The hand of the Lord has done this. Job 12

It is Job's contention that, of all that has happened to him, the hand of the Lord has done it all. Job believed that God holds the breath of every living thing in His hand and all that happens, good or evil, comes from His hand.

It strikes me odd that neither Job nor his friends ever attribute anything to the working of the devil. Even though Satan had a significant role in Job's suffering from the very beginning, Job nor his friends perceived Satan's hand in Job's sufferings. To Job, good and evil were both from the hand of the Lord, and God doesn't have to have a good reason for either. To Job's friends, good was God's reward for the righteous and evil was God's reward for the sinner.

To be sure, God is sovereign and does as He pleases. "He makes the nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away." (Job 12:23) God does appoint the rise and fall of nations, this is true. "Behold, He restrains the waters, and they dry up; and He sends them out, and they inundate the earth." (Job 12:15) This is also true, God does send famines and floods, but the question remains, are all famines and floods the direct work of God's hand? The insurance industry refresh to natural disasters as "acts of God", but is this fair to God? I believe that most meteorological and geologic disasters are simply the after shocks of Noah's flood. Noah's flood permanently changed the earths weather patterns. Prior to the flood, there had never been any rain. The flood also changed the geological stability of the earth. During the flood, the fountains of the deep were released. Vast underground stores of water were released upon the earth. Storms, floods, and earthquakes (in most cases) are simply the left over effects of Noah's flood.

The point is, there are three sources for events in our lives. God, Satan, and the decay of this world. Somethings are the direct result of God's hand in our lives. Somethings are the result of Satan's attacks against us. And somethings are simply the decaying away of this present world.

So, if God is sovereign, why does He allow evil things to happen to people? Why did God not bring a quick end to Job's suffering? Why doesn't God bring a quick end to evil in this world? The answer is complex and, in part, a great mystery. But Peter does tell us one reason, "Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation" (2 Peter 3:15) God's patience in dealing with evil is so that more may be saved. God is not willing that any should be lost and He is willing to wait that as many as possible may be saved.

We must realize that God has many reasons for what He does and what He allows. While we may not understand all His reasons, we know he has a reason, and His reason is for our certain good.

David Robison

The contempt of those at ease: Job 12:5

"He who is at ease holds calamity in contempt, as prepared for those whose feet slip." (Job 12:5)

This scripture has become a very important scripture to me. It has caused be to rethink how I look and judge the misfortunes of others. In the midst of calamity, we are often so consumed with our own suffering, that it is hard to consider the suffering of others. When we are at ease, it is easy to have contempt for the suffering of others. It is easy to look at the misfortunes of others and think, "they deserve it", "it's there fault", "why can't they just get over it", or "it could never happen to me". When we are at ease, it is hard for us to put ourselves in the place of people who are suffering and to identify with their pain and to muster genuine concern for them. This scripture has caused me to pause and to judge my own motives and to see if my judgements of others are coming out of a heart of contempt, rather than a heart of compassion.

I have found, in my own experience, that at times when I am experiencing difficulty in my life, it is often hard to find someone who understands. This scripture reminds me not to judge them too severely, for after all, I too am subject to the same temptation and might judge another wrongly if the situation was reversed. One fact that does bring me encouragement in those times is that, even if no one else understands, there is one who does. "For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings." (Hebrews 2:10) Even if no one else understands, Jesus does. God became a man and dwelt among us and experienced the same suffering that we experience in this life. Jesus not only knows the pain that we are experiencing, but He is also interceding with the Father on our behalf. When others hold us in contempt, we can always find comfort in the Lord.

David Robison

Zophar on Evolution: Job 11:12

"An idiot will become intelligent when the foal of a wild donkey is born a man." (Job 11:12)

This scripture always makes me laugh. Believe it or not, there is a variation on the theory of evolution that believes that one species lays an egg, and a completely different species is hatched. This theory of evolution is called "Punctuated Equilibrium". In this passage, Zophar is trying to describe something that is, not improbable, but impossible. To do this, he turns to evolution. In Zophar's mind, this form of evolution was impossible. Zophar recognized that all that was scene was created, not evolved. I concur with him.

David Robison

God knows a false man. Job 11

Batting third is Zophar. Zophar seems content to speak the same mantra as Eliphaz and Bildad, "Shall a multitude of words go unanswered, and a talkative man be acquitted?" (Job 11:2) We have talked enough about this in the previous posts. Zophar does have one thing to add, he reminds Job that "sound wisdom has two sides." (Job 11:6) What Zophar means is that there is what we understand with our wisdom, and there is what God understands. We see wisdom in part, the part God reveals to us, but God sees it all. If we rely on only what we can understand, then we will miss what God doing. In judging any situation, we need to find out what God has in mind, not just what we can understand.

