Genesis
1:1-3:24
God created
beauty from a formless mass. God created
a place – a garden of special beauty where He placed the man, the creature made
in His image, able to choose or reject love.
It was man’s assignment to tend this special place – to tend the
soil. There was only one law included in
the instructions God gave to Adam: do not partake in a system of thought that
promises access to life without the Giver of life. Do not look within for the source of
truth. Do not trust in self as
Lord. Do not embrace pride. Do not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of
Good and Evil. Many do-not’s, but they
all mean the same thing: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul,
mind, and strength.
Man
disobeyed and was driven from the special place to the general landscape, now
cursed as a result of man’s failure.
Ironically,
man was created for work. Work was –
well it was not work like most look at work.
It was enjoyable. The word used
was “tend” when referring to the soil.
After the Fall of man, the word changed from
“tend” to “toil.” Still work, but now
with “sweat.”
We began
with the creation of a marvelous place for man.
We end with a flaming sword to shut man out of that place.
But thanks
be to God, the Good News of Jesus Christ is presented to us in this first
reading in the great Promise of the woman’s Offspring (or Seed), Who will crush
the head of the serpent.
Genesis
4:1-5:32
1
Chronicles 1:1-4
Genesis
6:1-22
Maybe Eve
should have said, “God gave me a son.”
It is interesting to compare the responses to the providence of a child
– Eve’s and Mary’s (Luke 1:45ff).
No time is
wasted in recording the effects of the Fall in the sin
nature of man. In this reading we begin
with the evil of Cain and end with judgment, but grace is found by Noah who
obviously believed that only God could save and only God could provide adequate
atonement for the sins of man. He
believed in Jesus, Jeshua, the
salvation of the Lord.
Worship was
lost with the death of Abel but found with the rise of Seth. It seems that Adam understood and taught
worship but Cain just didn’t get it. He
persisted in trying to access God by way of his own merit.
Lamech (
Finally, we
finish with a sense of heartbreak, and yet hope lives, the Promise survives,
and joy is strong!
Genesis
7:1-10:5
1
Chronicles 1:5-7
Genesis
10:6-20
1
Chronicles 1:8-16
Genesis
10:21-30
1
Chronicles
Genesis
10:31-32
It is
interesting, God considered Noah alone to be righteous (7:1), and yet God knew
his thoughts and actions were evil from childhood (
The need
for such grace became especially vivid when Noah showed his sinfulness in
drunken and lude behavior (not to mention in a
setting where he risked being seen by his sons). Even righteous Noah handled the grace of God
cheaply. Perhaps some are encouraged by
that but it seems far more appropriate to acknowledge that we all share in
Noah’s shame.
There are
so many things to be seen and learned in the genealogies. God’s grace, His hand of direction, the care
for the descendants of Shem, and the care and awareness of the descendants of
those who would influence them.
God knows
my name, and my ancestry, and my descendants.
Genesis
11:1-26
1
Chronicles
Genesis
A key
verse in this reading seems to be
This key
verse lets me know that there are degrees of wickedness. Some people are just more evil than others
and while all fall short of God’s glory through sin and the filthy rags of
personal righteousness, some people become so wicked they grieve God in a special
way.
At first
Another
notable thing is the total absence of words that Abram was an idolater, even
though I often hear ministers say he was an idolater when God called him for a
special purpose. The only thing
available to support this is the words that Abram’s dad, Terah
was an idolater (Joshua 24:2), but the words clearly differentiate Terah from his son Abram in this. I cannot find anything that says Abram was an
idolater when God called him. It only
mentions that Abram came from a family that had idolaters in it, and God called
him away from all that. There is nothing
about Abram being ignorant of the existence of Yahweh, even though many stretch
their imagination to claim he was. The
fact is Shem was still alive and interaction was likely with this godly man.
I think a
much better case can be made that Abram was both knowledgeable of God and
devoted to God, despite the indulgence of idols in his father’s home.
