It’s FRIDAY! And we’re stuck in the midst of Job. Today’s reading is Job 12 – 14:22. I know, I know–you are feeling like you will never get through Job. And–when I looked up to see how many chapters there are in Job, and I saw 42–I realize we have a ways to go. HOW FITTING. Job really takes you through the emotions we often feel in life some times. We just don’t know if we can get through it. But HANG IN THERE…hope is waiting around the corner! Always, always.
AND…Let me give you a reason to shout a praise of thanksgiving today!!! In the midst of hardship—the Lord is working! In good days—the Lord is working! When things make sense OR don’t make sense—the Lord is working! It makes me want to SHOUT, “HOSANNA!” In Hebrew, Hosanna means “please save” or “save now”. That is my shout today! BE ENCOURAGED! You would NOT believe, even if I told you, how the Lord is working through this Bible reading. They aren’t my personal stories to tell, but daily–I received emails that knock my socks right off! Halleujah! Oh the stories! From “this is the first time I’ve read the Bible” to “I would read that you loved the Lord and I wanted that”…the LORD IS WORKING! Yes, even on the internet. HOSANNA! HALLEUJAH! I LOVE IT! Let us not give up on the reading of His Word. I told you that you were going to hear me say that a lot this year. But let us not give up! The Lord, indeed, is working! So…let us start our Friday…not the “end” of the week…but the “beginning” of our weekend where we may be used for the glory of God! Give us strength Lord…here’s a little song to help you get your praise on in your heart today…
Today’s Reading – Job Chapters 12, 13, 14
Chapter 12 – Job rebukes his friends judgements of him—in essence, he really stands up for himself in confidence and also shows that he finds his worth in God not in their opinions. He explains that you really can’t judge if people are living right or wrong based on if things are going well for them. In verses 6-11 he says even wicked people prosper. So true. Not fun to watch a wicked man prosper is it? But man looks at the outer appearance while God looks at the heart. God ends this chapter by speaking of the Lord’s wisdom and power. I love how Job continues to speak truths of the Lord…I’m seeing how DEEPLY He knew our Father’s heart and ways.
Chapter 13: Very similar to Chapter 12, Job continues to rebuke the opinions and statments of his friends. (Declares what he knows it not true.) Then he professes his confidence in the Lord and His ways (Declaring who God is). Finally, he asks the Lord to show him his sin (Searcing His heart). This chapter is a great model for when we hear something that hurts us.
Chapter 14 – And just when you thought Job was beginning to gain heart–this next chapter seems to take an interesting plunge…or maybe a bit of thoughtful uncertainty about life, death and even God’s ways.
Thanks for walking through this chapter with me. Job didn’t live an easy life–and this isn’t an easy read. We were not made for THIS world—and I should count all things loss here…because really the ONLY thing that matters here is being in the Lord’s will while I’m here. How will we know His will? KNOW HIS VOICE. How will we know His voice? BE IN HIS WORD. Let us not give up dear friends…I know hope is just around the corner—for Job, for you, for me, for those in need, for orphans, for Haitians…I know that we serve a good, loving, merciful, gracious God…and with Him–there is always hope.
AND SPEAKING OF HOPE…A BABY GIRL REFERRAL WENT OUT YESTERDAY WITH OUR AGENCY!!! YAY!I’m not 100% sure but I think that we may be unofficially #30 on the girls list and around #20 on boys list! So funny to have started out as #45 on the girls list and #28 on the boys. We have moved only 8 spots on the boy list but 15 on the girl list. WOW. Now I’m really starting to wonder if our next baby is a prince or princess! This is going to be an exciting year…thank you for sharing it with me!!!
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Amen girl! LOVE that song! Its great to see how God moves and works in us through His word!
That song is SWEET! Thanks for sharing
Love that song!!
You asked about the video I made. I have a mac and just used different transitions from iMovie. Aren’t the swirly ones fun?? That little video has been such an awesome tool. I believe every kid in our school district is going to see it within the next week or so:) So far we’ve raised $500 just collecting cans for about 7 weeks.
Chapter 12: It’s about time Job stands up to the judgment of his friends, don’t you think? If it were me, I probably would have done it a long time ago. Or being the wuss that I am, I probably would have cut off contact with them. When I am in a struggling place in my life, the last thing I want to hear is judgment and ridicule. What I admire about Job is that even in his frustration, he speaks words of wisdom and truth. When I am angry, often the words that come out of my mouth are harsh, jumbled, and don’t make a lot of sense. But Job speaks so eloquently even in his frustration and anger. We also learn in this chapter that Job is learning from his suffering. He has gained a new perspective on the way God works and the way the world works. I wish I could say that I always used difficult times in my life to lead me into a deeper understanding of our God, but the truth is I am a sinner. I think the biggest thing I take away from this chapter is that God is sovereign, almighty, all-powerful, and ultimately…IN CONTROL. We are not. As my commentary again put it, “Humility does not come easily to us, who place great value on power and independence. But the truth is that we are dependent upon God even for our very existence.” Um…wow. And once again, I will relate this to our adoption process right now…..I am growing so much in my relationship with God through adoption. Not only have I come to realize that the only reason I am part of God’s family is because HE ADOPTED ME, but that I have NO CONTROL over the way the process is moving, or the timeframe. It sometimes drives me crazy. There are nights I plead with God to speed things up or to just bring us to the next step. But I KNOW that once again His plan is perfect, like it has been every time in the past. (I know I keep reiterating this, but I need to repeat it for my sake too…I am still learning.)
