Sat.’s Devo - God’s Timing

Read: Job 20:1-22:30; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Psalm 40:11-17; Proverbs 22:2-4 Zophar gives his opinion about the wicked. He sees them flourishing only for a short time but their lives ending in doom and despair. He sees God rewarding them on earth for their evil deeds. *** Job in turn sees the wicked prospering and not facing their reward in this life. He makes it plain that he is not mad at people but his complaint is with God. If man is rewarded on earth for their deeds then why was he rewarded with such a harsh sentence when all he did was try to live his life to please God and honor his fellow man. He sees the light of the wicked shining on forever. If they argue that God will punish their children, then why not punish the ones who did the evil themselves. No matter how a person lives, he still faces death. The wicked get away with murder and are celebrated on earth. Where is the justice? *** Eliphaz speaks up and asks if it helps God if you are righteous or not. He argues that Job had to have done some secret sins and comes up with many examples. He asks Job if he is going to follow the path of sin like so many have walked before him. He concludes that Job must submit to God and then He will give him peace. If he gives up his lust for money and turns to God then He will listen to him and once again Job’s life will have meaning and purpose. *** The truth is that some of what Job and his friends said are true in certain circumstances. Sometimes the wicked are disciplined here on earth and sometimes they meet their judgment after death when they stand before God. The problem with making broad conclusions about God that God is soverign and his ways are so much higher than ours. He sees from the perspective of heaven and we see from the perspective of earth. God has his own timing. He lets wicked people reign for a season before he judges and brings them down. He judged Israel for different amounts of time (40 years, 70 years, 430). But when God is ready to redeem and rescue, it is sudden and sure. We are in that day where God is about to do something sudden and sure. He is about to rescue us from the wicked. It is always worse before His salvation comes so we have to endure until the end. *** Paul writes his second letter to the Corinthians and explains to them that he is writing this letter from the place of comfort. After all he has gone through he has reached a time of peace in his life. He prays that they will go through the same or like trials so they will get to the place he is… comfort. *** Paul relates his near death experience in a province in Asia when they thought there was no hope. They put their confidence in the Lord instead of themselves and God delivered them. He thanks them for their prayers. *** Lord, may we remember the trials we have endured and use it as a way to comfort others. Thank you for bringing us out of our own darkness and bringing us into your light. May we patiently await your deliverance.