Thursday Devotional - All-Knowing God and Rebuking Zophar (8/22/24)

Now we meet Job’s third friend, Zophar! We’ve heard Eliphaz start with encouragement and end with ignorant talk. Bildad jumped right in with telling Job what God would or wouldn’t do. Zophar is more like Bildad. He skips over any encouragement and starts immediately with rebuke.

Job 11:1-3, 7-9, 14-19 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

² “Are all these words to go unanswered?
    Is this talker to be vindicated?
³ Will your idle talk reduce others to silence?
    Will no one rebuke you when you mock?

⁷ “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
⁸ They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?
⁹ Their measure is longer than the earth
    and wider than the sea.

¹⁴ if you put away the sin that is in your hand
    and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,
¹⁵ then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;
    you will stand firm and without fear.
¹⁶ You will surely forget your trouble,
    recalling it only as waters gone by.
¹⁷ Life will be brighter than noonday,
    and darkness will become like morning.
¹⁸ You will be secure, because there is hope;
    you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
¹⁹ You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,
    and many will court your favor.

Zophar was correct that the All-knowing, Almighty God cannot be completely understood and figured out by man. So, why does Zophar proceed to tell Job what God will do if Job repents of his sin? How can he say with complete confidence that God will restore Job’s health, happiness, power, security and fame?

Zophar’s rebuke was not from or of God. There are times to rebuke, but we need to make sure we go about it carefully and accurately, as Paul charged Timothy in II Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." (Side note – we just finished studying II Timothy as a family last night and I realized how much of the book could be used to counter rebuke Job’s friends! 😊)

It’s impossible to know and explain everything about God, but He has revealed certain aspects of Himself through the Bible. Let’s carefully study, apply and share those truths with others so we aren’t a Zophar. Lord, help us to be a true encouragement to the believers around us and to know when and how to appropriately rebuke, when necessary.

Thursday Devotional - All-Knowing God versus Mercy Pleading Job (8/15/24)

With several close Olympic races and competitions, I know there were numerous challenges made to various results. It’s heartbreaking when it seems the judges were unjust in their scoring. Appeals are made when there is a chance that a replay or review might alter the results.

In Job’s situation, he knew an appeal to the all-knowing and all-powerful God didn’t stand a chance. God didn’t make a mistake. Job couldn’t argue he was completely blameless and upright. Job didn’t think he “deserved” the hardship, but he knew his only plea could be for mercy.

Job 9:1-10 and 14-15   Then Job replied:

² “Indeed, I know that this is true.
    But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?
³ Though they wished to dispute with him,
    they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
⁴ His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.
    Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
⁵ He moves mountains without their knowing it
    and overturns them in his anger.
⁶ He shakes the earth from its place
    and makes its pillars tremble.
⁷ He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;
    he seals off the light of the stars.
⁸ He alone stretches out the heavens
    and treads on the waves of the sea.
⁹ He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,
    the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
¹⁰ He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
    miracles that cannot be counted.

¹⁴ “How then can I dispute with him?
    How can I find words to argue with him?
¹⁵ Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;
    I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.

Job had a better understanding of God than his friends did. He knew none of them were totally righteous and without blame. He knew God was the only perfect, all-knowing and all-powerful One. God created everything and could decide exactly what happened to His creation.

God doesn’t answer to us, but we answer to Him. None of us deserve anything, but by His grace and mercy He extends blessings! His offer of eternal life through Jesus Christ is totally undeserved and the greatest gracious blessing! Will you join me today in praising God for His mercy? Like Job, I don’t want to plea for His justice, but for His grace and mercy!    

Thursday Devotional - All-Knowing God and Bungled Bildad (8/8/24)

Here comes Job’s second friend, Bildad! He doesn’t start out as encouraging as Eliphaz, Job’s first friend to speak (back in chapter 4). He’s just as ignorant as Eliphaz, though, and goes even further in claiming to know what God will and won’t do! 

Job 8:1-7   Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

² “How long will you say such things?
    Your words are a blustering wind.
³ Does God pervert justice?
    Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
⁴ When your children sinned against him,
    he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.
⁵ But if you will seek God earnestly
    and plead with the Almighty,
⁶ if you are pure and upright,
    even now he will rouse himself on your behalf
    and restore you to your prosperous state.
⁷ Your beginnings will seem humble,
    so prosperous will your future be.

Bildad was correct that God doesn’t pervert justice. However, he was incorrect to assume that all suffering is a direct result of a person’s sin. He also preached a prosperity gospel – that if Job was truly upright, then God would lavish prosperity on him.

Only God is all-knowing. We can’t speak for Him. We can speak about Him. We can share about the truths from His Word and His unchanging attributes. God doesn’t need us to defend Him. He can defend Himself. He does desire us to declare Him.

I don’t want to be a bungled mess, like Bildad, but a faithful proclaimer of God’s truths.

Lord, help us not try to speak for you, but to point others to earnestly seek you for your unique purposes for them.