Unfortunately, Zophar needs to take to heart his own advice. Based on what he can see, Zophar judges that Job's problems are the result of his sins, "If you would direct your heart right and spread out your hand to Him, if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and do not let wickedness dwell in your tents; Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect, and you would be steadfast and not fear." (Job 11:13-15) Zophar judged by what he could see and understand, but he did not take time to hear and understand Job's situation from God's perspective. In Zophar's eyes, if Job would just get right with God then all his problems would vanish, "For you would forget your trouble, as waters that have passed by, you would remember it. Your life would be brighter than noonday; darkness would be like the morning." (Job 11:16-17)

Zophar's lack of understanding was compounded with his lack of patience. Zophar grew weary of Job's complaining and Job's seeming inability to just "go on" and "get over it". So insensitive was Zophar's heart, that he actually wished that God would come against Job Himself and set him straight, "But would that God might speak, and open His lips against you, and show you the secrets of wisdom!" (Job 11:5-6) Zophar did not understand that God and Job were not adversaries, but Father and son. Zophar wanted God to "take Job on". Zophar was more interested in being right, and having God prove to Job that he was right, that he was interested in Job's heart and soul. We need to be people who are truly concerted with the state of others and less concerned that we are viewed as being right. Far better that God shows his mercy to one, even if it makes us appear to be wrong, than God show His judgment and we appear to be right.

David Robison

Leave me alone and let me die in peace: Job 10:18-22

When our walk with the Lord takes us through difficult times, it is tempting to ask ourselves, "Is it all worth it?" Job asked himself, "Why then should I toil in vain?" (Job 9:29) As Christians we are appointed for suffering. All who desire to walk with God will experience times of suffering along the way. And when the suffering hurts the most, we may being to wonder if our walk with the Lord is worth all the pain in our lives.

Job decided that, if all God had for him was pain, then it wasn't worth it. He pleads God to let him alone and to let him die in peace. "Would He not let my few days alone? Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer before I go -- and I shall not return -- to the land of darkness and deep shadow" (Job 10:21-21) Job desires to be out from under the hand of God. He believes that if God would just turn His attention away from him, then his affliction would ease, and he would enjoy a few fleeting days of peace, before he dies and passes away.

I have know people who, in the midst of very difficult times, withdrew from God, hoping to find some place of rest from their pain. Hoping that, if they didn't pursue God so hard, that maybe it wouldn't hurt so much. Unfortunately, this is the exact opposite of what we really need. In our times of trouble we need to draw closer to God rather than drift away. Our only hope for survival is found in the mercy and grace of God. The world can not offer anything that can bring lasting relief from our pain, only God can.

Jesus has given us an invitation to come unto Him. An invitation for the hurting, burdened, and weary. "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) What is often not very apparent, during our times of trouble, is that Jesus is in the yolk right next to us. He is there with us, helping us to pull the load and to make it through. His invitation is to come to Him, to let Him help us with our burdens, and to find out that his burden is light. In times of trouble, let us draw near to Him.

David Robison

God is unfair and there nothing I can do about it. Job 9:32-33

"For He is not a man as I am that I may answer Him, that we may go to court together. There is no umpire between us, who may lay his hand upon us both." (Job 9:32-33)

In Job's bitterness of soul, he speaks without regard to his words. He says, "I loathe my own life; I will give full vent to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul." (Job 10:1) In expressing his pain, Job's mind is drifting from sound truth. His understanding is succumbing to three common errors.

First, in his heart, he believes that God is wrong. He knows that his pain is not the result of his own sins, yet God is still afflicting him. How can God afflict the righteous? Job begins to believe that God does not need a reason to afflict anyone, even the righteous. Job questions God, saying "Is it right for You indeed to oppress, to reject the labor of Your hands, and to look favorably on the schemes of the wicked?" (Job 10:3) Job sees his cause as just and God's treatment of him, at best, as arbitrary.

Secondly, Job begins to feel like the victim. God is oppressing him and there is nothing he can do about it! "God will not turn back His anger; beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab. How then can I answer Him, and choose my words before Him? For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge." (Job 9:13-15) This since of being the victim, only fosters feelings of self pity and despair. If we are the victim of God's malevolence, then we are, more than all others, people without hope.

