Job 8:1 – 24:25
Overview
Today’s reading includes the first half of the book of Job. God describes Job as a blameless and upright man. His outward life and inward spirit pleased God. Through a series of interactions between God & Satan, the accusation is made that Job’s immense blessings and protection is why Job is a faithful servant. To prove His point, God gives His permission for Satan to take away his blessings and health but not his life. Disaster strikes Job. He lost his wealth and family in the matter of minutes and then breaks out in boils. Job tears his cloths and puts ashes on his head and begins to mourn. His 3 friends Eliphaz the Temanite, Zophar the Naamathite and Bildad the Shuhite approach Job and the dialog between these men begins. Job begins by wishing he was never born. His friends respond and try to determine what Job has done to anger God and cause this great sorrow. More discussion peruses and finally Job rebukes his friends for tormenting and insulting him. He agrees that he has been wronged by God and asks for pity from his friends. Job says that God will show that he is innocent.
Scripture Job 9:2-3
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.
Observation
Job & His Friends
Job has experienced great loss and he is grieving. His friends are not being helpful as he is trying to understand why God has caused these terrible things to occur. The verse above serves as a summary for this book. Job knows that he is human and God is Lord and Creator of all. He is Holy and we are not. Job concludes that nobody could prove their innocence.
Application
Sometimes we may feel that the bad things that happen to us are not fair. We don’t deserve these things to come upon us. The same Loving God who brings rain for the flowers is also the same God who causes earthquakes. Many people become bitter and angry at God because they have something precious taken from them. They blame God for their loss. These are the most difficult circumstances to explain because we can’t. God does not want us to try and explain why bad things happen. All he wants is for us to humble ourselves and recognize that He is in control and knows what is best for us.
Prayer
Lord, just as Job admits, I can’t claim my innocence before you. Thank you for your Son Jesus who has washed my sins away and cleansed me from my unrighteousness. Help me to trust you when bad things happen in my life.
