A brief prayer is offered that you can add to your daily prayers. The scripture is from our Sunday Service Bulletin. We are continuing on a multi-part series on Job. Some of the devotion thoughts were inspired by footnotes in the LSB (pp833) and from www.net.bible.org.
Old Testament Reading: Job 38, 39, 40 (partial extracts below)
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 2“Who is this thatdarkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. 4Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, 9when I made clouds its garment andthick darkness its swaddling band, 10and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, 11and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall yourproud waves be stayed’? 12Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place,
13that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? 14It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment. 15From the wicked theirlight is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken. 16Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? 17Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? 18Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this. (39)26Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south? 27Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? 28On the rock he dwells and makes his home, on the rocky crag and stronghold. 29From there he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it from far away.30His young ones suck up blood, and where the slain are, there is he.” (40) And the Lord said to Job: 2 “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
13that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? 14It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment. 15From the wicked theirlight is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken. 16Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? 17Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? 18Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this. (39)26Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south? 27Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? 28On the rock he dwells and makes his home, on the rocky crag and stronghold. 29From there he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it from far away.30His young ones suck up blood, and where the slain are, there is he.” (40) And the Lord said to Job: 2 “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
Devotion: “A whirlwind Visit”
We readers of the text know why Job is suffering and that he is innocent -- but Job does not know this. He is desperately seeking advice from his friends on what he thinks is an injustice from God. This week, through a dramatic whirlwind, God is speaking directly to Job and He describes his mastery of the universe—His majesty in review. Finally, God is giving the revelation that Job had been demanding for so long. What God did not say to Job is as surprising as what he did say. No mention of suffering, of evil, no discussion of possible injustice to Job. God simply, but powerfully, reveals Himself to Job and it silenced him. Since Job (and indeed we) cannot fathom the power that God has over nature, he (and we) cannot understand or have any control of God’s power over us. His love for us is awesome and His grace to us is freely given. Don’t expect to come up with an intellectual solution to the cause of suffering: accept the mystery and trust your faith in Him. He smiles on us and takes care of us, we are His.
Pray: Lord, You are Awesome, thank You for Your love. Amen
Blessings,
Joe
1. Knowing yourself: Taking this lesson of God’s majesty and control to heart, how should you react to personal suffering? To the suffering of others? Can you explain?
2. Scripture: God appears to Job and also his friends in a show of force—a whirlwind. It must have been a scary moment for them. What could be some of their first expectations (hint: God’s retribution?). What would be the basis for this in your opinion? (hint: they all secretly thought Job deserved, somehow, the punishment but Job consistently denies it)
3. Application: God challenged both Satan and Job by confronting them with his wondrous works. And since Job himself is the divine work by which Satan was challenged, it is through the success of this challenge to Job that God perfects the triumph of his challenge to Satan. Like Job, you are indeed a divine work! How would this God/Satan challenge work in your personal life today? Current events question: Is this confrontation between Satan and God occurring in the news we see daily about human abortion?