Third, Job is loosing his awe of God. He is loosing his reverence for God. "Let Him remove His rod from me, and let not dread of Him terrify me. Then I would speak and not fear Him; but I am not like that in myself." (Job 9:34-35) Job is desiring that his righteousness and God's treatment of him could be weighted and judged. He is sure that, if he could go to court with God, that he would be acquitted. His challenges of God become more and more daring as God is reduced in his sight. The scriptures say that we are to magnify God, but Job is magnifying is trouble and diminishing God. Job's problems are becoming larger in his eyes while God is becoming smaller.

In normal circumstances, most of us would never consider such things, but in times of great distress, we can easily be tempted to believe the lie and not the truth about God. The truth is that God is love. That God carries us on His wings. That He walks with us and holds our hand as we pass through the water and the fire. God is a very present help in our time of trouble. These are the truths about God. We need to remind ourselves, and others, about these things. Its not important to show someone where their thinking is wrong, deep down they already know that, but we need to remind them of the truth. After all, it is the truth that will set us free.

David Robison

I fear my pain: Job 9:27-28

"Though I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful,' I am afraid of all my pains, I know that You will not acquit me." (Job 9:27-28)

Sometimes we go through difficult times and it's just a matter of girding up our faith and pressing on. Sometimes we just need to endure to the end. But other times, we get caught in our affliction and cannot just walk away from it. For Job, it was not just the pain and affliction he was experiencing, it was the fear that it would never end. Job looked forward, and all he saw was more pain and suffering. He could not just walk away because, where would he go that his suffering would not follow?

Job's problem was not a matter of will or lack of understanding. Job was in a spiritual fight. Fear is spiritual in nature. Paul said, "God has not given us a spirit of timidity [fear], but of power and love and discipline." (2 Timothy 1:17) Job's problems were spiritual and he needed a spiritual answer. There are times when we don't have what other people need. Our encouragement, insight, and wisdom are not enough to deliver them from their affliction. As humans, we don't always have the answer. Job did not need an answer from his friends, he needed God; he needed God to intervene and to invade his experience and to set him free.

There are times when we over value the help we can provide, and even the help other can give us. I've meet people who believe that, if they could just meet the right person, their life would be complete, not understanding that our true need is not for other people but for God. There is no one, other than Jesus, who can fill all the needs in our lives. I have also meet others who believe that, if someone who is suffering would just follow their advice, they would soon be free of their suffering. Not realizing that many people need what we cannot give; a direct encounter with God.

As fiends, our job is to support, encourage, and strengthen each other in our trials; and to pray. We should lift them up and ask God to intervene on their behalf. We should not think of ourselves as "god" to them, but as brothers. We should be like the four men who lowered their friend through the roof to Jesus. We should help our friends to Jesus, for only He can provide what they truly need.

David Robison

The earth has been given over to the wicked: Job 9:24

Job does not see the world as a paradise; a place where order, harmony, and justice dwell supreme. Instead, in Job's eyes, he sees a world where wickedness triumphs over righteousness and where justice is discarded by indifference. Job says, "The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?" (Job 9:24) Job asks a very poignant question, "if not God, then who?"

Man was originally given authority over the earth while he was still in the garden of Eden. But when man sinned, he fell under Satan's domain and became subject to his authority. Man opened the door and provided a foot hold for Satan to spread his influence across the whole earth. In that day, man and the earth, passed into the hands of the Devil. John reminds us, "We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." (1 John 5:19) The delivering of the world into the hands of the wicked was the result of man's doing; the result of his sins. It was never part of God's plan or design for this world, nor for mankind.

Peter says that we have "escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust" (2 Peter 1:4) The corruption he is talking about is that of a dead body rotting away. The world, and the things in it, are rotting away. Corruption has entered the world because of man's sin and it is now decaying as any dead thing would. Part of the Gospel is that Jesus came to deliver us from this decay and to translate us from the dominion of Satan into His dominion. We are in the world, but we are not of the world. Jesus, in praying to the Father, said, "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (John 17:14-16)

The truth is that the world is decaying and those in the world are under the authority of the Devil. This was not God's doing, but man's. But through Jesus Christ, we can escape this corruption and, as citizens of God's kingdom, find life, peace, and joy in His kingdom. We are in the world, and at times are afflicted by the suffering of this world, but we are not of the world. We are as sojourner in a foreign land and, one day, Jesus Himself will return to take us home. Thanks be to God...