Genesis 15:1-17:27
The
Promise, the confusion, the emphatic repetition of the Promise and then…15:6 –
the belief by man and the declaration of righteousness by God.
The
covenant (smoking firepot and flaming torch) – notice the responsibility of
Abram in preparing, but in the sealing of the covenant he is made to
sleep. God knows it must be
one-sided. Why? Quite simply because Abram cannot keep this
covenant. The “land” is a one-sided
covenant. But at first it appears that
the mighty nation (or multitude of nations) almost seems 2-sided, except a
closer reading makes me think otherwise.
J
And then
there is the circumcision! Is it
one-sided or 2-sided? Both! Works are not required, but faith that
produces works is required, for we know that the only true circumcision
is that of the heart - that which is accomplished by faith.
Genesis
18:1-21:7
The
relationship and promise of the Lord to Abraham becomes even more intensely
intimate, as the Lord appears with 2 angels to visit directly with Abraham. Such an appearance of the Lord is called a Theophany (or sometimes, a Christophany),
a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ.
And this time Abraham is given the very specific promise – not only that
Sarah will have a son - but also when she will have a son.
Sarah
laughed as Abraham had before. So God
shows His sense of humor and requires the child be named Isaac (which means
laughter). This name is a message in
itself. It commemorates how God uses
what seems foolish to man to accomplish His purposes, so that no flesh can
glory before Him.
The story
of Abraham’s negotiations with the Lord for the sparing of
However,
But the
bigger lesson: God kept His promise and Isaac was born.
Genesis
21:8-23:20
Genesis
11:32
Genesis
24:1-67
The types
and shadows are very powerful: the
dismissal of Ishmael to the wilderness, the sacrifice of Isaac (with the assurance
of his resurrection), the bride brought to Isaac by his servant, etc.
But the
most striking message is the sovereign providence of God, especially when we
see the continual employment of the faith, obedience, and prayers of man.
After
studying Mark 8 recently about the spiritually blind disciples and the
physically blind beggars, and the teaching and healing of both, I was drawn by
Gen 1:19; God opened Hagar’s eyes. We
are not told God suddenly provided a well, but rather that God made Hagar see
an existing well.
Too many
are dying of thirst with water close by, but they are blind and need healed by
a message that is available from the reader (and the writer) of this
commentary.
Genesis
25:1-4
1
Chronicles
Genesis
25:5-6, 12-18
1
Chronicles
Genesis
25:19-26, 7-11
Descendants
of Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac are recorded.
According
to the recording in Genesis, Abraham married Keturah,
but according to the 1 Chronicles
It is
notable that although Abe sent Ishmael (and Hagar) away, we find Ishmael
alongside Isaac when they bury their father.
Ishmael apparently had as close a relationship with his father as
circumstances might allow. It would seem
that Ishmael believed strongly in the bond of a close family and passed this
attitude on to his descendants (Genesis 25:18), although there were many
breakdowns in the relationships of the growing nations through many centuries
(even to today).
And then
there was good ole “leg-puller” himself, Jacob.
It seems he never stopped “pulling the leg” of his brother Esau.
Genesis
25:27-28:5
The record
of Esau and Jacob paints a rather pathetic picture of both of them. They both lacked integrity but in different
ways.
The things important
to Esau were his immediate desires, which overrode the God-given things of
long-term importance.
Jacob
seemed to be able to subdue immediate cravings and recognized the importance of
positions and titles within the family.
But he did not seem to mind using deception and dishonor to obtain what
was not naturally his.
Integrity
seems to be the virtue from which all others flow. May God grant this gift to my family.
May God
help me in this regard. Isaac set the improper example for his sons
(26:1-11) by deceiving Abimelech. In contrast, I must set the proper example of
integrity.
Genesis
28:6-30:24
It seems
that Esau just didn’t get it. He may
have intended to improve his relationship with his parents, but he did not
annul the relationship with his foreign wives.
