January 22 - Job 12:1- 14:22

Good morning everyone,

This morning we begin with Job’s reply to all the observations, counseling and advise his three friends have given him. Again, I urge you to remember the condition Job is in, close your eyes for just a moment and picture this man first as a wealthy, happy rancher with regular routines of praying and presenting sacrifices to his God, gathering with his family over meals, laughing it up, kind of like the Ben Cartwright of Bonanza, if you’re old enough to remember that television show. Life is great for Job. Now, close your eyes again and see this same man but now broken, instead of long hair his head is shaved, he has sores all over his body, open wounds in fact, oozing with puss. His bowels are boiling, he has diarrhea, his skin is black, his breath is so foul it is said to be like death, he is depressed, desperate and more than a little bewildered by all that is happening to him. Can you see that? Can you just for a moment put yourself in his place? How does that feel to you?

You know that Job has been sitting there since this whole thing started, racking his brain, pondering, going through the mental check points trying to figure out the “why” of it all, he had already thought of everything they have been telling him. Also, he recognizes that he is a laughing stock, people pointing fingers at him because of his misfortune. They are not telling him anything he has not already thought of so finally, Job, while sitting on the heaps of ash has heard enough of their whys and wherefores, he looks up, and in the greatest form of sarcasm rips into his friends. Is this godly behavior? Absolutely not, but it serves to show us how utterly confused and disorientated with life Job really is. He says to them, (and say this with attitude) “ I’m sure you think you are the only wise people left. You think that when you die, wisdom will be gone with you.”, then he tells them that his mind is good, and they are not any smarter than he is. 

I like how Job argues that if those who openly sin against God or have no relationship with Him do not suffer as Job is suffering, then how can suffering be said to be caused by sin. - That is to say that, yes, in life there is consequence of choice and if you choose to sin you very may will suffer, however, just because you suffer does not mean that you are being punished for a sin. Make sense? In the case for Job, as with many, it is simply an attack of the enemy. 

I loved Job’s reminder to them in 12:13 that true wisdom and power are found in God and we read in chapter 13:20 that Job breaks from speaking to his friends and turns to speak to God. The solid Rock, though he can no longer feel God, it the one place that has always been a constant, the one place he knows to turn. He asks two things; first, that his suffering will stop. He is feeling abandoned and lonely I am sure he totally misses being with God, don’t you when you are away from His word? Second, that God would show him his sins if he’s committed any. He feels adrift, like a boat with no port in a storm. You see, even in Job’s despair he knows that God will be his salvation. When all else failed Job relied on his basic foundation of faith. Faith in God’s perfect plan is what will always see us through.

I pray you have a most awesome day.

God bless you all …