Seeing God

⁵ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. ⁶ Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."

Job 42:5-6

At the end of his ordeal, Job finds himself a changed man. He has seen God and he has seen his own unrighteousness which leads him to repentence. Truly seeing God should always lead us to repent of our sin. It's a shame that we spend so much of our lives just hearing about God and not truly seeing God. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord... I want to see You... to see You high and lifted up...

I should just shut up

"I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.

Job 40:4 (NIV)

God has given Job a chance to state his case. Job wisely humbles himself. He recognizes how unworthy he is to approach God. He realizes that he's said too much and that he should never opened his mouth to accuse God in the first place. I can relate. How many times have I said "did I say that out loud?" or "ok, I'm just going to shut up now" or even "me and my big mouth." When God is disciplining me, the only words out of my mouth should be "Yes, Lord." Like Isaiah, I cry "Woe to me... I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips..." (Isaiah 6:5a) Fortunately, what the seraph did for Isaiah temporarily when he touched his lips with the coal, Jesus has done permanently for me when he died on the cross. "your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." (Isaiah 6:7b) Because of Jesus, I can approach God. But it shouldn't be me speaking because Jesus is advocating on my behalf. I'll just shut up and let Him do the talking.

Oh Yes, God Speaks!

Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:

Job 38:1 (NIV)

God is finally answering Job and it's not in a still, small voice. God is answering Job out of a storm - a tempest, a whirlwind. It wasn't just a little summer storm. The Weather Channel was probably there covering the story. The National Weather Service had probably issued a severe thunderstorm warning and perhaps even a tornado watch. And God was speaking through it. Do you suppose God had Job's attention? I know with a storm like this, I'd be heading for cover. God's voice speaking through it would probably stop me in my tracks. In verse 3 God tells Job to "Brace yourself like a man." In other words hold on tight. If I'm in Job's shoes, God has my complete attention. Now, I have never heard God speak through a storm like Job did here, but I read His word every day. He speaks to me daily. Do I brace for His word like He tells Job to brace himself? I should. His word is powerful. Forget thunderstorms, there should be a divine storm warning every time I open my Bible. Brace yourself. God is speaking!

God Speaks

For God does speak—now one way, now another— though man may not perceive it.

Job 33:14 (NIV)

What was that you said? I've uttered that phrase more than once. Probably a few times everyday. I probably wasn't paying attention to whoever was speaking to me. Maybe the TV was too loud. Maybe I was too involved in something on Facebook. Maybe I was tired and drifting off. Maybe I was driving and paying attention to traffic. There's many reasons why I may not have been listening to someone who was speaking to me. God speaks to us. He speaks in different ways. Sometimes, like He demonstrated to Elijah, it's in a still, small voice. Do we even notice? Are there things in our lives that are distracting us from hearing the voice of God? Are we even listening? I probably should be...

Times of plenty, times of lack

For what is man's lot from God above, his heritage from the Almighty on high?

Job 31:2 (NIV)

Job still recognizes God as the Almighty and provider. Even in his loss, he doesn't sit around thinking about what was lost that he earned for himself. He recognizes that all he has and all he will leave comes from God. Perhaps it's my arrogance or my level of comfort that makes me think Wow, I just got a raise. Let me go out and reward myself with a new guitar. I need to constantly remember that all that I have doesn't come because I've got a great job, but it has come because God has provided it for me. In my times of plenty and in my times of lack, all that I have has come from God. And... it is good.

Why You Dirty Little Rat

With a strong hand, God grabs my shirt.
      He grips me by the collar of my coat.

Job 30:18 (NLT)

I have a picture in my mind of a black and white film noir gangster movie. The heavy has the little guy grabbing his shirt collar and lifting him into the air and saying "you dirty little rat." That's how Job sees God handling him. God may be lifting Job up, but I think it's more for Job's protection. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

Wisdom and Understanding

And he said to man,
      'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
      and to shun evil is understanding.' "

Job 28:28 (NIV)

Who needs wisdom and understanding? Job did. I do. The fear of the Lord = wisdom. Do I fear the Lord? Do I have proper respect for Him? Do I hold Him in awe? Shun Evil = Understanding. Do I shun evil? Or do I let it slide when I see evil on TV? Or on the internet? Or in the newspaper? Or in my life? Do I need wisdom and understanding? Yes, I do. Fear the Lord. Shun evil. OK.

How Faint The Whisper

And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
      how faint the whisper we hear of him!
      Who then can understand the thunder of his power?"

