Read: Job 40-42
I have to say that God sounds a lot like Elihu or vice versa. God uses the strength of Leviathan to show Job his power to compare it to Job’s frailty. Job repented of thinking he was innocent or worthy of God’s answer. Then God rebuked Eliphaz for all the friends and told him that they had not spoken right about Job. He defended Job’s words and told them to take a sacrifice to Job and offer it so that Job could pray for them. This must have been humbling to them. After Job prayed for his friends, God turned everything around for Job and gave him twice what he had lost. He got the same number of sons but also three beautiful daughters who got the same inheritance their brothers got. He lived to see four generations and died having lived a full life. This was jubilee for Job and this is what it looks like. What a story!
Jubilee happens every 50 years and is the time when inheritances go back to their original owner. You can read about it in Leviticus 25. This year is a jubilee year so everything we have lost is suppose to come back to us this year. We can expect great blessings in our finances and lives. This is the year of restoration. Many will be restored to God and to their families and friends. Lost relationships will be restored; inheritances restored. It is going to be a great year!
Lord, thank you for your seasons. We rejoice in the Jubilee of the Lord!
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Sat.’s Devo - God Answers
Read: Job 39-40:5
How would you like God to ask you questions about creation? I can’t imagine how humiliated and humbled Job must have felt. God gives us insights into nature that are mind-blowing. I love the way God gives life to his creation. He puts child-proof gates so the sea can’t escape its shore. He gives light and darkness a home. He stores up snow and hail as weapons for war and times of trouble. He lays out a path for the lightning to strike. Nothing is random with God. He births the dew and the frost in the morning and fathers the rain. He leads the stars across the sky like a mother bear leading her cubs. In the KJV in verse 32 it gives the name Mazzaroth which means the Zodiak. We always have a negative connotation of the Zodiak thinking it is New Age but it is Bible. To plan your future by it is New Age but it is Bible. God has laws for the universe because it is alive. He has different laws for us.
God calls the clouds: water jars and tilts them when the earth needs the water. God stalks the prey for the lion to eat. This gives a whole new meaning to the words of Paul to the Romans. He was explaining to them about God in Acts 17:28 and he said, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being…for we are his offspring.” Just like God stalks through the lion, he moves through us.
God takes Job to his heavenly zoo showing him the majesty of his creatures which all have specific lessons to teach us. Then the Lord asked Job if he still wanted to argue with him. Job put his hand over his mouth and said, No.
I know that there are times when we need to contend with God. Job got an encounter with the Lord he would have never gotten had he not contended with him. Jacob would never have gotten his name changed to Israel if he had not wrestled with God. The lady with the issue of blood would have remained unclean if she had not have reached out and touched the most clean vessel on earth. There are times to contend with God and he will answer. God answered Job and showed him awesome secrets of the universe that we now have. So, it is necessary to stand for what we believe and wait for God to answer.
Lord, help us to know when to contend with you and when to let go.
How would you like God to ask you questions about creation? I can’t imagine how humiliated and humbled Job must have felt. God gives us insights into nature that are mind-blowing. I love the way God gives life to his creation. He puts child-proof gates so the sea can’t escape its shore. He gives light and darkness a home. He stores up snow and hail as weapons for war and times of trouble. He lays out a path for the lightning to strike. Nothing is random with God. He births the dew and the frost in the morning and fathers the rain. He leads the stars across the sky like a mother bear leading her cubs. In the KJV in verse 32 it gives the name Mazzaroth which means the Zodiak. We always have a negative connotation of the Zodiak thinking it is New Age but it is Bible. To plan your future by it is New Age but it is Bible. God has laws for the universe because it is alive. He has different laws for us.
God calls the clouds: water jars and tilts them when the earth needs the water. God stalks the prey for the lion to eat. This gives a whole new meaning to the words of Paul to the Romans. He was explaining to them about God in Acts 17:28 and he said, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being…for we are his offspring.” Just like God stalks through the lion, he moves through us.
God takes Job to his heavenly zoo showing him the majesty of his creatures which all have specific lessons to teach us. Then the Lord asked Job if he still wanted to argue with him. Job put his hand over his mouth and said, No.
I know that there are times when we need to contend with God. Job got an encounter with the Lord he would have never gotten had he not contended with him. Jacob would never have gotten his name changed to Israel if he had not wrestled with God. The lady with the issue of blood would have remained unclean if she had not have reached out and touched the most clean vessel on earth. There are times to contend with God and he will answer. God answered Job and showed him awesome secrets of the universe that we now have. So, it is necessary to stand for what we believe and wait for God to answer.
