Who Do You Say? Reading With the People of God #19Sample

Reminders...

Similar to the last time I wrote one of these, I again find it so interesting that two seemingly unrelated passages of scripture are more than willing to speak to each other! Job 37 contains the last words of advice from Job’s “friends” before God finally tells them all to step aside and let Him have the final say. And say He does, with chapter 38 beginning His questions for Job. “Where were YOU when I …”(ESV). With our daughter-in-law in the hospital as I write this, possibly living out the end of her 3.5 year battle with cancer, I needed to read this today. I think Job may have had his face planted in the dust after the first couple of questions, or even just the sound of God’s voice “from out of the whirlwind” (ESV) (I’m pretty sure I would have!)

Some of the questions God asks Job conjure up impossibly beautiful scenes from nature. (Take some time as you read to fully imagine them!) Other questions sting with the full weight of the realization that HE is God, and we are NOT! I may be getting ahead of things here, but Job 40:1-8 uncovers the uncomfortable truth of what we are doing when we angrily accuse God of injustice, unfairness or unfaithfulness to us. Thankfully in the end Job was vindicated, his accusers were dealt with and Job’s life was put back together better than it was before.

1. Revelation 21 tells of the new heavens and new earth when something like the end of Job’s story occurs, but this time it’s for all believers, and it’s forever. Verses 3-5 tell us “… and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” (Disciples' Literal New Testament)

I needed all these reminders today: reminders of God’s holiness, power, wisdom, justice, faithfulness and lovingkindness. I hope these scriptures will encourage you as you meditate on them too, allowing the Spirit of God to apply them to whatever circumstances you find yourself in today.

Primer contributed by Wendy York