Thurs.’s Devo - New Birth

Read: Job 40:42-17; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 22:14 God accuses Job of being his critic but asks him if he has all the answers. Job has nothing to say. (Good answer.) Then God has more questions for Job. He asks Job if he would discredit His justice to prove his point. He challenges Job to put on his glory and vent his anger to the proud and put them in their places. God is being sarcastic because only he can humiliate the proud. God uses the example of one of his creatures called Behemoth. Behemoth was probably the hippopotamus. Nothing scares him or catches him off guard. Nothing can capture or tame him. All of creation shows us a part of God’s character and the behemoth shows us God’s might and power. Next, God mentions Leviathan which was a crocodile or a large sea monster. It cannot be tamed or conquered by man either. It is another example of God’s sovereignty and power. Fire comes out of its mouth much like God’s word comes out of his. It fears nothing and neither does God. Job repents and tells God that he spoke of things he knew nothing about. Now that he has seen God with his own eyes he takes back everything he has said. Then God went to visit Job’s friends and tells them that they were all wrong about Job. To make things right they needed to offer sacrifices and go to Job and receive his prayer for them. Job did pray for his friends and then God reversed everything for Job. He was restored his fortunes doubly. He gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. He lived another 140 years and saw four generations of his children and grand children. He died an old man having lived a long, full life. Job’s encounter with God was like his salvation that ushered him into a whole new life. Paul explained that Jesus died so they could live, so they also must die to their selves to live a new life unto God. We have been reconciled back to God just as Job was. This is the gift of reconciliation and the great news that we share with others. Lord, thank you for the message of the cross and the gift of reconciliation. Thank you that we now have a way to communicate and fellowship with you. May we feel your presence today as we go about our day. All glory and honor to you.