KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Sunday, May 29, 2016
Chapters: Job 10-13
Message: Grace When Nothing Makes Sense
Hello My Friend,
Grace, we often think of grace as the thing that keeps God from giving us what we really deserve, but grace is much more than God keeping us from a punishment, grace is what keeps us going when nothing makes sense. Sometimes it seems like nothing we do matters, that every turn adds another problem instead of a solution. Instead of trying to figure it all out, hand it over to God and let His grace be the solution. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” – 1 Peter 5:8-10.
As much pain as Job is in the last thing he wants to hear are his friends accusing him and calling him a hypocrite. He feels that his life on earth is ending and does not want it to be with them giving him all these lectures. He feels like God has left him all alone to deal with all of this and just wants to talk to Him. “My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked? Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me! I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,” – Job 10:1-3,18-20.
“shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.” Job wants to ask God why He was punishing him. When bad things seem to keep happening, the first thing we do is ask God why we are being punished. Not everything we go through is a punishment, more often than not, it is a test of faith. God always uses affliction, whether it is something we did do or not to see if we are going to take it to Him. It is actually easier begging Him to forgive us rather than just seek Him for comfort. I think we often look at God as the emotionless judge who does not care what we are going through, but that is not true. God loves us, and feels our pain, after all we are made in His image. We we are being afflicted for no reason, that is what His grace is for. And we can speak to Him one on one. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6,7.
Now, we hear from a third friend, Zophar, there really is not much said about him either, he is a Gentile. All these friends from different cultures proves that God never did intend for one group of people to know and worship Him. Zophar took his lecture one step further, he outright called Job a liar. “Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.” – Job 11:1-6
“Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.” Zophar is telling Job that God is being merciful to him, that He’s not giving him near what he truly deserves. He implies that if God did speak to him that his sin would finally be revealed. How often do people come to us with their own conclusions as to what is going on? More often than not they are critics rather than friends. They were just waiting for something to happen to try and prove that we are not as faithful a Christian as we appear. When the people around us make no sense, that is what God’s grace is for. “It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.” – Psalms 18:47,48.
Now three of his friends are calling him a liar, hypocrite, and basically a cheat for not coming clean about hidden sin in his life. Job responds, tired of all these false accusations. “The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” – Job 12:6-10.
“In whose hand is the soul of every living thing,” Job cannot explain what is going on, but He does know that God has His hand in it. We cannot always explain everything that is going on with us, but no one has the right to judge or falsely accuse us of thing we have not done. Job continues his defense, reminding them that he knows the same as they do. “Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.”- Job 13:1-10.
“the same do I know also:” Mock one of God’s children, you mock God, God will not be mocked, and He will let it be known to all that He is in control and always is. We should never think of ourselves as better than anyone else, we all have quirks, and to be honest, we sin every day. We cannot always understand why we are suffering, but we can come to an understanding with God on the matter. If we endure, God will bless us, He never allows us to suffer anything that we cannot handle, and that is what His grace is for, to help us endure. “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:8,9.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through Job, who trusted God even though He was afflicting Him (13:15). Jesus, tortured and crucified for crimes He did not commit, trusted God’s hand, when He was being crucified for the sins of man. “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” – Philippians 2:8.
Today’s Prayer: God, It’s not always easy dealing with the situations that bring us suffering, and critical people do not help either. I thank You for watching over me and protecting me, even when am not in Your will, and I thank You for loving me and not giving up on me. Your hand never lets go of me, You are my only peace and comfort when nothing makes sense. Lord, lead me and guide me, let me live a life that is pleasing to You and be the example so many need to find Your Son. When others criticize and mock me, give me the strength to stand my ground and not be ashamed to profess my Jesus to them. I love You and ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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