Sunday, January 14, 2007
Job 38
The finale finally comes-God speaks…He answered Job out of the storm…Hmm, God seems to like water…after the flood, now storm…
God did not answer Job directly, instead He asked Job a series of questions that no human could possibly answer. Amazing, right? God knows Job, just like God knows us. He handles each of us differently, using different approaches. With this approach of God on Job, Job finally responded by recognizing that God’s ways are best. God used Job’s ignorance of the earth’s natural order to reveal Job’s ignorance of who God is. Since Job was not able to explain some common events in nature, how could Job possibly explain or question God?
In Job 39, after asking Job about nature, God questioned Job about the animal kingdom. Interesting, right? Poor Job, physically so tired and unwell, still need to crack his head to think. God’s intention was to show how awesome God is and how limited was Job’s knowledge about things around him. God was not interested in Job’s answers, rather, God wanted Job to recognize and submit to God’s power and sovereignty. Only then could Job hear what God was really saying to him.
****Suffering causes us to trust God for who He is, not what He does.
ABUNDANT PEACE :)
2:01 AM
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Job 35
I am sure Elihu must have waited for a loooong time before he was given the chance to speak. It shows Elihu having great patience…something to emulate. But he sure has great stamina to speak…hen duo kou sui… it just flowed like waterfall. Though he claimed that Job’s attitude had become arrogant as he tried to defend his innocence, we can learn a lot about God through his speech too.
Whatever circumstances, trials, problems or challenges that you have in life, rest assured that God has and will always be there for each of us. God is still concerned even though he doesn’t intervene immediately in every situation. God executes justice! Don’t lose Hope! Wait upon God! Don’t Quit when tested! Persevere till the very end and enjoy His blessings---in the case of Job, God blessed Him doubled as much as he used to have.
Elihu continued…waterfall still flowing…heez
In Job 36, Elihu talked about how incomprehensible God is and there is no way we can completely fathom God! That is why He is the God Almighty! Though we can know God by reading His Word, praying, worshipping…we can never know enough to answer all of life’s questions, to predict the future or to manipulate God for our own benefit (Pls read Eccless 3:11). So each time you do not get an answer to the “Why? How come?” Pls stop asking as He may not give you the reason or answer to some of your sufferings and trials. There were many things in my life that I wish to know the reason…but after some time, I know that God will never tell me…perhaps even if He really explains, I may not fully understand…so I eventually stopped asking…
In Job 37, Elihu continued to talk about nothing can compare to God. God is awesome, all powerful, and majestic in all ways. When He speaks, we must obey as disobedience is sin and we reap the consequences of our own choices if we choose to do otherwise-that is a risk to take! Do not speak for God, take Him for granted, or to interpret His silence to mean that God is not there or does not care. Do not play God!
Elihu concluded by saying that faith in God is far more important than Job’s desire for an explanation of his plight. He came so close to helping Job, but…just after this, God speaks. A great relief for Job.
ABUNDANT PEACE :)
1:48 AM
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Hey family, I really enjoyed reading His words since 1st January 07… Hope all of you are catching the same excitement as me :o) Though kinda challenging, especially since school has started, returning to work and waking up early to prepare breakfast for my lovely 2 - Joash and Janna, I am glad by His strength I am able to squeeze out whatever time I have to maintain the consistency of reading His Words… now having panda eyes due to lack of sleep, but each time when I managed to finish what has to be read for the day, I can’t help but to beam with joy…
As I read Job, I am very much encouraged by the fact that (Job 1:6-12) Satan is limited by God’s power and can do only what he is permitted by God. Because Satan can do nothing without God’s permission, God’s people can overcome his attacks through God’s power. Awesome, right? Satan cannot see into our minds or foretell the future…that’s why he did not know if Job can overcome the trials and affliction but God knows.
Adversity strengthens real faith by causing believers to dig their roots deeper into God in order to withstand the storms.
As I read Job… the adversities plagued upon him is so much and intense. I really salute to his tenacity to press on (though he did become impatient and upset, blaming God)… but he did not reject and curse God.
When faced with trials, try asking God –What can I learn and how can I grow?
I know its easier said than done…this is the attitude that God wants from every child of His.
By our strength - Impossible. By His strength, POSSIBLE.
Interestingly, as I read Job’s reply in Job 10, I can’t help but to feel that though Job was suffering, his words were so poetic and his way of putting the words were so beautifully phrased…
v10 - Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese,
v11 - clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews? … even when he was angry.
For us, when we are angry, don’t think we can respond with such poetic and beautiful structure of words… heez…
In Job 11, the last of Job’s friend - Zophar
Zophar was even more unfriendly and arrogant in his words to Job, accusing Job of sinning against God due to his plight and saying Job deserved to be punished. Sad , right? My heart goes out to Job… sob, sob. Zophar was indeed very, Super-duper insensitive and shows no brotherly love and compassion… I am sure he is the last person that Job wants to see if given the chance.
In Job 12 -14, Job’s reply to Zophar
This time, Job was sure heated up, he responded to Zophar with great sarcasm. Job once again emphasized that his 3 friends had misunderstood his suffering. Job stressed that he did not sinned against God to end up like this. Job was very adamant about asking God for an explanation to his plight.
ABUNDANT PEACE :)
5:37 PM