Lord, help us to know when to contend with you and when to let go.
Friday, January 29, 2016
Fri.’s Devo - God Does Have the Answer When We Don’t
Read: Job 35-39
Proverbs 15:23 says, “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good it is! Elihu should have read this before he spoke. He spoke some truth but he was out of season for Job. Elihu explained that man’s sin did not hurt God but it affected only people and the same goes for being righteous. But I have to disagree. Our sin does hurt God and his plan because God chooses to use men to work through. But, what we do doesn’t stop God’s plan because he will use someone else so in that sense, Elihu is right. Elihu also said that when the oppressed cry out that God doesn’t answer because of their pride. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says that “if” you humble yourself and cry out to God he will hear you.
Elihu was right to defend God and say that God is concerned about man and he will respond to sinners with anger. That is what judgment is all about. Elihu had some good things to say about God’s justice and care. God doesn’t take his eyes off the innocent. They will be exalted forever.
He comforted Job with this statement: “God is leading you away from danger, Job, to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food.”
Job’s “friends” spent their hours trying to figure out why this happened to Job so he could fix it. All their conversation could have been constructive if they had not directed it at Job. They could have praised God together instead of using God to discipline Job.
We just came out of one of the most stressful weeks I have had in years. My youngest son finally got a job and we were moving him to a new town. The apartment we were suppose to be moving right into couldn’t get back his credit check so we wandered around like Joseph and Mary looking for a place to stay. We had to get a hotel with the hope of getting in first thing the next morning. That day came and went and the hotel had no rooms for the next night so we had to drive 30 miles to the next town to get a hotel. Did I mention we had a U-haul full of their belongings and two small children? Another day of looking and finally my son said, “we can’t find anything worth living in our price range so we’ll just have to go higher.” We did and found the most wonderful townhouse on the golf course. It is the nicest place they have ever had with neighbors that have done everything to help them fit in. God went way beyond our expectation and came through when we were at our wits end. On that last day, I had lost all hope and wondered where God was and what he was up to when I just felt the urge to start singing praises to him. He is worthy of praise no matter what we are going through. Within the hour, we had found our place. I’m not saying I had anything to do with it but singing helped me from leaping into the pool of despair. I kept thinking about Job and others that I know that are going through much harder things. God does care and he does have the answer.
Lord, thank you for all the times we are faithless and that you are faithful. Thank you that you don’t hold it against us but you love us unconditionally.
Proverbs 15:23 says, “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good it is! Elihu should have read this before he spoke. He spoke some truth but he was out of season for Job. Elihu explained that man’s sin did not hurt God but it affected only people and the same goes for being righteous. But I have to disagree. Our sin does hurt God and his plan because God chooses to use men to work through. But, what we do doesn’t stop God’s plan because he will use someone else so in that sense, Elihu is right. Elihu also said that when the oppressed cry out that God doesn’t answer because of their pride. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says that “if” you humble yourself and cry out to God he will hear you.
Elihu was right to defend God and say that God is concerned about man and he will respond to sinners with anger. That is what judgment is all about. Elihu had some good things to say about God’s justice and care. God doesn’t take his eyes off the innocent. They will be exalted forever.
He comforted Job with this statement: “God is leading you away from danger, Job, to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food.”
Job’s “friends” spent their hours trying to figure out why this happened to Job so he could fix it. All their conversation could have been constructive if they had not directed it at Job. They could have praised God together instead of using God to discipline Job.
We just came out of one of the most stressful weeks I have had in years. My youngest son finally got a job and we were moving him to a new town. The apartment we were suppose to be moving right into couldn’t get back his credit check so we wandered around like Joseph and Mary looking for a place to stay. We had to get a hotel with the hope of getting in first thing the next morning. That day came and went and the hotel had no rooms for the next night so we had to drive 30 miles to the next town to get a hotel. Did I mention we had a U-haul full of their belongings and two small children? Another day of looking and finally my son said, “we can’t find anything worth living in our price range so we’ll just have to go higher.” We did and found the most wonderful townhouse on the golf course. It is the nicest place they have ever had with neighbors that have done everything to help them fit in. God went way beyond our expectation and came through when we were at our wits end. On that last day, I had lost all hope and wondered where God was and what he was up to when I just felt the urge to start singing praises to him. He is worthy of praise no matter what we are going through. Within the hour, we had found our place. I’m not saying I had anything to do with it but singing helped me from leaping into the pool of despair. I kept thinking about Job and others that I know that are going through much harder things. God does care and he does have the answer.
