Job 9: 4 “God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?”
Dear God,
As so often is the case, I draw comfort from the knowledge that You are wise in all things; as well having the ability to do all things. I then am humbled by the knowledge that despite this, you love and care for me, who is just a recurring sinner. I also acknowledge that the smallest plant, flower or insect, has been fashioned by You and subsequently cared for as tenderly, as the most majestic part of the universe.
It is only the outworking of Satan’s sin on this earth that causes harm and continues to endanger Your creative works and makes death inevitable for all living things. Thank You for the words of Your Prophets, who write encouragingly, that the earth will be made new, and all death will eternally be destroyed. 1 Corinthians 15: 26 “The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.”
You knew Job very well, and he was certainly well acquainted with You. Even during the most severe affliction, he continued to believe and acknowledge You with insight that could have only come from having an intimate walk with You.
In Job 8, Bildad the Shuhite one of Job’s not-comforters states that Job must have been very wicked considering that so many bad things were happening to him. Despite Jobs protests that he was not wicked, all of the ‘not-comforters’ continued in there assertions, and built their case, from the belief, if we love You and do good works, then nothing bad will happen to such a person. They kept saying that if he would come back to You, and be blameless, that he would not be cast away, and instead be laughing. They had no idea, that You had allowed Job to be tested by Satan.
Job continued to protest his innocence and complained about his hard lot. But in his many words, came gems of faithful witness about You, his God. Such as ‘God is wise’, ‘look at His creation and power’, and that he himself could never contend with God, or come up with a correct answer, because You are All-knowing and powerful. He observes that we could never stop You from doing anything, no matter how righteous we might be. He says often that he did not like his present life or being tested by You as though he was unrighteous. All the while He sees You as Almighty God to be worshiped, as the One who does powerful works. Job did not see You as the way to material possessions, in the present or for later prosperity.
Lord there is so much for me, when I read Job, and certainly I can see why You said to Satan, that Job was true and upright, and thus counter his argument that it is impossible to please You or come up to Your standard.
I give You thanks that there are better days coming, than what the devil puts us through. You will not leave us alone when we trust and seek You in prayer; even though humanly we can feel abandoned. Job certainly did! In the end, Job was victorious, and blessed by You abundantly; when the torment was all over.
I am so glad, that You do the same for us.
Amen