Image from slideplayer.com
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: ‘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. ‘Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk,or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy? ‘Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightnings, so that they may go and say to you, “Here we are”? Who has put wisdom in the inward parts,or given understanding to the mind? Who has the wisdom to number the clouds? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens, when the dust runs into a mass and the clods cling together? ‘Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, when they crouch in their dens,or lie in wait in their covert? Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food? (Job 38:1-7, 34-41)
Good day, dear Friend! I'm praying that today be a special and wonderful day for you in spite of what you dread doing, or whom you dread seeing. Hear the word of God to a man whose life was unlike any other in history, dear Job. May we find strength and comfort in God much like Job ultimately did.
In case we have forgotten, Job was a wealthy and blessed man. So blessed that even Satan envied him. And in a scene where God and the devil talk, Satan blames Job's blessings for his faithfulness. "I bet if you took everything away from him, he would despise you and turn away from you!" were Satan's words to God. Fast forward to where we find Job being told what's what from God. And this after three friends have tried to explain to Job how they see God and life.
"Words without knowledge" is how God describes our attempts at understanding and explaining things we don 't know. I smile as I remember the days of our little ones asking, "Why?" And that was followed by "Why?" I smile also because their children now ask us, "Why?" And that is a good question when we would dare to say we know more than God. We don't. Try as we would, we would still fall way short of knowing God and what God is thinking. God's exact words were that Job's friends and even Job's attempt were "(darkened) counsel by words without knowledge." And God then asks Job to be ready to answer like a man the following questions: "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding." Ouch. A good question that proves a point without our even trying to answer it. We were not there. We did not see it. We can't even understand it, let alone try to explain it. Next question, "Who determined its measurements-- surely you know!" I personally have trouble determining how far a mile is, let alone .03 of a mile as my GPS tries to guide me someplace. "Was it you that stretched out the Equator of the Earth?" No sir, it wasn't me. I barely understand pier and beam, let alone the foundations or bases of the world. And though I don't even know where the cornerstone of the Earth is, I sure would have loved to be there "when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy"! I love the way today's graphic asks, "Why do you talk so much when you know so little?" Ouch again.
The most difficult person to explain the difficult things of life to is ourselves. We have a less than perfect teacher and we make poor students when we are also the instructor. We should trust God and leave all things to God's understanding, will, and purpose. Left to ourselves many times the best response is "I don't know." But add to it, "But God knows, and I trust God."
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, as this dear reader and I sometimes try to make sense of life and life's most difficult and trying challenges, remind us as you reminded Job, that we can and should trust You. We can ask, and we do, pray for victory in all of the challenges before us this day. May we find peace so that we can share it with someone who doe not yet trust You. May the love You have placed in our hearts be exactly that which we can share with someone today. This we pray in Christ Jesus, the Cornerstone of Life's strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a blessing to someone by learning how to be a blessing. It's not what you know, it's who you are that may bless someone today. So be the best!
Eradio Valverde
PRAYER REQUEST: Please be in prayer for Mr. Tim Wilson (Charlotte's son) who is undergoing surgery this morning here in Seguin. Prayers for the family and friends of The Rev. Thom Elliott, whose memorial service is today in Georgetown, Texas. Pray for each other. Pray for yourself.