We sometimes want to play games with God - approach on our own
terms. But all our energy spent on
creative thinking would be unnecessary if we would just put away or turn from
our sin, instead of trying to figure out ways to hold on to sin while still
pleasing God.
Jacob
dreamed of the stairway to heaven and we know from Jesus that He was that
stairway.
It seems
Jacob met his match in the deceptive Laban. But that’s what love will do to you!
Ironically,
Jacob wound up with quite a harem out of the deal, and even wound up with 11
sons over the course of 13 years. Isn’t
it amazing how God so often brings His good purposes out of the mire of our
sinful ways?
Genesis
30:25-31:55
Jacob’s use
of what appears to be superstition is striking to me. As evidenced in the dream, it does not look
like God employed the branches that Jacob peeled. That was Jacob’s idea. God simply directed the
spotted/streaked males to mate with Jacob’s female sheep.
Jacob had
clearly not forgotten his God, but I wonder how influenced he was by the pagan
idolatry of the Laban house. Rachel seemed to be rather attentive to the
household gods. [There is an irresistible
sermon in that phrase “household gods” isn’t there?] I wonder how much Rachel influenced Jacob who
loved her deeply.
We are not
told why Rachel took the household gods.
The argument that she wanted to hurt or hinder Laban
in some way is weak. The best argument
is that she trusted and felt she needed the gods. Amazing that Jacob could not lead her to
conversion in 20 years. The girls remind
me of some evangelicals – they talk about God while cleaving to their household
idols.
Genesis
32:1-35:27
God’s grace
radiates with divine brilliance in this reading. It is an encouragement to all who recognize
their sinfulness and desperate need for a Savior from the wrath of a Holy God.
Jacob was
such a mess. Even with amazing encounters
with God, he seems slow to acknowledge Him in all his ways until finally in
35:2-3 he seems to just wake up. God
appeared to him in verse 1, but then God had appeared to him several times
before and yet it is here that he actually shows the fruit of repentance. How many times must God appear to us – His
Spirit drawing our hearts? Oh – how we
need His grace! Why didn’t Jacob get rid
of the idols in his camp before now? It
looks like Rachel stole her father’s idols because she felt a personal need for
them and she apparently indoctrinated others (or at least affirmed them).
In regards
to Esau, Jacob prayed to God but it seems his faith was still in his skills of
deception. This is later reflected in
his sons.
January
13
Genesis
36:1-19
1
Chronicles
Genesis
36:20-30
1
Chronicles
Genesis
36:31-43
1
Chronicles1:43-2:2
This
(first) chapter and its corresponding verses in 1 Chronicles is the record of
the descendants of Esau.
From the
view of a brief morning reading the observations are minimal. However, I find one message to be very
powerful here. It is the message of
God’s love. This man Esau sold his
birthright, lost his blessing, was unrepentant, and this great listing of his
descendants would eventually render a nation which would eventually commit acts
against
But here,
the Spirit-inspired Word of God, with much care, preserves the lineage, the
clans of this man who was the firstborn of the promised miracle son of Abraham
and Sarah. God loves the whole world and
while the Christ will come through the seed of
January
14
Genesis
37:1-38:30
1
Chronicles 2:3-6, 8
Genesis
39:1-23
Ah! The dreamer!
And not a silent one either. I
can sure relate to Joseph’s lack of discretion.
Joseph did not have a problem with honesty- he had a problem with
wisdom. He did not seem to know when to
keep his mouth shut. Yep- I can relate
very well.
Some of his
brothers were just evil in their intent toward Joseph, but Reuben was just
lacking in good sense. He tried to save
Joseph, and actually did, but with the unplanned result of breaking his
father’s heart.
The story
of Joseph from his betrayal by his brothers, to the prospering in Potiphar’s house, to his being framed by Mrs. Potiphar, to his prospering in prison, and on – are all
part of one of the most beautiful tapestries of God’s providence and
sovereignty.