Job 26:14 (NIV)

Wow. This verse paints such a beautiful word picture. To me, it's a vivid reminder that we can only grasp a fraction of God's greatness. Though I've seen God work in mighty ways - it's only a small part of all that He has done. Though I've heard Him speak to me - it's only a faint whisper and small part of what He's said. Though I recognize His power - I cannot fully grasp the complete awesomeness of His power. Though I only see the fringe of His works, I want to see more. Though I only hear the faint whisper, I want to listen and hear more. Though I only hear the thunder of His power, bring on the storm!

Doing What He Pleases

But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?
He does whatever he pleases.

Job 23:13

Despite all of his grumblings, Job still recognizes God's sovereignty. He may not be very happy about it, but he still recognizes it. Whatever God wants to do, He does. We need to remember this. We cannot remember this without also remembering His character - His good, holy, just character. We know that this same God that does what He pleases also is the same God as in Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Halitosis

My breath is offensive to my wife;

Job 19:17a (NIV)

Job, in his distress and complaining, in his struggling with God, became offensive to his wife. Yes, she was the one who told him to "curse God and die." In all of his struggle, he had changed and become a stranger to his wife and she didn't want to be around him. What happened to the man I married? She might have thought she would have been better off if he had died. Then her kinsmen-redeemer would take care of her instead of this burned out, broken down shell of a man. Redemption - that's what she wants - not having to listen to Job cry out to God what have I done?. She repeats to herself I can't take it anymore over and over again. Job's alienation from God and his subsequent alienation from his wife illustrate our need to have somebody draw us closer to God and to each other. Job goes on in verse 25 to say "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth." (Job 19:25) Job recognizes his need for redemption. I know that my redeemer has walked this earth and died on the cross for my sins and will one day rule and reign on this earth. I cannot be more glad that I too can say "my redeemer lives!"

Deep and Wide

⁷"Can you find out the deep things of God?
    Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
⁸It is higher than heaven—what can you do?
    Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
⁹Its measure is longer than the earth
    and broader than the sea.

Job 11:7-9 (ESV)

As Job is listening to his three friends, he gets some good advice and he gets some not-so-good advice. His friend Zophar is helpful here in reminding Job of the ifiniteness of God. I hate to say it, but this is something that I need to be reminded of. How often do I try and put God in a box? How often does my doubt and unbelief limit what I think God can do in my life? I need to be reminded of His depth. I need to be reminded that He has no limit. There is nothing I can do to limit God. It is good that God is beyond limit. It is good for me to remember that!

That's A Good Question

"Indeed, I know that this is true.
But how can a mortal be righteous before God?

Job 9:2(NIV)

Job, even though he thought himself to be without sin, poses a good question in his second defense. He realizes God's righteousness and man's sinfulness. He goes on later to wish their was an arbiter, recognizing his need for a savior. I am thankful that I have come to that same conclusion. I am a sinner and cannot on my own be righteous before God. But God sent His Son to die on the cross for my sin and to be that arbiter between God and me. I am thankful that Jesus' righteousness has been imputed to me. I am thankful for my need for a savior and that need has already been met in Jesus!

Show Me Where I Have Been Wrong

"Teach me, and I will be quiet;
show me where I have been wrong.

Job 6:24 (NIV)

Job's friends had come to him to help him figure out what he had done wrong to deserve all of the adversity that had come upon him. In his first response, Job is kind of upset. He thinks he's been punished to excess. Yet, in all of his complaining, he does stumble upon a little humility. He does want to be shown what he has done wrong. He doesn't really expect his friends to be able to do so, but if they will, he will be quiet and listen. This is a good attitude to happen. Do I ever want to be shown where I'm wrong? Not really. Yet, reality is I'm a sinner. I do wrong far more than I should. Do I want to listen if someone tells me that I've done wrong? No. However, I should accept God's grace and be humble and listen quietly when someone cares enough to show me where I've done wrong.

Blessings and Curses

and said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."

Job 1:21 (NIV)

His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"

Job 2:9 (NIV)

ברך barak is an interesting word. I'm not saying so because etomologicly it is probably derived from the same root as the first name of the President. I am saying so because it appears in both verses that I've cited here. In the first verse, it is translated "blessed" (KJV) or "praised" (NIV) and in the second it is translated "curse." Suppose the two meanings were flipped. OK, I doubt Matt Redman would have had quite such a big hit with "Cursed be the name of the Lord," although I can imagine that more than a few people would be singing along silently in their minds. But what about Job's wife. "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Bless God and die!" That kind of makes me think You've fought the good fight. Well done! Now enjoy your eternal reward! Of course context is what brings about the translations we have here. Job 1:22 says Job did not sin and thus blessed seems to be the proper translation. Job 2:10 tells us how Job thought his wife was foolish and thus curse seems appropriate. What we say and how we say it is important. Sometimes what we say can be taken in a way completely different that what we intend. Examine your heart and your words before you speak. How are you going to barak somebody today?