READ: Job 10 and 11
BACKGROUND:
Job responds to the advice of friend #2, Bildad, and then endures the well-meaning advice of friend #3, Zophar.
10:1 – Job is completely transparent. He makes no secret of his overwhelming confusion and bitterness. However, these emotions cause him to draw some false conclusions about GOD.
15 – Job complains he cannot receive fair treatment from GOD. Since GOD created him in the womb why would GOD want to destroy him? GOD does not seem to care that Job is innocent! (Note: Job never claims to be perfect….just innocent of any charges).
18 – 22 – Job wished he had never even been born.
11: 2- 3 – Zophar is quick to question Job, but fails to have any compassion for his friend.
13 – 20 – Zophar makes the mistake of equating a GODLY life with health, wealth, comfort and ease. He advises Job to simply repent to receive blessings and happiness from GOD. This is the early version of the health and wealth gospel and it is simply NOT TRUE! GOD LOVES us completely and will work all things together for GOOD for those who abide in him! Life may be tough but he is with us!
THINK:
Many scholars believe Job is the most ancient book of the bible. Pretty amazing, then, that in his pain and sadness, he sounds so much like us. “I wish I’d never even been born!” “GOD, what did I do to deserve this?” “God, why are you so angry with me?”
In Chapter 11, verses 7 – 9, Zophar asks, “Who can begin to understand the mysteries of God? They are higher than the heavens; they are deeper than the grave; their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea!”
Compare these words to those of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:17 – 18:
“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the LOVE of CHRIST and to know this LOVE that surpasses knowledge…..”
ASK: Have you placed your faith in a GOD who LOVES you more than you can imagine? A LOVE that is higher and deeper and wider and longer than we can ever comprehend? GOD’s ways are often a mystery to us, but we can be certain that there is no mystery about how much he LOVES us!
By: Deb Howard
throughin2.com 