar's accusation; Job's affirmation of faith in God's wisdom and omnipotence.
Then Job answered and said . . . God . . . doeth . . . wonders without number. Lo, He goeth by me, and I see Him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive Him not. Behold, He taketh away, who can hinder Him? who will say unto Him, What doest Thou? (Job 9:1-12).
Bildad, Job's second friend to speak, was noticeably less sympathetic than was Eliphaz. He critically attacked Job, saying: How long shall . . . thy mouth be like a strong wind? (8:2). Bildad agreed with Eliphaz that sin was the cause of Job's suffering. But Bildad did not base his conclusions on observation of just one lifetime, but on traditions established over many years (8:8-9). Just like Job's friends, we are often quick to judge with no foundation or proof to support our conclusions. The majority of the time when someone falls on hard times our first assumption is it's because of sin. And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? (John 9:2).
Job confessed that God's dealings with him were beyond his ability to comprehend. When he said: Lo, He goeth by me, he was expressing assurance of God's presence, even though there was no evidence to substantiate his faith. Job knew God was still around him, but his friends saw no proof. When God is working in a personal way, it is hard to explain to others what is happening to you. They might only see the bad things transpiring, even though God is at work underneath the surface. Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart (II Cor. 3:3).
God may never reveal a reason for our trials. Children of faith may sometimes find themselves in the dark. They may not understand, but they know, regardless of how bad the times get, God is in control. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). It's so important that you place your trust and dependence on Christ, because He has your life in His hands. But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths (Prov. 3:5-6).
Thought for Today:
Every trial deepens our faith in the fact that God never fails!
Christ Portrayed:
Through the daysman (mediator) that Job longs for (Job 9:33). Christ is the only Mediator between God and (sinful) men (I Tim. 2:5).
Word Studies:
9:33 daysman, mediator; 9:34 rod, chastisement; 10:11 fenced, knit me together; 11:6 exacteth, demands; 11:14 tabernacles, dwellings; 11:19 make suit unto thee, seek your favor; 12:19 spoiled, stripped and plundered.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Government Officials: Gov. Thomas Corbett (PA) and Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH) • Country: Indonesia (211.8 million) five large and 13,662 lesser islands in Southeast Asia • Major languages: Bahasa Indonesian (modified form of Malay) and English • Growing pressure from Muslim leaders to limit advances of Christianity by not renewing many of the missionaries' permits to stay in the country • 83% Muslim; 9% Protestant; 4% Catholic; 2% Hindu; 1% Buddhist; 1% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Confess and forsake any known sin (Neh. 1:6).
Optional Reading: Galatians 6
Memory Verse for the Week: Ecclesiastes 12:13
