God and Job

TNIV Scripture for Wednesday, July 2, 2008 [Job14-13-16]

'If only you would hide me in the grave and conceal me till your anger has passed! If only you would set me a time and then remember me! If someone dies, will they live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come. You will call and I will answer you; you will long for the creature your hands have made. Surely then you will count my steps but not keep track of my sin.

Job loved God and God commended him as His "servant...a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil" (Job 1:8 NASB). But Job had some lessons to learn about the nature and character of God, as did his not so comforting friends. After chapters and chapters of Job and friends laments and faulty thinking concerning God (see Scripture above as an example), God finally revealed His true character in the last few chapters (beginning with Job 38), as He spoke to Job through a whirlwind.

As you read Job, consider that most of the book distorts God's character through the words of Job and His friends. Be careful not to develop your understanding of God through those first 37 chapters. In chapter 42, Job's sad story ended very well as Job got to know His God better and God blessed him with more than he had lost.

God loved Job too much for him to remain in his misunderstandings about Himself. Therefore, God allowed Job to suffer so that He could know His God much better and more intimately. If you are going through tough times, consider that God loves you and wants to reveal Himself more clearly to you in your suffering. Humbly turn to God through the word, prayer and fellowship with other believers and let God comfort, guide and instruct you resulting in your peace, joy and a closer walk with your God.



Beth Warlick, 7/2/2008 1