King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Saturday, January 14, 2023
Chapters: JOB 38-39
Study: The Grace of God In Me
Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,
I was in tears even before I started reading these chapters, God’s ways really are too wonderful for me, and I am not talking about His judgments, or His tests, or even His allowing Satan to throw those darts at us to prove us. I am talking about His mercies and more important His grace, I do not care how good you are, we all have our boneheaded moments of what I would call, lapse in judgment. While it truly is God’s mercy that does not give us what we do deserve, it is His grace that gives us His free unmerited love and favor toward us, regardless of how boneheaded we get. We are not where we are in our lives under our own free merit, it is by the grace of God, [1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.]
Then I read this this morning, “mighty to save.” and had to read the Scripture, which the Almighty was so gracious to show me, [Isaiah 63:1,4,9 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.]
How is it that God can talk to us even before we get into His Word? While God does put us through these tests to prove our faith, (although He is not proving that to Himself) it is Satan who tempts us to fall away from our faith. Satan, knows that a true believer belongs to Jesus, and that he cannot touch that soul, but that does not stop him from trying to change their faith, which was his entire reason for his afflicting Job. Sometimes it really is hard to discern whether or not the affliction we are facing is God testing us or Satan enticing us. As we continue in the reading of Job, we discover that the reason why Elihu was talking about the weather so much, it is because there was a tornado forming right before their eyes. This was no ordinary storm, this was God.
[Job 38:1-7 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?]
[or who laid the corner stone thereof;] The corner stone is actually the point or center of the earth, which I never realized before. This is just amazing that God showed this to me, as we know who the chief corner stone is? [Ephesians 2:19-21 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:]
Do you see that? Everything that we go through builds us into a holy temple in Christ. And speaking of holy temple, [and all the sons of God shouted for joy?] God, is referring to two beings here, spiritual and human. The spiritual beings are the angels, often called His sons as they bear the likeness of God in the person of the Holy Spirit. And as for human beings, they bear the likeness of God in the person of Christ, being His Son. God is no respecter of person, He treats the angels the same way He treats man, in fact, there are some who fell from grace and are in chains awaiting their judgment, [Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.]
We have something going for us that the angels only dream of and that is that we are created in the image of the Son of God, well, through our faith in Him. We are even going to judge the angels, [1 Corinthians 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?] My goodness, we have a lot of explaining to do when we are judged for the things that we have done that pertained to this life. The one thing that we will not have to explain is our salvation because that was given to us by His grace alone. Did you notice what God is doing here? All He is doing is asking Job questions. In fact, He is asking questions regarding everything that these men were talking about, questions that no one could answer, but Him, I might add. He goes on to ask Him if He knew about the wicked and even the shadow of death.
[Job 38:12-18 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? 14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. 15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken. 16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? 17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.]
[that the wicked might be shaken out of it?] The wicked will indeed be shaken out of the earth, these are the reprobates, the ones who received that dark counsel from Satan himself, and held on to it. A lot of people make the assumption (thanks to the worlds view) that Satan lives in hell and that is very untrue. In fact, he lives among us, and unlike God who can be in several places at one time, he cannot. So, he is never in one place too long, but you can be sure that we have faced him at least once or will face him at least once in our lifetime here, [Luke 4:12-13 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.]. There will come a day when he is shaken out of the earth as well, [Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.]
[declare if thou knowest it all.] So many people think they have all the answers, and that they know more about God than He does, yet, professing themselves wise, they truly have became fools. The sad thing is, many people believe their words, and while we cannot fault them for being taught wrong, there comes a point when ignorance causes more harm than good. When all we do is question God about His ways, without even making one effort to actually talk to Him about it, He is going to start asking us questions, which is what He was doing here, but notice something else, God, starts answering His own questions.
[Job 38:22-23,37-41 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? 37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, 38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? 39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, 40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.]
[Which I have reserved against the time of trouble,] Do you understand why we have earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and unexpected storms during times when they are not supposed to be? No, it is not climate change, global warming, or man destroying the earth with gas and coal, it is God. And I swear, if we are not in some troublesome times right now, then I would hate to see what is coming, [2 Timothy 4:3-6 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.]
[Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion?] I found this interesting, while the mighty hand of God truly is seen in the elements, we cannot forget that it is also in the other creatures that He created. The lion, does not wait for its prey to come to it, it hunts for it, and it actually lurks in the fields, awaiting the weakest of its prey. As soon as it sees that there is no way for its prey to escape, it pounces on it and it is over. This is not evil, this is the way God designed them, [2 Timothy 1:8-9 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,]
God’s creatures are some very fascinating and strange creatures (us included), every one of them designed for a purpose and has a place in this world. Science, would like you to believe that all creatures evolved over time and that they have developed or went out of existence because they were weaker than some. There are some instances where these things are true, for instance animals learn to adapt to their environment as do people, but they in no way change their form from one specie into another specie. God, goes on to talk about His creatures, how he designed everyone of them, and what little man knows about His creation.
[Job 39:1-8 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? 2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? 3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows. 4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them. 5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? 6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. 7 He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. 8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.]
[they go forth, and return not unto them.] God, throws in some questions that they are likely be able to answer, like the gestation of deer. To understand why they take off after they are weaned, never to return, that is something that only God knows. Now, to us it may seem like no big deal to have this knowledge, but God He has His reasons and only reveals things that are necessary. God, will never reveal information that He knows will be distorted more than it already has. However, unless we are saved, we will never have this knowledge, [1 Corinthians 2:10-11 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.]
God, knew that there was no way that Job or his friends could answer most of these questions, but wanted them to see that there are some things that He will never explain, that only faith will abound, including grace. You do realize that everything that God created, including us, is designed for His purpose? In fact, one of the most noblest and actually overlook of God’s creatures is the horse, which He makes a point of mentioning.
[Job 39:19-25 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? 20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. 21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. 22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. 23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. 24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. 25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.]
[Hast thou given the horse strength?] Why do you think, out of all the creatures that God created that He mentioned the ones that He did? Well, think about the ability that a horse has. Horses, transported people, carried loads, fought in battles, weathered storms, followed their riders command. Horses, are resilient, strong, enduring, and keep on going until their job is done. Is that not what Christ does for us? He is our strength, He is our endurance, and keeps us keeping on until our job here is done, [2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.]
As long as we have our breath in us, as long as we have received Christ as our Saviour, as long as we keep our faith until our last breath When we realize just how mighty God is, and how every creature, including man, has a purpose, then there is no questioning of who He is and why He made everything the way that He made them, [Psalms 139:16-18 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for giving me life, and the life You have given me. Thank You four mercy and Your grace. I am alive, I have Your Son in my soul, I no longer need to worry about tomorrow because I know I will see Your Son. Life has many questions, and I wish I did have the answers to them all, but it is comforting to know that You have a purpose, and that I am Your purpose. I do not have to have all the answers, my faith in You will carry me through. Lord, I know my faith is not always high, that I let things get to me, and often question them instead of trust You to help me through. Lead me and guide me, let the times when my faith is small keep going so that it might strengthen as I endure each affliction with You. And let me not get caught up in asking You why You are allowing something rather ask You to help me through it. I love you and ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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