Job 41: 1-8, 42: 1-17 Devo

July 5th, 2020

Devotional

“Job - The Ending”

              Job 41: 1-8, 42: 1-17

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Monday: “Can You?” - Job 41: 1-8

One of the struggles with Scripture is it doesn’t have direction notes. It does not say “read this verse in this tone” or “say this verse in this voice”. So it leaves a lot to be interrperted. As a result there are a few different ways to approach this section of the book of Job. One is to say that God is challenging Job. Asking the questions that we see in today’s passage in a booming voice. Another way to read it is God asking Job questions that make him reconsider and think deeply.

But no matter what tone you imagine these questions being posed, the result is that God invites Job to remember that he does not know everything. There is no way he can - for he is not God. 

God created the seas and everything in them. Job has zero control over the creatures in the ocean, just as Job feels like he does not have control currently in his own life.

When we feel like we are not in control we tend to feel a surge of stress. But this passage serves as reminder that there are things that we cannot see or understand at work. Just because we do not understand does not mean that God is uncaring or absent. 

  How do you feel when your life is out of control? How do you approach God during these times?

Prayer: God, we thank you that you are God and we are not. We thank you that you created and ordered the whole universe. When our experience is beyond our understanding, may we lean into your love, we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “I Had Heard” - Job 42: 1-6

This one statement is one of my favorites in the entire book of Job - “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.” I want you to take a moment and think how you came to know of the love of Jesus. For me it was wonderful parents and grandparents, Sunday school teachers, choir directors, and church folks who taught me about Jesus. 

The key word being taught. 

I heard what they said. 

But at some point I had to come to know that love for myself. The type of knowing that moves from the head to the heart. And that can only come from experiencing Jesus in my own life. 

So it was for Job. Up until this point his faith was solid in what he had heard, but now he has heard God’s voice for himself and it changed his whole experience. 

How did you go from hearing about Jesus to knowing Jesus personally?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes we are so dependent on what other people have told us about you that we fail to look to have a relationship with you all our own. Forgive us, O Lord. May we respond like your servant Job that we have now experienced you ourselves. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Prayer” - Job 42: 7-9

  A lot of folks would prefer to skip right over this section of Job because it calls us to the hard work of forgiveness. God calls Job’s friends into account for all that they said to Job during this difficult time. They had not said the truth about God, so now God demanded a sacrifice. 

And what did God require of Job - to pray for these people who he thought were his friends. To pray for these men who had sat and said horrible things to him. They brought a sacrifice for a burnt offering, but it is God that prayed for him. 

And the Lord accepted Job’s prayer. 

How many of us could pray for those who have hurt us in this way? How many of us could pray that God would forgive them? Sometimes that task seems so daunting. To not only forgive them ourselves, but to pray to God for their forgiveness as well. Yet, this act was just as healing for him as it was for his friends. 

Do you find it difficult to pray for those who hurt you? Why or why not?

Prayer: God, we confess that sometimes we would rather not pray for those who have who wronged us. Or if we pray, we pray for them to get what they deserve. Yet, you invite us to pray for their forgiveness. Invite us, again and again, to come before you in such an attitude of prayer, we pray. Amen. 

Thursday: “Sympathy and Comfort” -Job 42: 10-11

  In stark contrast to Job’s friends stand his brothers and sisters who came to Job’s house and ate with him. They sat in his presence and showed him sympathy and comfort. They went on to bless him with riches. 

I wonder what it would look like if we simply sat with people who are grieving a little bit more and talked a little bit less. I know so many people who do not call or comfort those who mourn because they are afraid of saying the right thing, when really nothing needs to be said at all. Simply being there with someone in sympathy and comfort is a true gift.

What if being present with someone in their grief is actually the richest gift we could give during such a time? Not a gift of money, but a gift of simply being there, praying for someone, and embodying love. What could change in our community and our world if we showed up this way for each other?

How do you best approach those who grieve?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that when we grieve we are not left alone. You have gifted us with a community of care. Let us be part of that community for others, simply by showing up and being present, we pray. Amen. 

Friday: “Blessed” - Job 42: 12-17

  This ending section of the book of Job is full of pecularities. First, it speaks of Job being blessed richly, with new animals. New sons. New daughters. But the truth is, this blessing does not take away the sting of what he lost. You cannot replace children with others. Therefore, the blessing does not take away the pain, but rather proclaims the glory of God. 

Also, in a day and time when daughters did not inherit anything, Job gave his daughters an inheritance like his sons. This speaks to the benevolent nature of Job’s heart and wishing to share his blessings with the world. 

So it is with our lives. We, too, are blessed to bless others. We, too, glorify God. We, too, grieve that which we have lost. In the story of Job we find a picture of our own fragile humanity, but also a call to worship our God. 

How do you worship God?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding us that restoration does not mean simply replacing that which we grieve. Instead, it is a call to worship you in all times and circumstances. Restore us, O Lord, we pray. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Consolation” - 2 Cor 1: 1-11