But it
should not be missed how God intervenes in the mysterious little interlude of
Judah and Tamar. What an amazing
interruption of the story of Joseph.
Genesis
40:1-23
Genesis
35:28-29
Genesis
41:1-57
The story
of Joseph’s rise from Potiphar’s dungeon to 2nd
in command in
It is
interesting that in the midst of this account of Joseph, we are presented a
brief interlude to refer to Genesis 35:28 and the death of Isaac at 180 years
old. In verse 29 Esau and Jacob bury
him.
One of the
most striking things about Joseph is apparently strong faith and unwavering
commitment to the Lord. This does not
happen accidentally. It must reflect
back on his parentage. We know his
brothers were not inclined toward Godly devotion. But Joseph spent considerable time close to
his father Jacob. This may speak more
powerfully than anything else about Jacob’s daily walk with God in his old
age. It also draws us back in his
lineage step by step considering the awareness of God throughout. I wonder if Jacob’s defining moment was when
he got rid of all his camp’s idols.
Genesis
42:1-45:15
This is one
of the most powerful narratives in all of literature…and it is the Word of God!
We see such
a depth of wisdom in Joseph. It is
sometimes hard to tell how much of what he is doing is planned and how much is
impromptu. How much is his desire to
teach his brothers an ultimate lesson, and how much does he just want to learn
whether or not the years have taught his brothers anything?
I wonder a
lot about the thoughts of those waiting at various points in the story. One example is Jacob waiting while his “only
remaining” son is taken to
But at the
center of it all is God’s sovereignty (45:15).
“God did it.” [And don’t forget it.] J
Genesis
45:16-47:27
The account
of Jacob learning of Joseph being alive, who had been dead to him for so long,
would draw tears from any loving father.
I truly feel that any father would lose his breath for just a moment when
Joseph and Jacob embrace and Joseph lays his head on dad’s shoulder and weeps
for a long time. [It is hard to type
this.]
[At the
time this was first written my oldest son and I were not as close as my younger
son and I. But ironically, it is the eldest,
with all of his current troubles and failings that I am most inclined to draw
close to - to pull close to my protection.
It is so hard to bless him with restraint in my giving, when that is
best.]
I was
tickled when Joseph called out to his brothers, “Don’t quarrel along the
way!” A good message for all God’s
children, don’t you think? I was also
humored how that the instructions for Jacob’s family to leave their personal
possessions was ignored. At
Genesis
47:28-50:26
The drama
in this section is unparalleled. In the
blessing of Joseph’s sons first and then his own sons, Jacob was clearly under
Divine inspiration. His prophetic words
were wide sweeping and yet quite detailed, so that there could be no mistake.
In fact, we
see a first person sentence in 49:7 that is an “I will” statement referring to
something that will happen hundreds of years after Jacob’s death.
There is
much darkness that hangs over Jacob’s blessings of his sons, especially Reuben,
Simeon, and Levi.
The scope
of Jacob’s spiritual life is amazing – from deceiver to prophet of the
Almighty. We see that this incredible
person eventually came to fully surrender his life to the Redeemer Who was yet
to come (through Jacob’s lineage). What
about you? Have you fully surrendered?
Job
1:1-4:21
The favored
placement of the chronology of Job is in the time of Abraham. Liberal scholars [sorry for the oxymoron]
attempt to place him as late as the Exile.
All is possible, but a case could be made for even pre-Abraham.
The record
of Satan’s encounters with God regarding Job is unprecedented and unrepeated in
Scripture, and remarkable. The big
surprise for me is the mix of language indicating God’s sovereignty with
anthropomorphic language (the use of inadequate human terminology to relay
divine truth) to enable us to know His questions are genuinely asked (even
though they are rhetorical). We know
that God knows the beginning from the end.