Lord, thank you for all the times we are faithless and that you are faithful. Thank you that you don’t hold it against us but you love us unconditionally.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Thurs.’s Devo - Elihu Strikes
Read: Job 32-34
Elihu was a much younger man who had been listening to the words of these men trying to learn from them. He had gotten more stirred up the more he listened. He was so mad at Job’s friends because they couldn’t convince Job of his sin, so he spewed out his opinion. He berated the other three by saying they weren’t wise just because they were old. He claimed that he was worthy to answer because the spirit of God in him was busting to get out. He berated Job for thinking God was picking a fight with him and that he was innocent. He went on to say that God had spoken to him but he refused to hear him, so God sent him dreams. He must not be paying attention to them.
Then Elihu went on to say that Job was full of arrogance and pride and that was why God was punishing Job. It sounds to me that Elihu was looking at himself in a mirror. He said that God has watched everything Job has done and has decided to judge and this is his judgment. He accused Job of rejecting God and talking wickedly. He concluded that Job deserved maximum penalty for his rebellion and disrespect for God.
Amazing to me….Elihu doesn’t get condemned by God in the end of the chapter.
Elihu was a much younger man who had been listening to the words of these men trying to learn from them. He had gotten more stirred up the more he listened. He was so mad at Job’s friends because they couldn’t convince Job of his sin, so he spewed out his opinion. He berated the other three by saying they weren’t wise just because they were old. He claimed that he was worthy to answer because the spirit of God in him was busting to get out. He berated Job for thinking God was picking a fight with him and that he was innocent. He went on to say that God had spoken to him but he refused to hear him, so God sent him dreams. He must not be paying attention to them.
Then Elihu went on to say that Job was full of arrogance and pride and that was why God was punishing Job. It sounds to me that Elihu was looking at himself in a mirror. He said that God has watched everything Job has done and has decided to judge and this is his judgment. He accused Job of rejecting God and talking wickedly. He concluded that Job deserved maximum penalty for his rebellion and disrespect for God.
Amazing to me….Elihu doesn’t get condemned by God in the end of the chapter.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Wed.’s Devo - The Storms of Life
Read: Job 30-31
Job looked at what his life was at the present and was in anguish. He was a joke to people who used to look up to him and honor him. Now he lived in depression and hopelessness. He was in the middle of a storm and the storm was winning. He remembered how he wept for the poor and needy and looked for ways to help them. He made a decision not to look lustfully upon a woman. As he examined his past life he concluded these things: He has never been unfair with his servants and his business affairs. He has been kind to the orphan and never put his trust in money. He has never been happy when calamity hit his enemies. He has not tried to hide his sins or been afraid of the crowd and what they thought of his walk with God.
Job was a model for us to live by and that is why God chose him. We can look at the way Job lived his life and use him as our example. We don’t know why we face such opposition and trials except that trials make us strong and help us see how temporal and unimportant riches and popularity is. Our first love has got to be Jesus for us to be able to weather the storms up ahead and the ones we are in. God is the storm maker and the storm breaker. We can trust that he commands the winds to blow where ever he wants them to.
Lord help us to ride the waves of your storms with grace and trust.
Job looked at what his life was at the present and was in anguish. He was a joke to people who used to look up to him and honor him. Now he lived in depression and hopelessness. He was in the middle of a storm and the storm was winning. He remembered how he wept for the poor and needy and looked for ways to help them. He made a decision not to look lustfully upon a woman. As he examined his past life he concluded these things: He has never been unfair with his servants and his business affairs. He has been kind to the orphan and never put his trust in money. He has never been happy when calamity hit his enemies. He has not tried to hide his sins or been afraid of the crowd and what they thought of his walk with God.
Job was a model for us to live by and that is why God chose him. We can look at the way Job lived his life and use him as our example. We don’t know why we face such opposition and trials except that trials make us strong and help us see how temporal and unimportant riches and popularity is. Our first love has got to be Jesus for us to be able to weather the storms up ahead and the ones we are in. God is the storm maker and the storm breaker. We can trust that he commands the winds to blow where ever he wants them to.
Lord help us to ride the waves of your storms with grace and trust.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Tues.’s Devo - Father Knows Best
Read Job 26-29
Bildad gives his two cents about the power of God. He wonders how a mortal could be innocent before God when men are just maggots in comparison to God.
Job asks his friends whose spirit is speaking through them then gives us a awesome picture of God’s power through nature. He vows to never speak evil and to never agree with their assessment of his status and that his conscience is clear.
Job gives his definition of the wicked. He describes this man much like his friends do only he doesn’t put himself in that category. Then his asks the question of the day: where can wisdom be found? Definitely not in material or natural things. Wisdom is illusive and beyond cost. It is hidden from our natural eyes; those who have died have heard of the place and God for sure knows where it is found. To man, God says that wisdom is to fear Him. Understanding is gotten by departing from evil.