Thursday Devotional - All-Knowing God and Confused Job (8/1/24)

Pranks are done on enemies and friends. Sometimes it is hard to tell whether a prank was intended to be mean or funny. My Mom was re-telling a prank some fellow campers played on her when she was a kid (putting sand in her sleeping bag). She first thought it was kids being mean, but later realized they were teasing her as a friend.

God doesn’t play pranks. However, sometimes what we experience in life is hard to understand. It may seem like He is treating us more like an enemy than a friend. It may seem like He doesn’t care or that He is angry with us, but it usually is for a much bigger purpose. We often see and live short-sighted. 

As wise as Job was, he was still perplexed by his tragic life circumstances and physical torment. He felt like God was treating him more like an enemy than a friend. He took these complaints and questions directly to God.

Job 7:7, 11-16, 19-21  Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath;
    my eyes will never see happiness again.

¹¹ “Therefore I will not keep silent;
    I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit,
    I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
¹² Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep,
    that you put me under guard?
¹³ When I think my bed will comfort me
    and my couch will ease my complaint,
¹⁴ even then you frighten me with dreams
    and terrify me with visions,
¹⁵ so that I prefer strangling and death,
    rather than this body of mine.
¹⁶ I despise my life; I would not live forever.
    Let me alone; my days have no meaning…

¹⁹ Will you never look away from me,
    or let me alone even for an instant?
²⁰ If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
    you who see everything we do?
Why have you made me your target?
    Have I become a burden to you?
²¹ Why do you not pardon my offenses
    and forgive my sins?
For I will soon lie down in the dust;
    you will search for me, but I will be no more.”

Job was extremely confused and asked God about it. Our All-knowing God can handle our honest complaints, questions, and confusion. He will provide His answers in His time, just as He did for Job (at the end of the book in chapters 38-42).

We may wonder if God is listening, what good He could possibly bring from a terrible situation or why He doesn’t step in and address evil. The next time you and I are confused, let’s respectfully take our questions to God. We can look to the All-knowing God and His Word for answers or direction in the waiting.

Thursday Devotional - All-Knowing God and Honorable Job (7/25/24)

Acting with complete integrity and honor is godly and of high value. Joe and I pray regularly for help to instill excellent character in our children. In fact, this week we reminded them that their relationship with God was far more important than doing well in all of this week’s swim and dive competitions.

Speaking of integrity and honor, Job had exceptional character. Yet, his friends quickly forgot. After Eliphaz’s ignorant speech in chapters 4-5, Job responded with a serious defense.

Job 6:14-15a, 21-24, 28-30

“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend
    forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
¹⁵ But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,
    
²¹ Now you too have proved to be of no help;
    you see something dreadful and are afraid.
²² Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf,
    pay a ransom for me from your wealth,
²³ deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
    rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?

²⁴ “Teach me, and I will be quiet;
    show me where I have been wrong.
²⁸ “But now be so kind as to look at me.
    Would I lie to your face?
²⁹ Relent, do not be unjust;
    reconsider, for my integrity is at stake.
³⁰ Is there any wickedness on my lips?
    Can my mouth not discern malice?

Job called his friends undependable and unhelpful! Yes!!! Job had never taken advantage of them, lied or been unjust. In fact, from this passage, it seems he never even asked them for help. Yet, they didn’t defend his integrity and questioned his character.

It’s devastating when those closest to a person question upright character. Humans are not all-knowing. Only God sees and knows everything. He knew all about Job and knows all about you and me. Let’s seek honorable character in God’s eyes, no matter what others perceive.

Thursday Devotional - All-Knowing God versus Ignorant Eliphaz (7/18/24)

Have you ever had a friend try to give you encouragement or helpful advice that was not helpful, encouraging or even true?

Job’s friends started out well. They compassionately sat with him for 7 days and watched his misery in silence. After Job’s lament in chapter 3, one of his friends tried to speak encouragement.

Job 4:1-9   Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

² “If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?
    But who can keep from speaking?
³ Think how you have instructed many,
    how you have strengthened feeble hands.
⁴ Your words have supported those who stumbled;
    you have strengthened faltering knees.
⁵ But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged;
    it strikes you, and you are dismayed.
⁶ Should not your piety be your confidence
    and your blameless ways your hope?

⁷ “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?
    Where were the upright ever destroyed?
⁸ As I have observed, those who plow evil
    and those who sow trouble reap it.
⁹ At the breath of God they perish;
    at the blast of his anger they are no more.

Eliphaz recognized Job’s wise instruction to others and his help to the weak. However, he was confused by Job’s discouragement over his tragic circumstances. He didn’t understand why Job didn’t “know” that evil comes to those who do evil and innocent people don’t suffer.

Eliphaz needed to stop after verse 4. He could highlight the righteous acts he had seen, but he wasn’t all-knowing like God and able to truly explain why Job was experiencing such horrendous loss and pain. He was completely ignorant of all that had transpired between God and Satan.

Reading this reminded me that less is often better, especially when it comes to words! I can speak true and sincere encouragement from what I have seen and not give advice or offer speculation on things I haven’t seen and don’t know. Whether it’s commenting on world events, giving encouragement or offering advice, let’s prayerfully speak.