To separate the unique language in Job from the context of the Bible as
a whole and the context of common sense, can only lead to heresies such as Open
Theism, an increasingly popular view that tries to enter through the side door
of Christianity, bringing another gospel with it (which is no gospel at
all). It takes terminology from Job that
indicates God was genuinely “persuaded” by Satan to “harm” Job “without cause,”
and divorces that terminology from the innumerable passages that indicate God’s
unquestionable omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence. This heretical view then formulates a new
doctrine of a diminished god, totally incapable of saving anyone.
This book
must be studied carefully with the rest of Scripture (and common sense), or the
possibility of heretical pitfalls increase more so than with other Scripture
sections.
Eliphaz seems studied and devoted, but
perhaps his failure is in lack of humility.
Theology without reverence leads to arrogance. Job loved God without any earthly motivation
whatsoever. Would we? Do we?
Job
5:1-7:21
Eliphaz makes me think of the way I do
sometimes. He has some theology – some
biblical background. He has some
understanding, but he tends to work things out as he speaks, instead of in
advance. Frankly, I know all too well,
it can get you in trouble.
He assumes
Job is guilty of doing wrong and so rather than just giving comfort, he tries
to lead Job to repentance – but repentance of what? He can’t really say!
Job’s
response seems a bit self-righteous to me, but he may not mean it so.
Verse 6:6
made me think of Matthew 5:13. The
church today has lost much of its savor, like salt that is no longer
useful. We are becoming like the
tasteless egg white that Job spoke of (or else we are already there).
God forgive
us and revive us.
Job
8:1-11:20
Bildad and Zophar
appear to be devoted and know some truth about God in certain situations, but
they know nothing about this situation.
They perpetuate the myth of their era (and I suppose all ages) that
suffering is a result of sin. It is a
gross misrepresentation but constantly made.
Verses
10:8-12 are some of the most clear and most beautiful words concerning God’s
involvement in conception and the development of the unborn. Job has so many beautiful observations and yet
so many despairing ones. In fact, he
often recognizes true salvation and hope and then seems to forget as he
deviates to other thoughts that do not recognize his salvation. Is that so different from us when the world
seems to be falling apart around us (or worse, when we are greatly
prospering)? Verse
Job
12:1-14:22
At times
it seems that Job is bitter toward God, but other times he has such a strong
grasp of God’s sovereign goodness. I
guess rather than bitterness, we should see it simply as despair.
Also at
times it appears that Job is too verbal about his personal righteousness but
maybe he sees this in the context of God’s sovereignty.
Earlier,
even God declares that Job is blameless.
Scriptures also teach us that none of us are without sin. In fact Job (in this section) refers to the
sins of his youth. The only way that
this squares (I think) has to do with the difference between sinning and
practicing sin. A child of God does not
practice sin, but if he says he has no sin, he is a liar (see 1 John). This actually brings up another even more
likely reconciliation.
When God declares
to Satan that Job is blameless, this refers to Job’s positional righteousness
before God, rather than practical righteousness before men. There is no one who is practically righteous
before God except the Lord Jesus. All
have sinned – none are righteous – we have all like sheep gone astray – all our
righteousness is like filthy rags in God’s eyes. The Scriptures are plentiful. There is only one way that the Bible teaches
a man can be justified, and that is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ
alone (no- that’s not three ways – they do not operate independently – only one
way – the Christ way). Clearly Job
revealed in more than one profession that such was the case with him. He believed on the Lord Jesus Christ (his
Redeemer Who lives) and was saved. He
looked forward to the Redeemer to come just as we look back to the Redeemer Who
has come, and it was accounted to him as righteousness by God. Not only that, this faith naturally and
inevitably demonstrated itself in practical righteousness as well. Notice how God says, “…my servant Job…he is
blameless…” When saving faith exists, a
new servant is born, because a new Lord is received. And Job knew he would stand before God in a
glorified body.
