Thursday,
March 19, 2020
IN ALL THIS!
Job
1:21-22
21 And said,
Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the
Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. 22 In
all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Job
2:10
What? shall
we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In
all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Twice the Holy Spirit describes Job’s
condition simply by saying “in all this!” We are left to believe that his
condition was unusual, excessive, and unique. But that didn’t keep his three
“friends” from coming for an uninvited visit. For several days they did nothing
but to stare at him! When they finally spoke, they spoke condemnation. Thanks a
lot!
Job
was dealing with his circumstances as best he could. Yes, he had searched his own heart and
soul for errors and deficiencies. Yes, he was confused as to God’s purposes.
But in all this did not Job sin with his lips.
What
is it about human nature
that prevents us from acknowledging a closed door? The other day, New York City
mandated the closing of all bars and restaurants. One news video showed a man
tugging first on the right door handle and then yanking on the left handle. The
door was locked. Then he peered in the window. The store was closed. Why do we
approach closed doors and think they should open simply because WE are
the ones standing there?
The
hardest thing
for Job was not the boils, painful as that must have been, it was the
waiting. Are you watching someone struggle with a difficult situation? Are
you inwardly evaluating their responses? Be careful with your judgments.
Job
32:3
3 Also
against his three friends was his [God’s] wrath kindled, because they had
found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
Dear
Lord, we are in the midst of an unprecedented difficulty. We each are
struggling with the circumstances and grappling with possible solutions. We
won’t get it all right! Help us not to sin with our lips. AMEN
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