Thoughts for another day

March 2, 2010

Today's verse: Job 23:14. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

We know the account of Job in the Bible and the travails he goes through. It’s a little out of place to imagine that a just and true God can use him as an object of His Sovereign exercise to demonstrate to satan that He knows Job well. But God does it; He does because He is Sovereign and has the authority to do as He wills. None can say ought to Him as none can compare with Him. So Job while undergoing his trial comes face to face with many realities, both as a result of his friends trying to impinge on him that he must have sinned grievously and also from his own thoughts about God. If we notice we discover that God is the centre of their discussion because in those days, the clarity and certainty of God was integral to life.

Our scripture is part of Job’s reply to one of his friends who tells him that God is omnipresent and must have seen him commit some fault in secret and hence his predicament. While Job is bodily and mentally in utter despair, he still, from within the labyrinth of his mind ekes out clearly that God knows his thoughts and deeds. He declares that he hasn’t strayed from God’s commands and has always kept His Words in his heart. He admits God must be trying him and emphasizes that God’s desires are met with, no matter how paradoxical they be. Job insists that what God has appointed He does, surmising that there could be other things that God may have in store for him and whatever they be, he realizes he has to face them.

So too with us, when God plans something, no matter we like it or not, it happens and we can do nothing but accept His will. We must realise that if we have endeavored to know Him and love Him then all things will work out for our good. There could be times of heavy trial and moments of pain, but don’t even for a moment take your eyes off Him and don’t think that He doesn’t understand. See, in and through Job’s pain, God etched that He is Sovereign; a message clearly sent to satan. Job was just an instrument and it’s possible, we may also become instruments in His hand. It’s both a privilege and a trite fearful. Yet, be confident in God for He will get you out of any situation you don’t like as long as you prevail in your relationship with Him, this because God understands.