But again,
the mindset of Job (and the others) was that bad things only happen to people
because of personal sin. He did not know
how he had sinned and so he was confused.
Job
15:1-18:21
Good ole Eliphaz and Bildad! Gotta love’em! I can see
these guys on “Christian” television. Their
whole message is “turn or burn.” Is that
comforting or what? They feel that Job
is slandering God by suggesting that God has caused this entire calamity for no
reason in Job. Job thinks God just hates
him and has it in for him, but he does not believe he has brought it on
himself. So the onlookers interpret Job
to be saying that God is not just.
The
language back and forth gets quite personal and a little nasty. Reminds me of some theological debates I have
attended. It’s amazing how they can start
out feeling and acting like brothers or sisters in the Lord, and then as the
debate develops, and deteriorates into a pride-fest, everyone ends up
consigning the other to a lake of fire for eternity. A little advice – stay out of heated debates.
Job cries
out once more for a mediator between him and God (
A good
lesson for all of us who go around thinking only of “our own bad self.”
Job
19:1-21:34
And then
along comes Zophar.
Like all of them, he is a piece of work.
His theology is pretty good if he’s making a general reference to the
fate of the wicked after death, but it doesn’t appear that he is. It appears he is just plain making a
specific, third-person reference to Job.
And that is certainly how Job is taking it.
Even as
flawed as the theology may be in these guys they seem to be very attentive to
the Almighty Yahweh – very aware of His existence and even His
sovereignty. Pretty striking since the
time and locale of Job is supposed to be in the same neighborhood of
Abram. Most students of the Word
conclude that Abram was a pagan idolater with little or no awareness of the
true God even though their only basis is the prevailing culture of his time and
locale and the fact that his father had been an idolater. But it can be shown clearly that the worship
of Yahweh did exist in Abram’s ‘hood. I
know many young men who worship God, but whose father’s prefer the idols of the
world. So to call Abram an idolater is
an imposition on the Scriptures of something that is not there. Perhaps he was at some point, but not
necessarily at the time he was called to Canaan.
Anyhow, Job
was correct in his recognition of God’s sovereignty but not in his assessment
of God’s reasons.
Job
22:1-25:6
Boy oh
boy! Eliphaz
really takes the gloves off on this one.
He really rips up Job’s reputation suggesting specific things
that he says Job has done. He actually
knows nothing at all about what Job has or hasn’t done in the way of evil. Shame, shame.
Ironically, he finishes up by talking about nice things that will happen
if Job just repents. Again, he knows
nothing.
He reminds me
a little of myself (sometimes) to my shame.
When “I take the gloves off” I sometimes tear somebody down verbally and
then finish by trying to build them back up.
In some scenarios, properly done, it might effectively help, but in the
case of Job (and sometimes with me), it is just Eliphaz
(and me) who need to do the repenting.
In all of
Job’s confusion, he has the one thing that God will bless – brokenness (vss.
23:15-16). And Bildad
actually makes a brief and eloquent (albeit out of context) statement (ch. 25).
Job
26:1-29:25
It seems
like Job kind of loses his cool, but he also sort of puts on the “intellectual”
gloves and reveals some of his knowledge.
This has been of great interest to bible-believing experts in several
scientific disciplines, because of the surprising advancements in technology
and general knowledge so far back. Even
many secular researchers and some of the more liberal theologians (who date the
writing of the book of Job more recent) have wondered at the amazing things
described in Job. Job’s words about
astronomy, weather, economy, metallurgy, etc. are astonishing in this section
of Scripture. Of course, it is no
surprise at all to the one who believes in our loving God and Savior. He created all, sustains all, and knows all.
In chapter
27, Job speaks about what happens to the wicked and he actually sounds a lot
like his “friends.” Of course, he
doesn’t believe he is wicked. He seems
to think his life is one that is just.
Earlier it seems the Lord even concurs.
