“Then Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that you can do all things, no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said,’ Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.”
Job 42:1-5
Job went through some rather difficult times. In chapter 1 of Job, he lost all of his livestock and servants, as well as his sons and daughters. In chapter 2, he was afflicted with painful sores from head to toe. Key to all this is that prior to all of these events, Satan asked God for permission to send calamity to Job. When speaking of Job, God sounded a lot like a proud father, beaming as he told Satan that there is none like Job who was blameless and upright. God allowed these tests only under certain conditions. As the story goes, Job is standing well under pressure until his discouraging wife and three so-called friends had their say. Job then starts grumbling and asking God for answers. “Why me?” Job asked, with no apparent response from God. Then God did speak. He spoke of how He had created the entire universe without help from Job or anyone else. He demanded that if Job knew so much as to why or how things happen, that maybe Job could explain how the sun rises and sets each day. Job quickly realized he was speaking to God Almighty and that just maybe God knew something that Job did not. Maybe God had a plan when He allowed these troubles. One of the most important aspects of this experience for Job is expressed in verse 5. He had heard of God, but now he had seen Him. His walk with God was taken to a new deeper level. The end of chapter 42 tells how God blessed Job twice as much in the latter part of his life than He did in the first. The next time trials come, maybe God is trying to take you to a deeper level of faith. He could want to bless us twice as much as He has before, if we will have faith in His plan. When God speaks to you, He could be bursting with pride, knowing that you will stand the test. Pray today for courage to trust God in times of trouble.
From You Ain’t in Kansas Anymore
kathymcbroom@kathymcbroom
Life in Paris aka Life with Brown Dog 