In Chapter 29, Job reminisces about how life used to be for him. He once walked with God’s favor, and had the respect of the young and the old. He once reached out to the poor and helped them, comforted the ones that mourned, walked clothed in righteousness. He was an adversary to the wicked and rescued those oppressed. His council was sought after and people listened to his every word.
How hard of a fall that had to have been for Job but he and heaven saw what Job was made out of. He never cursed God but took what he was given with grace. It was not that Job never complained because he did, he just never gave up on God and his trust in him. I pray that I would be so faithful.
Lord, help us to be faithful to your Word when it looks so contrary. Faith is the evidence of things not seen so help us to stand strong when we don’t see the desired result. Truly, you know best.
Bildad gives his two cents about the power of God. He wonders how a mortal could be innocent before God when men are just maggots in comparison to God.
Job asks his friends whose spirit is speaking through them then gives us a awesome picture of God’s power through nature. He vows to never speak evil and to never agree with their assessment of his status and that his conscience is clear.
Job gives his definition of the wicked. He describes this man much like his friends do only he doesn’t put himself in that category. Then his asks the question of the day: where can wisdom be found? Definitely not in material or natural things. Wisdom is illusive and beyond cost. It is hidden from our natural eyes; those who have died have heard of the place and God for sure knows where it is found. To man, God says that wisdom is to fear Him. Understanding is gotten by departing from evil.
In Chapter 29, Job reminisces about how life used to be for him. He once walked with God’s favor, and had the respect of the young and the old. He once reached out to the poor and helped them, comforted the ones that mourned, walked clothed in righteousness. He was an adversary to the wicked and rescued those oppressed. His council was sought after and people listened to his every word.
How hard of a fall that had to have been for Job but he and heaven saw what Job was made out of. He never cursed God but took what he was given with grace. It was not that Job never complained because he did, he just never gave up on God and his trust in him. I pray that I would be so faithful.
Lord, help us to be faithful to your Word when it looks so contrary. Faith is the evidence of things not seen so help us to stand strong when we don’t see the desired result. Truly, you know best.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Mon.’s Devo -God’s Refining Fire
Read: Job 22-25
Eliphaz accuses Job of thinking he is so pious and sinless when he is really full of sin. He gives Job a list of things he probably did, like oppressing a lender, refusing to help the poor, or sending away a needy widow. Eliphaz says that Job thinks God is so high in the heavens he doesn’t see or care about what happens down here on earth. His advise to Job is to submit to God and then God will turn things around for him. He tells him to give up his lust for money and pray for mercy.
Job responds that he would love to talk to God and present his case. He would love to hear God’s response because he would listen to him. But he knows that God has mapped out his path and he trusts in God’s wisdom for his life even if he doesn’t understand it. He does wonder why God doesn’t punish the wicked instead of him. He comes to the conclusion that God sees everything and will judge according to His plan and purpose.
We, like Job have lots of questions of why things happen the way they do. Why did Christians lose when the stock market fell in 08? Why do our cars break down or disaster strike? God has one plan and that is to conform us into the image of his Son so that we can be a helpmeet suitable for him. Everything we go through is to test us and refine us like gold. Gold has to go through the fire and so do we.
Lord, help us to trust you when we walk through the fire and not to waver or give up. The end will be glorious!
Eliphaz accuses Job of thinking he is so pious and sinless when he is really full of sin. He gives Job a list of things he probably did, like oppressing a lender, refusing to help the poor, or sending away a needy widow. Eliphaz says that Job thinks God is so high in the heavens he doesn’t see or care about what happens down here on earth. His advise to Job is to submit to God and then God will turn things around for him. He tells him to give up his lust for money and pray for mercy.
Job responds that he would love to talk to God and present his case. He would love to hear God’s response because he would listen to him. But he knows that God has mapped out his path and he trusts in God’s wisdom for his life even if he doesn’t understand it. He does wonder why God doesn’t punish the wicked instead of him. He comes to the conclusion that God sees everything and will judge according to His plan and purpose.
We, like Job have lots of questions of why things happen the way they do. Why did Christians lose when the stock market fell in 08? Why do our cars break down or disaster strike? God has one plan and that is to conform us into the image of his Son so that we can be a helpmeet suitable for him. Everything we go through is to test us and refine us like gold. Gold has to go through the fire and so do we.
Lord, help us to trust you when we walk through the fire and not to waver or give up. The end will be glorious!
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