Chapter 13: Ahhhh SNAP!! Job really gives it to them there, doesn’t he? “You are smearing me with lies. As doctors you are worthless quacks.” (vs. 4) “Are you defending God by means of lies and dishonest arguments?” (vs. 7) Job is clearly angry, and his “friends” are getting in the way of his conversations with God. Yeah, I would have some lashing out to do as well! Who are you that you think you can speak for God? And then Job decides to do something about his situation: present it to the Lord. Can’t you just see him growing closer to God through his suffering? And you want to know the best part? God welcomes our honest feelings!!! What an awesome God we serve!!!
Chapter 14: I think the part that makes Job’s suffering so much worse than our suffering today is the fact that we are living after the time of Jesus Christ! We know the power of His resurrection, and His promise of eternal life! Job was a wise man, but he couldn’t grasp that concept. I imagine that it’s much easier to tolerate the suffering in your life when you understand God’s promise for us. Again in my commentary: “…God wasn’t punishing Job or taking pleasure in his anguish. He was allowing Job to pass through a fiery trial. God knows the end result of our suffering and despair – a faith that is purer than gold.”
“So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:6-7
Well if THAT doesn’t encourage you, I don’t know what will!!! Many people are ready to be done with this chapter. I admit, I was trying to rush through it in the beginning. But I am finding that the more I am reading, the more God is teaching. So I urge you all as you are reading God’s word, to read the meaning behind the words, not just the words themselves. Really reflect on them, because there is an amazing message behind all of Job’s pain.
Thank you for sharing! I fell in love with this song last year when I went to Belarus. At a children’s Christian camp they were singing praise songs, & I knew most of them. I didn’t know this one. They were singing it in their language, but it spoke to my heart, & I just love that song! It’s very moving!
Hi Andrea! I just wanted to let you know what a perfect timed blessing reading through the Bible with you ladies is. I have been a part of a ladies Bible Study for a years, and they meet one a week in the morning. I have SOOO debated and stressed over this, but now, with homeschooling 2 and finding time to sew for the adoption, I just cannot commit an entire morning and not do school on that day. (By the afternoon, my kids are mentally toast!) The same week my hubby and I decided I needed to give up my weekly meeting with the ladies (which was pretty devestating), you announced this read through. It has been SOOO good to “meet” with you ladies everyday, read through scripture and pray. (I DO pray for any request you all are posting!) It’s kindof crazy, I have never met any of you, really do not have a clue where in the world you live, and may never know….! Isn’t it amazing how strong the bonds of Christ and scripture are?!? I refer to you all as my “blog ladies” to my hubby:) It is such a blessing, because I thought I was loosing my Bible study and lady friends, and now I am just gaining more! (Plus, if I have sick kids or what not I do not have to “stay home and miss”, I can still read what you all have to say!!) Your thoughts Andrea, and all of the comments left here are such an encouragment to me! Thank you all! OK, on to the reading….this may sound CRAZY to you all, but the book of Job has become a HUGE source of comfort to me over the past few years. I am not even sure how to explain what I mean. I read through the book, and I see….He is GOD. He is powerful and HE, not another (and not ourselves!) is in CONTROL. It makes me think of the last line to “This is my Father’s World”…”though all the wrong seems oh so strong, God is the ruler yet.” In the end, whether that be on this side of eternity or not, He will make all things RIGHT. Sin and it’s effects are so real…oh that makes me long for heaven! I long to see my 12 year old brother be able to walk and talk. I long for the day when my parents will not have to watch him suffer. One day, there will be no earthquakes, no orphans, no disease. HE is in control, and HE is good…. our time on earth is so short, our perspective small….we get but a speck of a look at the overall plan. I can’t wait until we get to the last few chapters of Job…I look forward to when God speaks!!!! Blessing to you all!
Thanks for the encouragement ladies. I have to admit I looked ahead too and felt overwhelmed by 42 chapters(I’ve never actually read Job in it’s entirity. Megan, thank you for the reminder that He welcomes our honest feelings. Oh how I try to fool Him sometimes! He knows my heart. my feelings. my hurt. my anger. Be real with Him! The devotional I’m reading right now fits so beautifully with our reading of Job. An excerpt from January 18….”God gets His greatest victories out of apparent defeats.Very often the enemy seems to triumph for a little, and God lets it be so; but then He comes in and upsets all the work of the enemy, overthrows the apparent victory, and as the Bible says, ‘turns the way of the wicked upside down.’ Thus He gives a great deal larger victory than we would have known if He had not allowed the enemy, seemingly, to triumph in the first place.” We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3-5 Let us keep our hope in Him!
Shannon, thank you for sharing that part of your devotions, it so true! I know I often feel like I can hide my feelings from God too. And what’s the point? He knows them anyway…and it feels so much better to share them with Him.