David Robison

God wounds me without cause: Job 9:13-18

In Job's response to Bildad, we see Job's struggle with that which he cannot explain. Job cannot understand why God is afflicting him. If he were wicked, then he could understand how and why God would treat him with such anger. Yet Job is innocent (even according to God's own testimony of him), yet he still suffers the affliction of God. How can God treat him the same as He treats the wicked? Job's only conclusion is that God destroys the innocent and the guilty alike. Job states, "Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty. I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I despise my life. It is all one; therefore I say, 'He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.' " (Job 9:20-22)

Job was raised to believe that, with God, there was either only reward for good or punishment for evil. Yet, in Job's eyes, he was receiving punishment even though he was righteous. Therefore, Job concludes, "For He bruises me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause." (Job 9:17) Job's only possible conclusion was that God does not need a reason to send suffering upon mankind. God can chose to send suffering at will, and there is nothing that man can say or do about it. "Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, "What are You doing?' " (Job 9:12)

Job's problem was that he saw his relationship with God as that between a king and his subject. The king commanded, and the subject must obey. If the kings favor is towards his subjects, then they are blessed. But if the kind decides to turn his face against them, then who can answer him or restrain him. What Job didn't understand is that, while God is our king and the King of kings, He also wants to relate to us as our father, and we to Him as His sons. Job only saw reward and punishment, he did not perceive that God would deal with us as a father; to raise us up to become children of God. God was dealing with Job as a son, not just a subject. And as a son, sometimes we must endure the discipline of our Father, but we are never without His love. Paul reminds us, "and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, 'MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.' It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?" (Hebrews 12:5-7) God longs to know us as sons and for us to know Him as our Father. We must recognize that, when the Father brings discipline into our lives, it is proof that we are His children and that we are loved by Him.

David Robison

Tragedy is the cup of the wicked: Job 8

Next up to bat is Bildad the Shoe-height (Shuhite), and apparently he has learned nothing form Eliphaz. He starts out saying, "How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a mighty wind? " (Job 8:2). Bildad shares the same zeal for weighing and judging Job's words as Eliphaz had and, like Eliphaz, he heard Job's words but missed his heart. We've covered this attitude in several of the previous posts.

One thing that Bildad does contribute to the discussion is his analysis of why Job's sons and daughters died such a tragic death. He says, "If your sons sinned against Him, then He delivered them into the power of their transgression." (Job 8:4). Bildad's conclusion is that their deaths were due to the abundance of their sins. They were delivered into the "power of their transgressions" and suffered the tragic consequence of their sins.

Besides being an incredibly insensitive thing to say, we must ask ourselves if Bildad's conclusion is correct. Do bad things only happen to transgressors, or do they befall the righteous as well? I find that in myself, I sometimes want to believe that tragedy belongs to the wicked alone, because it provides some level of comfort to me. When I see someone else's suffering, if I can convince myself that they are suffering because of their sin, the I can pretend that such suffering will never come my way because I am not a sinner. But if we admit that tragedy can happen to the wicked and the just alike, then we must also accept that it can happen to us as well. We want to believe that we are immune to the suffering experience by others because we are better them they, but this belief is not founded in the word of God.

Jesus said, "Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:4-5). What Jesus is saying is that our current circumstances do not necessarily reflect on the degree of our righteousness. Just because we are at ease does not mean we are righteous, and just because we are afflicted does not mean that we are wicked. Tragedy is in the world because the world is fallen, and it falls upon all mankind because mankind too is fallen. What marks a Christian as being different from an unbeliever is not the absence of tragedy, but rather how they can endure through the difficulty by the grace and strength that God provides.

David Robison

The answer is blowing in the wind: Job 6-7

One of the things I appreciate about the book of Job is that Job not only tells us how he feels but, is some cases, why he feels the way he feels. Job exhibits a great deal of self awareness in regards to his emotions and feelings. In chapter 6, Job makes a statement that, in my opinion, is extremely insightful. He says, "Oh that my grief were actually weighed and laid in the balances together with my calamity! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words have been rash. " (Job 6:2-3) Job recognized that, at times, his words were rash and that they were the product of his pain. Job tells us that, when people are under tremendous pain, they often say things that flow out of their pain; things they might not say under normal circumstances. It could be said that Job, at times, was not in his "right mind". Job goes on to say, "therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul." (Job 7:11) Job was "driven" to give expression to the pain that was in his life and sometimes that expression was rash and not the product of quality mental reflection.

Unless we understand this propensity to rash speech, we will be tempted to criticize and challenge what hurting people say and our counsel to them will not address the real needs of their heart. Job rebuffs Eliphaz saying, "How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove? Do you intend to reprove my words, when the words of one in despair belong to the wind?" (Job 6:25-26) Love covers a multitude of sins and, in the case of those who are suffering, we should show them grace in regards to their speech. We must be willing to look beyond their speech to the issues of their heart.