 

Proverbs 17:27-28 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
    and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

²⁸ Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
    and discerning if they hold their tongues.

I don’t want to be an ignorant friend like Eliphaz, but wise and discerning with my words! May we point others to our All-knowing God for His truth rather than our tainted understanding!   

Thursday Devotional - All-Knowing God versus Lamenting Job (7/11/24)

 I had a shooting stomach pain yesterday for about 30 minutes that was debilitating. As my stomach negatively reacted, I was reminded that I could still praise God for who He is while also asking for help and relief. It was hard not to start by calling out for help and stating the same thing over and over. It was helpful to remember His attributes of being All-knowing, able to use everything for His purposes, etc.

 

My temporary suffering was nothing compared to what Job experienced for days and maybe even weeks. Yet, as we learned a few weeks ago, he didn’t sin in what he said. He never cursed God, like Satan desired. He did curse his birth.

Job 3:1-4, 11-13, 20-21, 24-26      After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. ² He said:

³ “May the day of my birth perish,
    and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’
⁴ That day—may it turn to darkness;
    may God above not care about it;
    may no light shine on it.

¹¹ “Why did I not perish at birth,
    and die as I came from the womb?
¹² Why were there knees to receive me
    and breasts that I might be nursed?
¹³ For now I would be lying down in peace;
    I would be asleep and at rest

²⁰ “Why is light given to those in misery,
    and life to the bitter of soul,
²¹ to those who long for death that does not come,
    who search for it more than for hidden treasure,

²⁴ For sighing has become my daily food;
    my groans pour out like water.
²⁵ What I feared has come upon me;
    what I dreaded has happened to me.
²⁶ I have no peace, no quietness;
    I have no rest, but only turmoil.”

It sounds as though there was no relief for Job, even in sleep. His pleas and laments are understandable. He wished for death, but he didn’t take things into his own hands. As he said in chapter 2 verse 10: “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

The next time you and I face a painful or difficult situation, let’s remember God is always praiseworthy. He can also handle our questions and respectful laments. In the midst of it all, we can submit to His all-knowing care and timing, as Job did! 

Friday Devotional - All-Knowing God Brings Sympathetic Friends (6/28/24)

Have you ever been in so much pain that you couldn’t talk and couldn’t handle other people talking to you? I have been there a few times, but not for days on end, like Job!  

Job 2:11-13  ¹¹ When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. ¹² When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. ¹³ Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

I know the three friends didn’t stay sympathetic and didn’t remain an encouragement, but they started out well. They left their comforts to sit next to and watch Job’s misery. They didn’t just come and pay respects for 7 minutes but sat silently for 7 days and nights!

What kind of friend are you and I? Are we that selfless and sacrificial? Do we tell our friend we will pray for them and then move on with our day? I was convicted by the initial compassion of Job’s friends.

Proverbs 17:17   A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Let’s be a true friend to share in the joy and sorrow of others.

Thursday Devotional - All-Knowing God versus Wrong Satan (6/20/24)

Have you ever been right and your enemy wrong?? Did they come back and admit they were wrong and you were right?

Satan didn’t admit to God that God was right about Job. As we saw last week, Job didn’t curse God when everything he had was stripped away. Satan said he would, but he didn’t. This week, we’ll see Satan try again to prove God wrong.

 

Job 2:3-10 ³ Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

⁴ “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. ⁵ But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

⁶ The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”

⁷ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. ⁸ Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

⁹ His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

¹⁰ He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Satan lost again! Job didn’t curse God, even after his wife encouraged him to do the very thing Satan wanted.

Only God is all-knowing, omniscient, and always right! I had to admit to Edmund (our 7 year-old) yesterday that I was wrong. It was related to something we read in Job 7 that I had mis-remembered. We read it again and he was right and I was wrong.

Numerous truths and applications pop out of this section of Job. This time reading through it, though, the contrast between God and Satan really stood out.

It’s usually hard to admit when we are wrong. However, I would rather not be like Satan. The next time you and I are wrong, let’s be quick to admit it to ourselves, those around us and especially to God. He already knows, as our all-knowing God, so why not acknowledge it before Him?

Thursday Devotional - All-Knowing God versus Restricted Satan (6/13/24)

Satan is powerful, but his power has no comparison to God’s power. Satan is quite restricted and is always under God’s authority. The book of Job is definitely a clear picture of this.

Job 1:8-12 ⁸ Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

⁹ “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. ¹⁰ “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. ¹¹ But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

¹² The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Satan thinks he knows more than God???? I know many of you know what happens next. Satan does touch everything of Job’s except his wife and Job’s body (at least in the first chapter). Amazingly, and as our All-knowing God knew, Job doesn’t curse God.

Job 1:20-22        ²⁰ At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship ²¹ and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”

²² In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Wow! I don’t think worship of God would be my first response. In reading this passage together as a family last night, my kids agreed. However, Job knew God had all power and all authority. I was reminded that God is always worthy of praise as the All-knowing Father in Heaven! Nothing escapes His knowledge or happens outside His ultimate control.

How will you and I take encouragement from the fact that Satan is restricted and only God is all-knowing?