RTW January 26

When Suffering Asks…

“I long for the years gone by when God took care of me,”
Job 29:2

 

 

My Takeaways

Something Old

Job wants to return to the past, the days when God watched over him (v2) and he was in his prime (v4): the time when blessings seemed limitless, and suffering limited.

Let’s face it, we live in a fallen world where suffering doesn’t discriminate and is unavoidable. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (NIV) John 16:33

  • When suffering asks, “How will I get through this?” God will answer, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (NIV) 2 Corinthians 12:9  Let our pain teach us what we need to know.
  • When suffering asks, “Where is God?” God will answer, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (NIV) Hebrews 13:5b  Misery tries to lie and tell us God doesn’t care. Oh, He does! He has a perfect plan for us, and sometimes anguish is part of the perfection. He is trust worthy to work all things together for good for all those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
  • When suffering asks, “Do you even see me?” God will answer, I’m El Roi. I saw Hagar and her suffering, and I see you. (Genesis 16:13) He will say, “I store the tears you cry.” (Psalm 56:8) As our agony prolongs it’s easy to assume God doesn’t care because He doesn’t see. God’s name is The God Who Sees.

Something New

God alone understands the way to wisdom; He knows where it can be found. Job 28:23.

Something to Do

Where do I seek wisdom?

 

 

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9 Comments

  1. I understand why Job would prefer Gods provisions and care, he was a ruler in Uz, a man of status and respect. The wealthiest man in Uz which gave him power and fame.

    This is the provision I anticipate, heaven, “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard nor entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those that love Him”.

    Sitting here contemplating, would I what to go back, only if I could change all the bad choices. “Escape for your lives, don’t look back” are the words blowing in the wind, Lots wife looked back, how did that turn out for her!. I like salt but not all over my body, the closest was swimming in the Dead Sea in Israel. NEVER open your eyes while swimming in the Dead Sea!!

    One of my favorite verses which I quote a lot is Psalms 138:
    1 I will praise You with my whole heart;
    Before the gods I will sing praises to You.
    2 I will worship toward Your holy temple,
    And praise Your name
    For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
    For You have exalted your Name and your Word above all else.
    3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
    And made me bold with strength in my soul.

  2. Something Old – We can do so much to search the earth and gain resources from it but we can’t find wisdom in our own pursuits. Wisdom only comes from God. It is only found in fearing him and forsaking evil.

    Something new – Job 29:18….he thought he would live a long life and die surround by his family. My idea of my future is only an idea…only God knows the end of my days and those I love. Trust in him and his sovereign plan even when it doesn’t make sense or line up with the idea and plan I had.

    Something to do – fear the lord and forsake evil. Trust in God’s plan.

  3. Thank you Wendy! This was a good lesson, lots of wisdom! I struggle with the practical application of believing that God’s Grace is sufficient for me I times when I feel weak. Does anyone have any insight?

    1. Somehow it`s in our weaknesses that God can work best in and through us. The way i see it, when we`re weak, we`re empty and without resources. In a sense then, we can be`out of His way` so He can better do His work.

  4. I wondered today if verse 2 of chapter 29 is a clue to the unanswered question of how long Job suffered? “I long for the years gone by when God took care of me,” Was it years that Job suffered? I wondered why the NLT says years and other translations say months? Just thinking outloud.

    The verse that stood out to me today was found in Job 28:28 “And this is what he says to all humanity: The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.” So am I to fear the Lord in the sense of being afraid? What reasons do I have to be afraid of God? I can fear God of his awesome power. The power he has over me in the way I live my life. When I fear God I respect Him, obey Him, submit to His discipline, and worship Him in awe.

    After reading this verse I was quickly reminded of the several other verses throughout the poetic books that are similar to this. My mind went to
    Proverbs, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…, and the fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverted mouth, I hate” (1:7a; 8:13).
    So fearing the Lord is to hate what God hates and to love what God loves. This is true wisdom. How often do I get caught up in the mistakes of this world and embrace what God hates and despises what God loves? I don’t want to be a fool, but sadly I often choose to follow the foolish thinking of this ungodly, fallen world. My heart wants what is right but my mind often leads me to wrong. I want my heart to break for what breaks God’s. The heart of God is a beautiful place. But I will only know His heart by knowing his word and living it out. I have to let my heart be broken by turning from my sin because repentance sets me free. My heart must be broken by realizing the urgency of the hour, I must r emember, the gospel is only good news if it arrives in time. My heart has to break for lost friends and the lost world, people who are self destructing and refuse the cure. I want to be challenged to look deep within my own heart to see what hurts me most.

    Something to do: Fear the Lord, turn from evil, seek wisdom and understanding in my life on a daily basis.

  5. Today’s reading just really reiterated to me how much I need God, and without God, nothing matters. Job talked about riches and how much man can do, but there is no true wisdom without God. ” But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living.” – Job 28:12-13

  6. Something New
    ~In Job’s speech in 29:1-25, he recounts his former blessings and is nostalgic about his past and what he had anticipated his future would be like. None of us knows if the blessings of today will continue or what our future days will look like. Our situation can change in an instant, forever changing our future.
    ~Is Job boasting and/or taking credit for his accomplishments?

    Something To Do
    ~Praise God for His wisdom that is available to me.
    ~Live life to the fullest each day God gives me for I don’t know what tomorrow may bring or if I will even be here tomorrow.
    ~Thank God for His current provision of health, wealth and prosperity.

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