Lessons from the life of Job

The world is full of Preachers and so-called Prophets who get answers from God on our behalf.  Typically, people ask such people questions like, 'Should I marry this person or not?' or 'Should I do this or not?' and so on.  They immediately pray and come back with an answer.  It appears like they ask God for a yes or no answer, and they get it as soon as they ask!  At best, it can be their advice and nothing more!  In my opinion, it is like treating God just like one of us or, even worse, as someone at our beck and call.  Do not get me wrong.  God does answer us when we call, but He answers in His time and His way!  Sometimes, we get answers to our prayers early, and sometimes, we have to wait.  Sometimes, 'No' is also an answer.  Even though God has created us in His image, we are not equal to God.  Eve succumbed to that temptation when the devil said she would be 'like' God if she ate the forbidden fruit (Gen 3:5).  God is God, and He has to be treated as God.  This is a lesson I learned from the life of Job!

The Lord said Job was upright and blameless but not 'Sinless.'  'Blameless' and 'Sinless' are very different.  No one on earth can be sinless, but we can strive to be blameless!  Job demanded an audience with God to ask God why he was suffering even though he had lived a righteous life.  The trouble with Job was that, firstly, Job was self-righteous (Job 32:1), and secondly, Job felt the Lord owed him an answer!  (Job 10:2).  Elihu proclaimed God's goodness and greatness (Job 36 & 37).  Elihu said that God is great, and we do not know Him, nor can the number of His years be discovered.  Elihu said, "God is greater than man.  ​​Why do you contend with Him?  For He does not give an accounting of any of His words"  (Job 33: 12-13).  Job had been treating God as though he were God's equal.  We have to understand the transcendence of God.  It means God is outside humanity's experience, perception, or grasp.  God is also immanent, which means He is knowable, perceivable, or graspable, but our understanding of God is not full or complete!  When God started talking, God did not answer Job but revealed His omnipotence, sovereignty, and transcendence.  When Job heard the Lord, he realized that he was sinful, needing repentance, and abhorred himself (Job 42:5).

My friend, God is God.  We are mere humans!  Give God the honor and worship He deserves.  Do not make God cheap by going to people to discern the future.  Live by God's standards, trusting that God is good and all-powerful (Jer. 29:11).  Remember, "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom 8:28).

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me trust and rest in You even through my daily struggles.  Amen.

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