KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, January 04, 2016
Chapters: Job 1-5
Message: Hang Tight, Trust Jesus
Hello My Friend,
As we read the Bible in order of events, we come to Job, he was around during a time when there was no law follow, it is the oldest book written, and unlike most of the Old Testament that focused on the Jews, Job shows that God had followers of every nation. The timeline is around 1520 BC, the one who penned the book is not known, but probable that it was Moses or Job himself. The purpose of the book is to explain the question many people have, Why do the Godly suffer? What we are to learn from the book is that there is a spiritual reason behind why God allows all unexplained suffering. “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” – Job 23:10.
There are times in our lives when things just do not make any sense, we try to live right by God, put Him first, be there for others, and yet there seems to be no end to the suffering. Let me tell you, suffering is not something God initiates, but something He allows. Why? The Book of Job answers all the questions we have as to who is actually behind our suffering. As much as we think that the devil has great power over us, the truth is, while he is behind much of the suffering, he has no power over God, he can only do what God allows him to do. We learn of this as God first allows him to afflict Job’s life. Job was not by any means a perfect man in the sense that he never sinned, but God saw him as perfect in his heart, which is why He mentioned Job.
“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.” – Job 1:6-12.
“only upon himself put not forth thine hand.” What you see here is not the devil being allowed to come and go into the gates of heaven, who was once one of God’s angels that was cast out because he wanted to have all the power of God. Why God never destroyed him right there is beyond human reasoning, I guess He is waiting for the day He can put him in eternal darkness and fire forever? Satan was sure that Job would walk away from God if he took everything he possessed away from him, and that is exactly what he did. Satan took Job’s crops, cattle, servants, and his children in an instant. And when that did not work he went back to God and He allowed him to afflict his body, but not kill him because only God can give and take away life.
“So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.” – Job 2:7-13.
“and shall we not receive evil?” This is the natural evil, calamities, sorrow, death that Job was talking about. Job had no idea this was the work of the devil, all he knew was that he was suffering and in pain and had no idea why. For a week Job laid there as he friends watched him in sorrow, thinking about the state he was in and what he could have possibly done to have such unfortunate events happen to him. This book is so close to my heart, I always get emotional when I read it, especially when Job wonders why he was even born.
“After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in? For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.” – Job 3:1-4,23-26.
“Why is light given to a man whose way is hid,” You know, no matter what suffering we are facing, there is no better comfort than knowing that we have heaven to look forward to. Job questioned being born and had rather been at rest having died before even being born rather than be faced with what he was going through now. Job wondered why those who are not living for God seem to be blessed and protected while he was the one who got afflicted. As if he did not feel bad enough as it is, here come his friends, who decided it was time to speak about this. First, Eliphaz speaks, he has a great deal of concern for Job, no one who lives for God gets afflicted like that unless they have some hidden sin.
“Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways? Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?” – Job 4:4-9,17.
“who ever perished, being innocent?” Eliphaz did what many of us do when we see someone being afflicted, question their integrity, are they really the good Christians they claim to be. Let me tell you, we walk this life, especially as Christians, hedged around the salvation of Jesus Christ, but each step we take, we have no idea whether or not it is the right one, even when we are living for God. What do we do? We hang tight, trusting in Jesus. “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” – Psalms 9:9-10.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” – Job 1:21. Jesus was sent here for the sole purpose of His life being taken away I order to bring permanent redemption to all who believe in Him. While He could have changed His mind He did whatever the Father asked Him, even death.
Today’s Prayer: God, I admit that the first thing I think of when I am being afflicted is, “What have I done and how can I fix it?” It is those thoughts that hinder me from seeing the blessings you are giving me through my affliction. You already know what I am going through, I just need to trust You and let You take care of it as I do what I can in my ability. Lord, help me to walk continuously in my integrity and keep looking to You for help through my affliction instead of trying to fix the problem myself without Your guidance. I love You and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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