RTW January 31
Tasting Humility
I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.
Job 42: 6
My Takeaways
Something Old:
Have you ever had an encounter with God when all you could say was?
“I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.”
Something New
Is the story of Job just demonstrate that bad things happen to good people?
I believe the book of Job is to teach us that God is sovereign and sovereignly allows difficulties to come to demonstrate his sovereignty as well as to test our faith.
I believe Job felt he failed his faith test because he
- Unjustly accused God
- Was at odds with God
God replaces what He sovereignly allows removed.
42:10
God restored Job’s fortunes after he had prayed for his friends.
What restoration have I missed because I have not done what God required of me?
Something to Do
Maintain sweet fellowship with God in the good and the bad times of my life.
Well, we just finished the book of Job and I’m so glad that’s done. Job is one of my least favorite books in the Bible, and that’s because I don’t have the patience to listen to the back and forth contentious conversations between Job and his friends. I will say that doing the Book of Job in the one year Chronological Bible Study was much better than doing one chapter of Job a day for five days a week. That study of Job carried on for 42 days and I was so relieved when all those speeches, all 34 chapters of them, were completed! Ok, enough of my lamenting on the Book of Job!
I like what Wendy said about her belief that: “the book of Job is to teach us that God is sovereign and sovereignly allows difficulties to come to demonstrate his sovereignty as well as to test our faith.” Through the study of Job we learn that God is God, and we are not. God knows all, and we do not. God has reasons for what He allows in our lives, and we may never know what those reasons are this side of Heaven. And, there are spiritual things going on in Heaven, spiritual battles, that we know nothing about.
I also think that there’s another reason that Job went through what he experienced. I believe that Job also went through what he experienced for all of us. The Book of Job is a prime example that shows us that life is not always fair. If you’ve been on this earth for any number of years, I feel certain that you’ve also experienced unfair things. Job shows us that we may suffer at times, and not understand just why we’re suffering.
The Book of Job shows us that we should do somethings, or it’s okay to:
– Pour out our feelings to God and to ask God for relief.
– Praise God even in our sufferings.
– Come alongside someone who is suffering and offer support.
The Book of Job also teaches us somethings that we should not do:
– Accuse God of being vindictive or unfair.
– Accuse/Insist that others who are suffering have unrepentant sin in their lives.
– Demand that God provide us satisfactory answers to all of our questions.
I agree with everything you wrote. I too find the book of Job nerve racking. Not my favorite book to say the least. But it does have so many lessons for us to learn.
Wendy and Victoria – so appreciate the many insights/principles expressed in your remarks about the conclusion of Job. Both of you are a blessing to me today. Gramma Susan
My Takeawakes: I finished Job. Yahoo!!
Something Old:
Job understands and he is sorry. He comes to repentence. He doesn’t ask for forgiveness from secret sins, so he was a righteous man. He asked for forgiveness in ever questioning God’s power and judgement.
Something New:
God came to Job, truly a demonstration of his love and care for him.
Something To Do:
Trust God’s will. Know that he alone is in control. He carries the plan book. He loves me to much to not treat me justly. He has a purpose for my life. I don’t need to second guess him. Trust, believe and have faith in the great I AM!