The old June bug on the sidewalk reminded me of a story my Dad told about an ad in a magazine when he was a child. The ad highly promoted a new beetle treatment kit, guaranteed to kill the bugs, cost was a dollar. That was quite an expense during the depression but Dad's brother had a dollar and sent off for the bug killer. When it came in the mail the kids realized they'd been taken, for the new beetle treatment was two wooden tongue depressor sticks that you slap together to get rid of the bugs. We'd laugh when Dad told the story.
Aren't there times in all of our lives when we learn from lessons like the new beetle treatment kit? And it's from these humbling lessons that we realize that we're not as smart as we thought we were. In the Bible there is a man who knows that he's not smart enough but even so this man does the smartest things all through his life-- he uses trusting faith in God and God prospers his life.
Job's right relationship with God fueled his determination to get him through a really sad part of his life. His children die, his health fails, and all his possessions are all gone. Then his spouse mentions that Job should rethink his faith in God. Job's "friends" say these things happen to Job because God as distant and uncaring. Job doesn't believe it but Job is saddened by his losses.
Job asks God, “Does it seem good to You to oppress, to despise the work of Your Hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?" (Job 10:3) Job asks many questions and God is patient and faithful. Job expresses what is on his heart and all the while God listens.
Then God speaks! In chapters 38 and 39 God has a lot to say. God begins by saying to Job, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to Me. Job 38:2-3
Declaring faith, even within our questions is challenging. Job's faith in God holds firm. He is a righteous man. And over time all that he has lost is given to him anew by God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
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