Job: Chapter 12

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Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This

Clearly, you are those wise people and all wisdom will die with you in your minds. However, I am not a mere heathen who has no understanding of God and His creation, I am not your lesser. Doesn't everyone know that God is Holy and perfect? He is the beginning and the end? Surely all know this, it is hard-wired within them. We are His creation and thus, to some degree, at our core, we understand who He is and who we are in Him. You see me as a jester, same as everyone else around me, though I cried out to God and He answered me, acknowledging that I am a just and blameless man are seen as a joke to all those around me, how is this just? If God sees me as just and blameless, why should I care about the mere mortal minds? It is easy for you to ridicule me, those who are without suffering in their lives, you who have no pain within every area of your life. This life is not treating me fairly, the sinners who serve other gods are not punished and I, who serve the one true God, being ridiculed and shamed before all around me. Ask anyone or anything. All of the creation groans and shows that the hand of the Lord has fallen upon me and is allowing these things to transpire against me. God holds all things in His hands, all things. Contemplate on that notion for a period of time, all things in the universe are under His command within His hands, only His hands. Fathom that idea. Wisdom is not something that we grasp whenever we choose to; it is something that is attained over time. What God tears down none can restore, when He has spoken it has been decided, if He decides a man is to suffer, he shall suffer. Man cannot undo what God has started. Creation cannot cease from what He put into motion before time existed. He is strength and perfect wisdom, both those who deceive others and the great deceiver, Satan, are within His control. He lifts up the fool and shuts the mouth of the kings, he overthrows the mighty without effort. He gives everything to anyone, regardless of their status. He is the reason for all things. He humbles the proud and turns the wise to fools. He brings the deepest of darkness to light merely with His voice and all sin trembles before Him. He blesses the nations and destroys them. He can make the wisest man a wretch who trembles on the ground and staggers throughout the desert in search of water.

There is no doubt in Job's mind, heart, or soul that the Lord has given him this suffering. Job cannot comprehend the "why" behind what is occurring in his life but he knows that God is in control of all things, including this. Job's rebuttal to his friend is not about defending himself but it is an explanation of the power of God and how He is not caught off guard or surprised by anything that occurs in His universe. No atom disappears without His knowledge or approval, if it happens, He put it into motion. There is no escaping this concept and humans are completely lost if they don't understand the true power of Him.

How can we relate this to our lives in 2018? Well, often we find ourselves searching for truth and attempting to understand the "why" behind something that is going on within our lives (especially suffering). Thus, we can learn from Job and his friends that we are not to just believe that God is being surprised by what is happening in our lives, but that God has a plan to restore us to glory and draw us closer and closer to Him regardless of what we must endure getting there. The finish line is being in Heaven with the Holy of Holies and knowing Him as best we can. Therefore, if we understand this concept that God works all things together for good for those who love Him, we can endure any pain, suffering, trial, tribulation, betrayal, sin, etc. because we know that God is using it for our betterment. Now, we may never see the end result, it may be for someone else. Thus, we must have faith that God is truly using ALL things (regardless of whether or not they are good or bad) for our good.

Dear Lord, I pray that you will give me the strength that only you can reflect through me. I am weak and broken, on my knees before you seeking your presence, show me who you are in a way that lifts me up. Allow me to understand you beyond my current understanding and bless me with knowledge of knowing you. Grant me a relationship with you that is not bound by my own feeble understanding but that is blessed with your wisdom. Amen. 

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