Perhaps what escapes us is Job’s rooted belief in a Redeemer. Otherwise, he appears self-righteous at
times, which is not good.
Perhaps he
was just acknowledging the blessings that he had enjoyed (ch.
29). And reminding his friends of his
former position.
Job
30:1-31:40
It occurred
to me this morning what a picture it must be sitting here on this cold winter
morning, warm in my easy chair, in
In the
reading today, Job’s words reflect just how overwhelmed he is by anguish. It is easy to judge much wrong in what Job
says, but to do so without the heart also reaching out to Job would be sinful I
think. If we can so easily set aside the
unimaginable loss in Job’s life while we analyze the theology of his words then
our own hearts must be detached from charity, not to mention reality.
Job did not
deny sin in his life (31:33-34). And so
we should understand that when he proclaimed his innocence, he was simply
listing his practice of trying to illustrate a daily repentant attitude. May God help me this day. And may God help you.
Job
32:1-34:37
I have
wondered much about Elihu in the past and this
morning I try hard to understand him better.
God does not express His opinion of him as he does the other three.
Elihu does seem to be more articulate and
theologically wise, but he still seems to be coming from the false premise that
what is happening to Job is because of gross secret sins.
He is
accurate (I think) in recognizing the arrogance in Job’s self-assessment and Job’s
lack of care in assessing God’s reasoning.
But he seems to lack gentleness and a genuine caring for Job’s
impoverished condition. I just think
they should all quit waxing theological and just nurse Job and bow to God.
I love Elihu’s insight into the doctrine of justification
(33:23-24). The ransom that brings God’s
declaration of righteousness must be via a Messenger from Heaven to Earth.
Job
35:1-37:24
Elihu’s words frequently contain much
wisdom and reverence. I love chapter
37. But there are other places where he
might do well to reconsider his own words.
Like when he says all this is happening to Job because he is so sinful,
and when he calls Job a fool and then proclaims his “well-rounded knowledge.”
His premise
is wrong, and his style seems pompous and arrogant, but his knowledge indeed
seems more extensive than the other three.
He gives an
amazing lesson in meteorology. This
helps us understand just how advanced civilization was at this time (2000 B.C.
approximately). He knows the clouds
receive their water from the earth and that this process also purifies the
water – like a process of distillation (36:26-28).
But most
important is his recognition of the holiness of God and his intense reverence.
Job
38:1-40:5
Job
discovers by revelation from God what the others should have discovered. When someone is afflicted or suffering, keep
your mouth shut about why, and just see it as an opportunity to reflect the
attributes of love. Use the chance to
show kindness, gentleness, goodness, and patience. We try so hard to have all the answers – does
God really need our advocacy? Learning
is good and sharing is good, but sometimes we just need to say, “I don’t know
why this is happening, but I know God loves you and I love you.”
Some say
the Bible advocates astrology (39:31-33), but I suggest that once again
astronomy was a developed science with terminology that was personally
memorable. The development of that
terminology was apparently guided by God.
He even uses it in making Himself understood.
There is a
powerful message of Divine love and grace in the volume of words God uses. We should learn what Job learned ----- To
shut up and listen!
Job
40:6-42:17
Sometimes
the best way to convince someone of error is to ask questions that will provoke
one to think one’s way through to truth.
God does that with Job. He
departs now from the lessons in astronomy, meteorology, biology, etc. and
selects two animals whose makeup seems to defy the standards established by the
makeup of all other animals.
The
hippopotamus (or behemoth) and the crocodile (or leviathan) are presented by
God for consideration. In this way Job
was able to see God or understand God’s utter sovereignty and by so doing, he saw
his foolishness and repented. This
pleased God.
God’s grace
is powerfully shown in his mercy to Job’s three friends. Also notable is the absence of Elihu in God’s rebuke.
Perhaps it is because he represented God properly, even though he did
not understand God’s dealings with Job.
God is God and God is good.
Ó
2004 C. E. Briggs