As we read the words of Job, we see a conflict raging in Job's soul. A conflict between his feelings and his faith. At times he gives vent to his feelings and his words "belong to the wind". At other times he stands on his faith, for example, when he says, "But it is still my consolation, and I rejoice in unsparing pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One." (Job 6:10) We need to be people who know how to over look words of rashness and encourage words of faith. We need to affirm and confirm the faith that is in the heart of hurting people and let God forgive the words of their soul. In doing this, we will strengthen well those in need.

David Robison

Fair weather friends: Job 6:14-23

"for the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; so that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty" (Job 6:14) Job describes his friends as a wadi. A wadi is a river that flows during the rainy season, but soon dries up until the next season. Job talks about the disappointment of those who, traveling long distances, come to the wadi, hoping to find water, only to find it dry. Job had hoped to find some kindness from his friends and, for a while he did. For the first seven days of their silence, Job received the kindness of his friends. But their kindness soon dried up like a wadi. They began to speak and criticize Job. He needed their kindness but instead got their judgment.

The problem was not so much their lack of concern as it was their lack of patience. For a while they grieved with Job, but now there were ready to move on. None of us like to walk in the valleys. We live for the mountain top experiences. But sometimes compassion requires us to walk with others as they go through the valleys. Many of us do not have the patience to walk with them there. We want to get back to the mountains. Our impatience can cause us to try and "hurry them along" so we can get back to our blessed lives. It painful when we go through the valleys, but sometimes Jesus calls us to bear that pain of others as they pass through the valleys of life.

King Solomon put it this way, "A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17) When you are on top of your game, everyone wants to be your friend. But when hard times come, you find out who your true friends are. I've seen this in relationships, in business, and even in the church. When someone is succeeding, the have an ample supply of people wanting to be their friend. But when success turns to struggle, many so called friends turn on them. You hear things like, "I always knew something like this was going to happen" and "They should have taken my advice then none of this would have happened."

Friends, true friends, love at all times and they are a gift from God to us to help and aid us in times of adversity. Do you want to know who your true friends are? After God has brought you through some difficult time, and after the dust has settled, look around. Those still standing with you are your friends. Let us be true friends to each other, not fair weather friends.

David Robison

What is my strength, what is my end? Job 6:11-13

In Job's response to Eliphaz, he recounts the enormity of his suffering, "Oh that my grief were actually weighed and laid in the balances together with my calamity! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas" (Job 6:2-3) Because of the weight of his affliction, Job has been brought to the end of himself. When he considers what he has been through, and the possibility that tomorrow will be more of the same, he is at the point of despair. He asks, "What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should endure? Is my strength the strength of stones, Or is my flesh bronze? " (Job 6:11-12) What Job is saying is that he is unable to see how he is going to continue to endure through another day of suffering. In his eyes, his strength is unequal to the suffering he is asked to endure. I have been in such a place, wondering how I will ever go on.

Over the past couple of years I have begun lifting weights as part of my strength training routine at our local YMCA. I remember one particular time, just after I had increased some of my weights, that I was especially tired after a workout and remarked to the Lord that I felt very weak. What the Lord reminded me of was that, while I may feel weak, I was actually getting stronger. It wasn't that I was weak, but I just felt weak. I began to understand that, the more I lifted, the more weight I had to lift as part of my training. I also understood that, the amount of weight we must regularly lift, is dependent on what we are training for. If we are just trying to increase muscle tone, and to improve our health, we need only lift a modest amount of weight. But, if we are training to be a world class weight lifter, then we need to life more weight more often.

I believe that the same is true in the spirit. That people who are called to endure great suffering, are often in training for great purposes. The degree of our suffering is not an indication of the degree of our weakness, but rather of our strength, and the special purposes that God is preparing us for. Job suffered greatly because God had great plans for his life.

So, what is our strength and what is our end? Our strength is in Christ and He has promised us that He will not press us beyond our ability to endure (1 Corinthians 10:13). We can trust God that, if he has asked us to walk through something, He will also give us the strength and ability to make it through. As for our end, it is ultimately in God's hand. The Father reminds us that, "'I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" (Jeremiah 29:11) God's plan for our lives is a plan for good; a plan full of hope. When our present circumstances appear to us to be bleak, we must remember that God sees then end from the beginning. He not only sees present suffering, but He also sees how He is going to redeem the suffering for His glory. When we understand this, the we will be able to walk in faith in what God is working in our lives and not walk in the sight of our current suffering.

David Robison

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